Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
T.J. McConnell got a triple-double but it was the unconventional kind.
(PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images.)
Stealing in basketball is not exactly “a lost art”, per se, but it certainly hasn’t been talked about as much compared to the past. The league average for thefts in an NBA game is 7.5 and, really, it’s stayed around 7 since 2000.
Which is what makes T.J. McConnell‘s feat that much more remarkable.
T.J. had NINE steals in the first half.
🚨 T.J. McConnell sets an NBA RECORD with 9 steals in a half! 🚨
The record for a full game is 11. pic.twitter.com/O0ctYizMmc
— NBA (@NBA) March 4, 2021
He now owns the record for most steals in a half. McConnell would end with 10, which is one short of the record owned by Larry Kenon (1976) and Kendall Gill (1999). But he also achieved something really rare: the triple-double in the steals variety.
T.J. McConnell finished with 16 points, 13 assists, and 10 steals. That is amazing.
The last time a player finished with a triple-double that included steals? It was a really unique line. Draymond Green had 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals in February 2017. Green only scored four!
As for the points-assists-steals variety? This was the first time since 1998 that this happened. Mookie Blaylock did that as he went for 14 points, 11 assists, and 10 steals. This kind of line has only happened 5 times since 1985 and the first time it’s happened in the 21st century (again, the points-assists-steals variety).
Oh, yeah. Having 10 steals is a rare feat in itself:
Draymond Green is 1 shy of tying the NBA record for steals in a game (11). Entering tonight, list of players with 10+ steals in a game: pic.twitter.com/o3WW5WdoQp
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) February 11, 2017
And we can add T.J. to the list there.
McConnell also went a perfect 8-for-8 in a heck of a game. The Pacers would go on to win the game as well.
Bullet Passes
LeBron James, as superhuman as he is, needs breaks once in a while, too. He sat out his first game of the season. The Lakers’ nearly-skeleton crew couldn’t win against Sacramento.
Donovan Mitchell got kicked out after this questionable call. He is not happy about the officials taking over the game.
Joel Embiid was actually the one that egged the refs to eject Mitchell. But even Spida appreciates what Embiid tried to do.
You a fool bruh 😂
— Donovan Mitchell (@spidadmitchell) March 4, 2021
Anyway, that game was between the #1 seeds. Philly came away with the Double U.
James Harden returned to Houston for the first time since he got dealt. He went for 29-10-14 in the Nets win and I don’t think the Rockets know how it feels like how to win anymore. They’ve lost 13 straight.
I feel like the Thunder/Mavs game set the NBA back 30 years.
There were reports out there that the Atlanta players weren’t exactly supportive of Lloyd Pierce. If true, that’s really too bad. Pierce has done so much for social justice and has been such a figure in that front.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention this: Shaquille O’Neal wrestled in All Elite Wrestling on Wednesday and went through two tables, thanks to Cody Rhodes.
CODY PUT SHAQ THROUGH A TABLE
(via @AEW)pic.twitter.com/tJq5WqRlrY
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2021
And Shaq didn’t do so bad as a wrestler! We’ll see if he shows up for Inside The NBA later today.
NBA Scoreboard
Mar. 3, 2021
Watch This Play
Well, tap that imaginary watch on your left wrist. Damian Lillard.
DAME TIME CAME UP CLUTCH ⌚️ pic.twitter.com/ZmvryoQbCT
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 4, 2021
I mean, I’m not really sure about that charge. But that shot. You know how it goes.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else.