- Giannis Antetokounmpo rebounds his own intentionally missed shot to notch triple-double Yahoo Sports
- Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo intentionally misses shot to grab extra rebound for triple-double Fox News
- Giannis Antetokounmpo triple-double controversy: Bucks star shows shades of Ricky Davis with intentional miss msnNOW
- Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo admits to pulling a Ricky Davis to record triple-double: ‘Kind of stole one’ CBS Sports
- Bucks: Damian Lillard reacts to Giannis stat-padding for triple-double ClutchPoints
- View Full Coverage on Google News
Tag Archives: tripledouble
Giannis Antetokounmpo rebounds his own intentionally missed shot to notch triple-double – Yahoo Sports
- Giannis Antetokounmpo rebounds his own intentionally missed shot to notch triple-double Yahoo Sports
- Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo intentionally misses shot to grab extra rebound for triple-double Fox News
- Giannis Antetokounmpo purposefully misses shot to give himself triple-double New York Post
- Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo admits to pulling a Ricky Davis to record triple-double: ‘Kind of stole one’ CBS Sports
- Watch Giannis Antetokounmpo brick meaningless layup to get 10th rebound, triple-double Yahoo Sports
- View Full Coverage on Google News
LeBron James’ first triple-double of season lifts Lakers at MSG
NEW YORK — LeBron James will soon be the NBA’s top scorer, though that was never his focus.
He also is one of the game’s leading passers, and combining the two — possibly better than anyone ever — is what really makes him proud.
“I didn’t get to this point in my career by thinking about records or how many points I have, whatever the case might be,” James said. “I just play the game the right way. I approach the game every night only trying to be a triple threat by scoring, rebounding, assisting, defending, and may the chips fall where they may.”
James moved within 89 points of breaking the career scoring record and climbed into fourth place on the assists list, finishing with his first triple-double of the season in his return to Madison Square Garden as the Los Angeles Lakers beat the New York Knicks 129-123 in overtime on Tuesday night.
James had 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, with the points giving him 38,299 for his career. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the leader with 38,387.
But James’ game has always been about more than scoring, as he proved again Tuesday. He fed Dennis Schroder for a 3-pointer that snapped a 118-all tie with 3:13 remaining, grabbed his 10th rebound later in the extra period and then powered to the basket for a 127-121 lead with 19 seconds to go.
“He’s just doing it all,” Lakers coach Darvin Ham said. “That’s what great players do. That’s what all-time greats do, and he’s right up there at the top of the list with all of them.”
James had earlier moved ahead of Mark Jackson and then Steve Nash into fourth place on the assists list during his first game at Madison Square Garden in three years. James is the fifth player in the shot clock era to rank in the top five in both career points and assists at the same time, joining Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes, Jerry West and Oscar Robertson.
His first triple-double of the season was the 106th of his career, one shy of tying Jason Kidd for fourth-most all time, although he did pass Kidd for the most seasons with a triple-double. James became the fourth-oldest player in NBA history with a triple-double and the oldest with a 20-point triple-double.
Anthony Davis added 27 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, who had dropped two straight to open their trip. Both James and Davis had sat out their loss Monday in Brooklyn.
Jalen Brunson scored 37 points and Julius Randle had 23 points and 12 rebounds for the Knicks, who were 7-for-34 from 3-point range and dropped their second straight.
“We’re scoring plenty; that’s not our issue,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So we’ve got to shore up our defense.”
James was fuming following his last game, the Lakers’ loss in overtime in Boston on Saturday, after which referees said they missed a foul on his drive to the basket to end regulation.
He then sat out Monday with what Ham said was left foot soreness, though the Lakers had listed it as an ankle injury. They listed him as questionable to play in the morning, then upgraded James to available after he moved well during a pregame workout.
He certainly didn’t want to miss this one after being hurt two years ago and serving a one-game suspension last season for striking Detroit’s Isaiah Stewart in the face. His last game here was Jan. 22, 2000, when he was days away from passing Kobe Bryant for third place on the career scoring list.
Now the only one left to catch is Abdul-Jabbar, which could happen in the next 10 days. James said getting closer doesn’t make it feel any heavier.
