On a night marking the 20th anniversary of the franchise, the Toronto Raptor’s had history made for the club in the stat books as well. Their star point guard, Kyle Lowry, fresh off of a summer in which the Raptors inked him to a four-year contract worth $48 million.
On Friday night, the Raptors took the floor wearing their throwback jerseys from their inaugural season. Despite the night being devoted to the team’s 20th anniversary, Lowry made headlines when he broke the Raptor’s franchise record for triple-doubles previously held by Damon Stoudamire.
Scoring 13 points, grabbing 11 rebounds and dishing 10 assists, the Villanova product produced his fourth career triple-double. This marked his sixth career triple-double and the fourth with the Raptors, making it the franchise record over Stoudamire’s three.
His record-breaking performance came at home in the rout of the Washington Wizards, 103-84.
On a related note, overseas:
EMMANUEL MUDIAY NOTCHES FIRST PRO TRIPLE-DOUBLE
Last Saturday marked the professional debut of high school phenom Emmanuel Mudiay playing in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for the Guangdong Southern Tigers. Just a week later, Mudiay notched his first career triple-double in a victory over the Qingdao Eagles, 127-116.
Mudiay has continued to improve and impress everyone around him with his play. In his team’s victory Sunday, he scored 22 points to go along with 13 assists and 11 rebounds. Check out the full highlights below, courtesy of ONE World Sports.
He has great size for a point guard, standing at 6 feet 5 inches and weighing in at 200 pounds. Likely to be a top-five pick, perhaps even a top-three pick depending on who drafts where, Mudiay has the size, strength and athleticism to be a mismatch for an NBA point guard on any given night.
His one-year contract, worth $1.2 million with Guangdong, will expire after this season and will make him eligible for the 2015 NBA Draft.
Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, who have reportedly been shopping last years Rookie of the Year Michael Carter-Williams, are all teams that could be a landing spot for the CBA rookie.
The Lakers are off to their worst start in more than half a century, when the franchise was in Minneapolis. The Bucks and point guard Brandon Knight failed to reach a contract extension for the 22-year-old, making him a restricted free agent next summer.
These are all teams who need the best talent at just about every position, and Mudiay would certainly help fill the void.
NEWS AND NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE
Kawhi Leonard and the Spurs are off to a bit of a slow start this season. After their lost last night to the Pelicans, they are now sitting at 2-3 on the year, good for last place in the Southwest Division.
As for Leonard, he credits his slow start to his vision. The Finals MVP last year missed the first couple games due to conjunctivitis in his right eye, an ailment that is still lingering, according to Jeff McDonald of MySanAntonio.com:
“My right eye, the vision’s not all the way back yet,” Leonard said. “Hopefully I can heal up soon. I’ve just got to keep competing so I can get used to it and get my rhythm going.”
Leonard shot 7 for 26 in his first three games, and started 2-for-8 against the Pelicans.He ended up 5 for 13 with 14 points and 14 rebounds for his first double-double of the season, but missed two shots on the Spurs’ final possession that could have given them the game.
Leonard was asked if he could play through the pain in his eye:
“I have to. That’s what I’m doing now. I can’t wait and sit on the sidelines anymore just wasting games. It might not ever clear up until summer, so I’m playing now.”
DUNCAN RECORDS 800TH CAREER DOUBLE-DBOUBLE
On a positive note for San Antonio, Tim Duncan recorded his 800th career double-double in Saturday night’s loss. He leads all active players in double-doubles, scoring 11 points and grabbing 10 rebounds against New Orleans.
Duncan sits at 6th all-time in career double-doubles, now only 14 behind Karl Malone for 5th all-time.
DARRELL ARTHUR SUSPENDED ONE GAME FOR FLAGRANT FOUL ON DION WAITERS
Denver Nuggets reserve big man Darrell Arthur was suspended one game on Sunday for his flagrant two foul on Cleveland Cavaliers guard Dion Waiters. Originally called a common foul in-game, the referees officiating the game reviewed the foul and came to the decision to upgrade the foul to a flagrant two. Arthur was ejected from the game.
Waiters was fouled at the end of the first quarter of the Cavaliers Friday night game in Denver when he was driving the lane attempting a layup. Arthur pushed Waiters while he was airborne, causing him to land hard on the court on his side. The foul could have ended up with much more than just an ejection and one-game suspension.
You can watch the foul below:
Somehow, Waiters was able to finish the layup after he was pushed, knowing he wasn’t going to like the outcome.
Fouls like these are extremely dangerous, warranting the suspension by the NBA. Arthur will miss the Nuggets’ game Sunday against the Portland Trail Blazers.