Anthony Davis shot a bunch of free throws.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Spectrum Sportsnet screencap.)
Welcome to the B-Ball Brunch. Enjoy reading about my NBA musings about last night during your brunch hours.
The Los Angeles Lakers last night dominated the Memphis Grizzlies in the second half. What stuck out was the force of nature called Anthony Davis. He scored 40 points and 20 rebounds in three quarters. More specifically, the man with the unibrow now has the quickest 40-20 in league history at 30 minutes and 34 seconds. It’s the first 40-20 since Joel Embiid did it in Dec. 14, 2018 and the first 40-20 by a Laker since Shaquille O’Neal in Mar. 21, 2003. This is the fourth 40-20 in the career of Anthony Davis.
But we are not here to talk about THOSE specific stats. When I was over at my friend’s watching this game, he said this twice during the third quarter: “Free throws are so exciting!”
Free throws are fundamental, yes. But they’re not exactly the most riveting to watch in a basketball game at any level. Still, points are points and Davis got to the line in an alarming frequency.
Nobody in the Grizz could stop the man. Jaren Jackson, Jr.? Foul. Jonas Valanciunas. Free throws. Brandon Clarke? Back to the line. Jae Crowder? More foul shots. Bruno Caboclo? Charity stripe. Marko Guduric? Same result. And if Grayson Allen had to foul him, he might as well have done one of his cheap shots he was known for at Duke.
So here’s what Anthony Davis did in terms of free throws last night.
Davis made all 18 of his free throws in the third quarter. That is a record for most free throws made in ANY quarter.
Let’s add that he went 8 for 9 in the first quarter (miraculously, he didn’t attempt any foul shots in the second period). Davis went 26 for 27 overall free throws in the game. He now has the Laker franchise record for most free throws made. The most free throws ever made in a game is 28. It has been done twice; Wilt Chamberlain made that many in his famous 100-point game and Adrian Dantley scored 28 of his 46 points by way of the foul line. No one has made 26 foul shots since Michael Jordan did it in Feb. 26, 1987.
James Harden was the last player to attempt 27 free throws (he made 21; ironically, it was against Memphis). Also, Davis is tied for the second highest percentage for anyone that has shot a minimum of 25 free throws in a game. His .963 percentage is tied with Jordan (26/27). Dantley shot 28 for 29 for a burning .966 percentage.
It’s not the most aesthetically-pleasing part of basketball. But it’s part of the game. I admittedly had a much better time looking these stats up than watching Davis shoot free throws.
Hey, at least, Davis MAKES free throws, right?
Bullet Passes
*And then there were three. Denver got their first loss of the season as they failed to defend home court against the Dallas Mavericks. Dallas is now 3-1 and that’s mostly due to their scoring prowess (2nd in offensive rating at 113 points per 100 possessions). Kristaps Porzingis has recovered to become a bonafide second option while Luka Doncic is destroying everything in his path (25.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.3 steals per game).
*Jimmy Butler played his first game as a member of the Miami Heat. He went for 21 points in 31 minutes. He replaced his boy, Tyler Herro, in the starting line-up so Herro responded in a professional manner by putting in 29 points. The Heat beat the Hawks by 15 points.
Oh, yeah. Our new boy, Kendrick Nunn, went for 17 points.
*The Hawks had an uphill battle because Trae Young turned his ankle in the second quarter. He shouldn’t be out for long but we’ll know more later today. Speedy recovery to him.
*I’ve heard and read murmurs from people about how there have been more players fouling out of games. I can’t get those numbers but what I CAN get are these stats. Take a look at these league averages.
2018-19: 20.9 fouls and 23.1 free throws per game.
2019-20: 23.8 fouls (+2.9 from last year) and 25.2 free throws (+2.1) per game
Granted, this is *ahem* small sample size theater but it’s something to keep an eye on.
Watch This Play
Not many plays to choose from but this was a good dunk from Cam Reddish. Also, Bleacher Report, it’s time to put someone in a POTER! Ha ha ha. “Poterized.”
(VIDEO CREDIT: Bleacher Report.)
At least, Tyler Herro had a good game!
Rey-Rey is on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
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