“I’m not going anywhere; I’m going to be in this league for at least a few more years,” he said. “So I’m going to do it, so it’s not heavy at all.”
The game was tied at 90 before James fed Troy Brown Jr. for a 3-pointer with his eighth assist, then set up Thomas Bryant for a dunk, moving him ahead of Jackson and then Nash into fourth place for assists. James has 10,338 assists.
James has always called MSG one of his favorite places to play, and this visit drew a sellout crowd that included celebrities such as Michael J. Fox, Michael B. Jordan, Emma Stone and Chris Rock. Fans filled seats in the lower sections of the arena just to watch James warm up, but he struggled to give them one of his vintage performances once the game began.
He threw up an airball in the second quarter as part of his 2-for-8 start but made his final two shots of the half, then threw a pass that Schroder heaved in from half court to beat the buzzer and cut it to 53-52 at halftime.
Recently acquired Rui Hachimura had 19 points and nine rebounds for the Lakers, while Russell Westbrook added 17 points and eight assists, with three of them in OT.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Luka Doncic makes NBA history with historic triple-double in Dallas Mavericks’ win over the New York Knicks
CNN
—
Luka Dončić put up a historic triple-double in the Dallas Mavericks’ thrilling 126-121 overtime win over the New York Knicks on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old recorded a career-high 60 points and a career-high 21 rebounds to go with 10 assists, helping the Mavericks come from nine points down with just 33 seconds of regulation time remaining.
It is the first time in NBA history that a player has reached that stat line.
“I’m tired as hell,” Dončić said after the game. “I need a recovery beer.”
In the past 20 seasons, all 13,884 NBA teams that have trailed by at least nine points with 35 seconds or fewer remaining have gone on to lose the game, according to ESPN.
However, in a dramatic final play, Dončić intentionally missed a free throw and then secured the rebound, before scoring the putback to tie the game and force overtime.
The Slovenian star scored 10 points in the final minute of regulation time and added seven more in overtime to pull off the most improbable of wins.
Dončić also joins James Harden as the only other player in NBA history to score a 60-point triple-double, and also becomes just the sixth player to record six or more 40-point triple-doubles after Oscar Robertson, Harden, Russell Westbrook, Wilt Chamberlain and LeBron James.
“We just saw it on the screen right now,” Dončić said of his scoring feat. “We were watching NBA TV. I mean, it’s just incredible to be in those comparisons and just to be with those guys, at any stage. It’s amazing for me.”
Dončić’s 60 points also set a new franchise scoring record for Dallas, overtaking the 53 points scored by Dirk Nowitzki against Houston in 2004.
“Just with age, he has a birthday coming up here in the new year, I think he’s seen it all at the age of 23,” Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd said of Dončić becoming a leader. “But just his competitiveness to win is at a very high level – and you saw that displayed tonight.
“Things weren’t going well. Give the Knicks credit, they were making a lot of threes that we didn’t think were possible. They were playing harder. We were down 10. We’ve been in this position earlier in the season, when you talk about giving up a lead or giving up a game like this.
“Just to be able to stay together and trust, Luka had a big part in that. He never was discouraged that the game was over. As you can see, he’s picking up full-court, we had a big jump ball. There’s a lot of things we’ve learned from our losses in close games like this.”
The Mavericks improve to 19-16 on the season and climb to sixth in the Western Conference, while the Knicks have now lost four straight to sit sixth in the East.
‘Remarkable’ Alyssa Thomas’ historic triple-double keeps Sun alive vs. Las Vegas
UNCASVILLE, Conn. — With their backs against the wall (again) in the WNBA playoffs, the Connecticut Sun found another gear. Leading the way was the player they call “the Machine,” Alyssa Thomas.
She had the first triple-double in WNBA Finals history Thursday as the Sun beat the Las Vegas Aces 105-76 in Game 3 of the best-of-five series after losing the first two games out on the famed Strip. If anyone thought the Sun would roll over for an Aces sweep … well, no one who follows the WNBA thought that. It’s just not the Sun’s personality.
