Is Linsanity back? Maybe not, but he’s a legitimate force.
The 2013-14 NBA regular season continued on Wednesday, November 13. 24 teams were involved in 12 high-stakes games that offered postseason previews and a glimpse at just how far the young stars of the league have come.
Here’s everything you need to know about a night that was highlighted by a series of career-best marks.
1. Jeremy Lin topped 30 points for the second consecutive game. He finished with 34 points and 12 assists during the Houston Rockets’ 123-117 overtime loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Lin tied a franchise record with nine three-point field goals made and Dwight Howard added 23 points, 15 rebounds, six assists, six blocks and two steals.
2. James Anderson led the Sixers to that win, scoring a career-high 36 points on 12-of-16 shooting from the field, 6-of-8 from three-point range and 6-of-6 from the free throw line. It was the first time in his four-year career that he’s topped 20 points.
If that’s not impressive enough, second-year point guard Tony Wroten posted his first career triple-double with 18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds for the Sixers. He started in the place of breakout star and Rookie of the Year frontrunner Michael Carter-Williams.
3. Chris Paul dropped 14 points, 16 assists, seven rebounds, three steals and a block to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 111-103 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Paul now has at least 10 points and 10 assists in nine consecutive games to open up the season, which is two shy of Magic Johnson’s NBA record of 11 straight to begin the 1990-91 campaign.
Blake Griffin added 22 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and three steals.
4. In the losing effort, Thunder stars Kevin Durant, 33 points and 10 assists, and Russell Westbrook, 19 points and 10 dimes, secured double-doubles.
5. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs was 1-of-12 from the field during a 92-79 win over the Washington Wizards. It was the worst shooting percentage of Duncan’s 17-year career.
6. The Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Cleveland Cavaliers 124-95, and Kevin Love failed to register a double-double for the first time this season. All he did was post 33 points, eight boards and six assists.
Corey Brewer chipped in 27 points for Minnesota and Ricky Rubio put up 16 points and a career-high 16 assists.
7. The Utah Jazz defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 111-105. Utah center Enes Kanter had 21 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and power forward posted 12 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, five steals and two blocks.
Anthony Davis continued his All-Star season with 29 points, 15 rebounds, one assist, one block and a steal.
8. Timofey Mozgov dominated with 23 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 28 minutes as the Denver Nuggets defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 111-99. Pau Gasol had 25 points and 12 rebounds, Jordan Hill tallied 18 points and 15 boards, and Steve Blake came up with 15 points and 11 assists.
Somehow, the Lakers lost.
9. Arron Afflalo continued his torrid start with a career-high 36 points, eight rebounds, six assists and two steals on 11-of-15 shooting from the field and 8-of-11 from beyond the arc. He’s the first player to post at least 36 points, eight boards, six dimes and eight three-point field goals made since Jason Kidd in 1995.
10. In his second start since signing with the Charlotte Bobcats, big man Al Jefferson posted 22 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks in an 89-83 win over the Boston Celtics. Charlotte is now 4-4.
Bonus Fact: Evan Turner scored 23 points and has now topped 20 in eight of his first nine games. Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio reports that the Oklahoma City Thunder are interested in trading for the former No. 2 overall draft choice.
Should the Sixers really be looking to deal this rising star? Easy answer: no.