Another historic night in the NBA went down on Wednesday. We saw the most combined 3-pointers in a game, the most combined attempts from 3-point range in a game, and the fewest combined turnovers in a game. Oh, yeah, it was also the first day in NBA history in which four teams scored 140 points (Nets, Rockets, Warriors, Pelicans).
On a slate with a series of compelling games, one that arguably produced the most actionable fantasy information was the Brooklyn Nets beating the Houston Rockets in overtime in a game that resulted in 287 points and a record 106 attempts from beyond the arc.
Before we delve into another offensive opus from James Harden, Brooklyn's Spencer Dinwiddie merits top billing, given he scored 25 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter and overtime and became the second player in the last 30 seasons to notch two games with at least 30 points and 10 assists off the bench, joining Jamal Crawford, who accomplished this rare feat in the 2013-14 season with the Clippers. Dinwiddie is still available as a free agent in more than 20 percent of ESPN leagues.
Dinwiddie wasn't the only Net to shine, of course, as rookie Rodions Kurucs produced 14 points and five boards and has averaged 14.4 PPG during his past five games, all starts. Kurucs is merely a streaming target at this point but has delivered real utility for the Nets after being selected in the second round this past summer. We also saw Jarrett Allen feast with 20 points and 24 rebounds, while DeMarre Carroll is regaining an important role in the rotation and could be worth targeting in deeper leagues, given he was a top-80 asset last season.
Harden scored 58 points in the loss, notching his 13th career 50-point game, passing LeBron James (12) for the most among active players. The bearded one became the first player with back-to-back 50-point games since Harden himself in December 2017 and became the fourth player in NBA history with multiple streaks of back-to-back 50-point games in his career, joining Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor and Kobe Bryant. Harden also joined Chamberlain as the only players in NBA history with back-to-back 55-point games. Harden has scored or assisted on 50 points in 18 straight games, extending his NBA record. This is truly the stuff of legends.
With an eye on influential fantasy performances and relevant statistical trends, let's delve into the night that was in the NBA.
Wednesday recap
Highlights
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans: 30 points (11-26 FG), 18 rebounds, 7 assists, 3 blocks, 2 TO
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors: 41 points (11-22 FG), 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TO
James Harden, Houston Rockets: 58 points (16-34 FG), 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 TO
Kyrie Irving, Boston Celtics: 27 points (11-19 FG), 5 rebounds, 18 assists, 7 TO
Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trail Blazers: 10 points (3-6 FG), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks, 1 TO
Lowlights
LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs: 8 points (4-11 FG), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 3 blocks, 4 TO
Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz: 6 points (3-8 FG), 0 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 TO
Garrett Temple, Memphis Grizzlies: 2 points (1-7 FG), 1 rebound, 2 assists
Wednesday takeaways
With the Knicks and Wizards facing off in London on Thursday, you'll need to get those lineups set before 3 PM ET today, when the game tips. Noah Vonleh's name has come up in trade rumors as the deadline approaches, but while still on the Knicks and in this choice matchup against a poor rebounding Washington team, he's a fine streaming option today. This game has a healthy point total of 227.5, indicating this could be a fun offensive matchup for the London crowd. The Wizards, meanwhile, are flush with relevant fantasy free agents; Trevor Ariza, Tomas Satoransky, and Thomas Bryant all come to mind as solid acquisitions to consider.
Luka Doncic produced 25 points for the fifth straight game, tying Carmelo Anthony (2003-04) for the longest streak by a teenager in NBA history. Despite Doncic's deft scoring touch, the Spurs came back from a 19-point deficit to beat the Mavs, their largest comeback in a game since Nov. 17, 2017, against the Thunder. Despite the disappointing loss, Dallas netted another strong game from forward Maximilian Kleber, who is 25th in the league in blocks this season and netted four steals in the game last night.
Apologies to the Stifle Tower for missing the highlights section, as Rudy Gobert became the second Jazz player in the past 30 seasons with a 20-20 game with four blocks, joining Karl Malone on Dec. 15, 1990, against the Pacers. Donovan Mitchell tallied 28 points and now has at least 25 in seven straight, joining Karl Malone, Adrian Dantley and Pete Maravich as the only other players in franchise history to do so. It appears the multi-month slump is over for Mitchell. For some relevant fantasy free-agency intel, Jae Crowder (rostered in 23.5 percent of leagues) broke out of a slump with 23 points and nine combined assists and rebounds.
The Warriors have back-to-back games scoring 140 points for the second time in franchise history (Jan. 1967) after downing the Pelicans in another epic that included the most 3-pointers made in a game (43). The Warriors won 147-140. Teams had won 79 straight regulation-length games when scoring at least 140 points, making the Pelicans the first to lose in such a game since Dallas on Jan. 18, 1992, also against the Warriors. Golden State made 24 3s, tying the franchise record. Curry notched his sixth 40-point game this season, his most since 2015-16 when he had 13 such performances. Curry made seven consecutive 3s in the third quarter, tied for his most consecutive made 3s in a game in his career (done two other times) and is the longest such streak by any player in a game this season. With nine 3-pointers, Curry became the first player in NBA history with eight or more 3s in three straight games. Draymond Green produced a season-high 14 assists while Davis posted another absurd line. The NBA is just too fun right now.
The Cleveland Cavaliers (three) and Trail Blazers (four) combined for just seven turnovers, the fewest in a game in NBA history (turnovers have been compiled since 1970-71). The previous fewest was 10 in a game between the Spurs and Clippers in 2005. Nurkic became the second player in Trail Blazers history with a triple-double and five blocks in a game, joining Bill Walton, who did it Jan. 28, 1975 against the Suns, per Elias.
Irving was amazingly clutch in the closing moments of a pivotal win over the Raptors in setting a career high in dimes. Uncle Drew also became just the sixth Celtic in history to produce at least 25 points, 15 assists and 5 rebounds in a game. Larry Bird and Bob Cousy accomplished this feat four times, while Irving ties John Havlicek, Rajon Rondo and Sherman Douglas with one such performance. It was his eighth game with 20 points and 10 assists this season, the most in a season in his career, and tied for the second most by a Celtics player in a season over the last 30 seasons.
Injury of note
Kawhi Leonard was brilliant against Boston last night in the loss, but his status is a bit murky for tonight's tilt with the Suns, thus the game is currently off the board. Leonard hasn't played regularly in both segments of back-to-back scenarios this season, so this could be a window for rest tonight.
Analytics advantage for Thursday
The afternoon start in London means this is essentially a five-game slate from a DFS perspective. Of the games on tonight's docket, the Sacramento Kings visiting the Charlotte Hornets in a game with the night's highest projected total at 230 points. The Kings are second in the league in pace, churning out 104.6 possessions per 48 minutes. Both teams rank in the top half of the league in offensive rating and have prolific lead guards in De'Aaron Fox and Kemba Walker worthy of building around tonight.
Top players to watch tonight
With James due to miss another game for the Lakers as he heals from a groin injury, the scoring spotlight turns to Kyle Kuzma, who has been the team's leading scorer sans the King. I'm most intrigued to see how Kuzma navigates facing Paul George's defense, as the Thunder wing ranks first among small forwards in defensive plus-minus. As 10-point dogs on the road in Oklahoma, Kuzma and his young peers will be tasked with stepping up once again.