They lost a close Game 1 on Sunday and a not-so-close Game 2 on Tuesday at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. But back home at Mohegan Sun Arena in front of their fans, the Sun summoned the mojo they needed to force Game 4, which will be this Sunday here in Connecticut (4 p.m. ET, ESPN).
“If you could encapsulate Connecticut, it’s physical and very resilient,” Aces coach Becky Hammon said of the Sun. “They have kind of a battle-type mentality, and we didn’t match that tonight, in any category. They just kicked our ass in every way possible.”
Of Thomas, who finished with 16 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists, Hammon said, “She’s a beast. I went to a UFC fight the other night; I would not want to get in the cage with her. She is just tough. Tough, tough, tough. And then a playmaker.”
The 6-foot-2 Thomas, 30, was the No. 4 pick in the 2014 WNBA draft out of Maryland, which she led to the women’s Final Four her senior year.
Thomas is a difficult — if not impossible — player to compare to anyone else in the WNBA. Her longtime shoulder injuries (torn labrums in both that have not been surgically repaired) keep her from having an actual jump shot, but that doesn’t matter. Thomas has figured out her own ways to get the ball in the hoop, and she’s so crafty and strong, it’s hard to stop her.
Thomas is essentially a point forward, with how much she handles the ball and looks to create opportunities for her teammates. And rebounding? Well, as Hammon said, there’s nothing about Thomas that makes you think you will outmuscle or outhustle her.
“What’s remarkable is that’s every day. She doesn’t know how else to play,” Sun coach Curt Miller said of Thomas’ energy. “She’s probably the toughest player I’ve ever coached, but she’s the most consistent player in terms of effort that I’ve ever been around.”
Consistency was lacking in some regards for the Sun in the first two games of the Finals, which put them in a win-or-go-home situation. But they faced that in the first round when they had to go to Dallas to close out a best-of-three series and in the semifinals and when they beat defending champion Chicago twice on the Sky’s homecourt, including in the deciding Game 5.
Thursday, the Aces got off to a 9-2 start, but that was the extent of their control of this game. As if a switch was flipped, the Sun’s energy level skyrocketed and they led 34-19 after the first quarter. By game’s end, all the Sun’s starters had scored in double figures, led by 2021 MVP Jonquel Jones with 20 points.
DeWanna Bonner, after going 2 of 18 from the field in the first two games of the Finals, went 8 of 15 Thursday for 18 points, along with helping hold Aces guard Chelsea Gray to 11 points.
But the star of the night was Thomas, whose triple-double was her third of this season, also a WNBA record. There have been 19 triple-doubles in WNBA history — three in the playoffs, the others by Chicago’s Courtney Vandersloot and Houston’s Sheryl Swoopes — but they are becoming much less rare than they used to be. Eight of the 19 have come this season, and two were last season.
That reflects more positionless play, which the WNBA is seeing just as the NBA has been. In Thomas’ case, it’s about her ability to be able to play both as a true post but also as someone who can float around and just make things happen for herself or her teammates.
And on a night when the Sun’s season could have been over, Thomas led the way in willing it to continue.
“For me, I approached the game like I approached any other game,” Thomas said. “I think we just wanted it. We’ve been struggling offensively. We haven’t really been hitting shots and tonight we came out ready.”
Bucks vs Celtics: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores amazing self alley-oop, bags triple-double as Milwaukee cruises over Boston in Game 1
In the fourth quarter in Boston on Sunday, Antetokounmpo — with a defender draped all over him — had picked up his dribble and was struggling to find a teammate.
But rather than trying a speculative shot or pass the ball off, the ‘Greek Freak’ turned towards the basket, threw the ball off the backboard before slamming home to complete the solo alley-oop.
The explosive display of athleticism gave the Milwaukee Bucks a 94-78 lead late in the fourth quarter and was the crowning moment of the team’s 101-89 victory over the Boston Celtics in Game 1 of their best-of-seven playoff series.
When he was asked about the electrifying moment, the two-time MVP said it was his method of getting himself out of a jam.
“What did I see? I had the ball and I was like: ‘Oh, crap. I’m going to get stuck,'” Antetokounmpo told the media.
“I threw it to the backboard,” he said. “I’m lucky enough that God blessed me with the ability to jump. I had a good jump to go get it again and I was able to finish the play.”
It was another addition to the 27-year-old’s already impressive highlight reel, as he proved a menace for the Celtics all evening.
He finished with a triple-double — the second in the postseason of his career — with 24 points, 13 rebounds and 12 assists.
Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer showed his appreciation for Antetokounmpo’s solo alley-oop, saying it is “just pure talent, just pure instinct.”
“He’s a great player. He does things that are unique and special and timely,” Budenholzer said. “That’s one of those plays where you’re happy he’s on our side.”
Jrue Holiday had 25 points and 10 rebounds as the reigning champion Bucks used their physical defense to stifle the surging Celtics, who were coming off a sweep of the Brooklyn Nets in the last round of the playoffs.
The Celtics’ two stars — Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown — were held to just 21 and 12 points respectively, shooting a combined 10-for-31 in the game.
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With the Bucks’ length and physicality shutting down the Celtics near the basket, Boston shot 50 three-pointers, making just 18 and shooting 33.3% from the field as a team.
“Offensively, not our best night. I thought we guarded well enough,” Celtics coach Ime Udoka said. “To lose a 12-point game when we shot so poorly bodes well for us. In a way, it’s good to get this dud out of the way, offensively.”
The teams will face off again Boston for Game 2 on Tuesday.
Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown defends pairing with Jayson Tatum, logs first triple-double in win
BOSTON — After Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown produced the first triple-double of his career in Boston’s 99-75 victory over the New York Knicks here at TD Garden on Saturday night, he shot down the idea that he and Jayson Tatum can’t have an effective long-term partnership.
“I think we can play together,” Brown said after finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists against the Knicks, who had stunned the Celtics two days earlier at Madison Square Garden thanks to an RJ Barrett banked-in, buzzer-beating 3-pointer. “We have played together well for the majority of our career and things like that. The last year or so hasn’t gone as expected, but I think a lot of the adversity that we’re kind of going through now is going to help us grow and get better in the future.
“If we get over this slump and continue to learn, I think there’s a lot of good basketball on the other side of this. I only can control what I can control. I understand everybody has to do their jobs, but me and JT talk. We talked after the game, communicated with each other and things like that. So we’re on the same page. I get where all the other frustration comes from, but as long as I’m on the same page with him and he’s on the same page with me, that’s where we’re most focused on. So tonight we wanted to come out and get a win and we did it.”
It’s been a second straight disappointing season for the Celtics, who are 19-21 heading into Monday’s game here against the Indiana Pacers, which will officially end the first half of Boston’s season. The Celtics are now 55-57 since the start of last season — after a stretch of three trips to the Eastern Conference finals in four seasons.
When Brown, who is averaging 24.1 points per game, and Tatum, who is averaging 25.5 points per game, share the court for Boston this season, the Celtics are 4.6 points per 100 possessions better than their opponents in over 500 minutes. But after Boston has consistently been among the top teams in the East in recent seasons, the Celtics falling into the middle of the pack has fallen on the shoulders of the team’s two young stars.
After Thursday’s ugly loss in New York, which saw Boston give up a 25-point lead — the league-leading fourth time this season the Celtics have blown a lead of 19 or more points — Brown said he and Tatum chatted about the season and said that despite the individual and team success both have enjoyed to this point in their careers, they still have much to learn as they enter their mid-20s.
“Any time you blow a lead like that, it stings,” Brown said. “You’re not going to forget it. We learned from that experience. So that’s all it is. I know that people are tired of hearing that, but a lot of learning and growth is still taking place. I’m getting better as a basketball player. Jayson’s getting better as a basketball player and trying to put our guys in position to make them look good. It’s tougher than it looks. So we just gotta continue to get better, make the right plays, trust ourselves, trust our teammates, trust our coaching staff, and let the chips fall where they may.”
In Saturday’s rematch against the Knicks, who were down Derrick Rose, Kemba Walker and Evan Fournier due to injuries, the chips fell the right way for Boston. The Celtics took over the game once the Knicks cooled off after a hot-shooting first quarter, as they held New York to its lowest point total in four years while also ensuring the two teams would split their season series at two wins apiece.
“I liked the way we played in the first half, then I thought in the first five or six minutes of the third we got back on our heels and then they went on a run,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said.
“When you’re short-handed your margin of error is small.”
And while Boston put the clamps on New York defensively, holding them under 20 points in each of the final three quarters, it was Brown who led the way at the other end for the Celtics.
In a season in which he and Tatum have been the focus of scrutiny over their passing ability, it was a breakthrough for Brown to set a new career high for assists in a game, in addition to claiming that first triple-double of his career, as the Celtics were able to get a victory after losses in five of their previous seven games.
“We’ve been spending a ton of time on individual film sessions, and it really started when we couldn’t get the practice time on the court,” said Celtics coach Ime Udoka, who has been vocal about wanting Brown and Tatum to grow as distributors since the preseason. “Guys got their individual work in, but we really dug into that aspect of the individual sessions, more than the team sessions, and he’s been great as far as wanting to learn and grow, and really get better in that area.
“Some of the games you could see him overthinking it at times, when to pass and when to shoot, and he’s starting to figure out that rhythm of simplicity and making the easy pass and trusting your teammates and not playing to the crowd — all of the things we preached all year.
“But it’s a balance when you’re a natural scorer and you’re trying to shift your focus to how teams are defending you.”
LeBron James’ three incredible blocks highlight triple-double performance in Lakers’ win over Magic
After the Los Angeles Lakers dropped a disappointing game to the Los Angeles Clippers earlier this month, there was open speculation about how much longer coach Frank Vogel would remain in charge of the team. So much so that players were asked about it during media availability.
LeBron James took the opportunity to put the onus on the players.
“I think criticism comes with the job, you know?” LeBron said. “Frank is a strong-minded guy. He has a great coaching staff. And we as his players have to do a better job of going out and producing on the floor.”
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As the team’s leader and one of the best players in the league, that responsibility started with him. And since that quote, LeBron has done his best to lead by example. Perhaps never more so than Sunday night, as LeBron powered the Lakers to a 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic. With Anthony Davis out again because of a sore knee, LeBron put the team on his back, finishing with 30 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks on 12-of-20 shooting from the field.
Though it feels a bit strange to say this was a throwback LeBron performance when he’s never stopped being one of the best in the league, we really did see some vintage stuff tonight. He was in total control of every aspect of the game and was operating on a different level from everyone else on the court. His trio of ridiculous chase-down blocks — arguably his signature play — stole the show.
First, early in the second quarter, RJ Hampton thought he was about to finish at the rim on the secondary break. LeBron had other ideas and came soaring in for an emphatic rejection that he swatted off the backboard like a volleyball spike. And for good measure he dropped the Dikembe Mutombo celebration.
Then, in the third quarter he got Chuma Okeke. The young Magic forward actually got a step on LeBron but quickly learned about the legend’s recovery skills. LeBron got back, rose up and extended for an incredible last-second block.
Finally, a few minutes later in third quarter, Cole Anthony tried to sidestep the defense for a little floater in transition, but he had no idea LeBron had been tracking him all the way down the floor. Measuring his steps and calculating the angle, LeBron exploded when the time was right and nearly sent the ball out of bounds.
It wouldn’t be a true LeBron master class without a bit of showmanship, and he delivered in that department as well. After Wendell Carter Jr.’s goggles were knocked off his head, LeBron picked them up and tried them on. Classic bit.
Thanks to LeBron’s 101st career triple-double, the Lakers improved to 15-13 on the season and have won three of four games since he said the players have to be better. Granted, two of those wins were against the Oklahoma City Thunder and Orlando Magic, but the Lakers will take what they can get right now. In a crowded Western Conference, this mini streak has them up to sixth place.
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Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James oldest player ever to post 30-point triple-double
LOS ANGELES — After becoming the oldest player in league history to record a 30-point triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 106-94 win over the Orlando Magic on Sunday, LeBron James said the key to his eye-popping performance was an abundance of shut-eye.
Following a whirlwind three days in which James played a road back-to-back in Memphis and Oklahoma City then flew to Phoenix on Saturday to see his son Bronny lead his high school team to a win, James made sure to recharge with 12 hours of sleep ahead of the Magic game.
“I slept last night from 12 [a.m.] to 8 [a.m.], I got up, ate breakfast and went back to sleep from 8:30 [a.m.] to 12:30 [p.m.],” James said after pacing the Lakers with 30 points on 12-for-20 shooting, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three blocks in 37 minutes against Orlando.
At 36 years, 346 days old, James supplanted Lakers great Kobe Bryant as the oldest player ever to drop a 30-point triple-double, according to research by ESPN Stats & Information. Bryant was 36 years, 99 days old when he had 31 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists in a win over the Toronto Raptors in November 2014 during his second-to-last season in the NBA.
The Lakers have won three of their past four games to improve to 15-13, with James topping 30 points in all of those victories.
James was asked how sustainable his recent burst can be.
“Who me? How do I continue how I’m playing? Been doing it for 19 years,” he said. “Just do what I’ve been doing. I feel like I’m getting better and better each and every day. I’m getting healthier and healthier.”
James, who missed 10 of the Lakers’ first 16 games because of ankle and abdomen injuries, has improved his play as the season has gone on. In James’ first eight games, he averaged 22.8 points on 49% shooting with 5.0 rebounds and 6.1 assists. In his past eight, including the Orlando win, he has averaged 29.8 points on 52% shooting, 7.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists.
After a win over the Boston Celtics last weekend, James dismissed any talk about his workload being too much to handle at this stage of his career. His 36.8 minutes per game average is the most he has played since joining the Lakers in 2018 and a significant uptick from his 33.4 minutes per game last season.
“That’s just my mindset. Don’t get involved in how many minutes I played, how many days off,” James said. “I don’t confine to that. I think you think negative thoughts or negative energy, it just creeps into your mind. So, I’m as young as I’ve ever been.”
James was at his peak in the third quarter on Sunday, scoring 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting and adding three assists and two blocked shots, flying all over the court and sending the crowd into a frenzy. James’ play rubbed off on his teammates, as the Lakers dominated the third quarter, outscoring Orlando 36-10 and holding the Magic to 2-for-23 shooting (8.7%). It was the best defensive quarter for a Lakers team since Dec. 14, 1999, when the LA Clippers shot 1-for-18 (5.6%) in the second quarter.
“When he’s just being aggressive, he’s aggressive in making the right plays and reads, our team’s different,” Russell Westbrook said of James. “Tonight was another night where he imposed his will.”
Talen Horton-Tucker, who turned 21 last month, was asked what it’s like playing alongside someone who is nearly 16 years his senior.
“It gives me energy because you see him doing it at 36,” said Horton-Tucker, who added two of his six steals in that dominant third quarter. “It gives me no excuse to kind of do the same thing back.”
James said that being around Bronny’s Sierra Canyon High School team also has made him feel young again, along with his rest.
“Sleep,” James said when asked about the key to his energy. “Sleep and inspiration from my son and his team.”
Lakers coach Frank Vogel said he has adjusted the team’s schedule in recent seasons to accommodate more time for his players to rest on game days.
“As a group, over the last couple years, have gone almost entirely away from morning shootarounds,” Vogel said. “I personally have found that when we give them the morning off, we typically have more juice.”
Vogel sounded intent on squeezing every last bit of effort that James has left in his surefire Hall of Fame career, without fear of emptying his star’s tank before the playoffs.
“Nothing feels like it’s limited resources with him,” Vogel said. “Just the way he plays, that’s the way we have to be. That’s Lakers basketball. It doesn’t matter who our opponent is, what their record is, what the situation is. We want to play harder than our opponent.
“That’s who we’ve been the last couple years. It hasn’t always been there for us this year. And I think our guys recognize that. They’re trying to play at that championship level. Trying to build those championship habits in regular-season games. He’s setting a great tone for us in that regard.”
Kyrie Irving reacts to James Harden’s 7th triple-double since joining Brooklyn Nets
After James Harden recorded his seventh triple-double since joining the Brooklyn Nets in a 124-113 overtime win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday night, his teammate Kyrie Irving didn’t bat an eyelash.
“We have to implement the phrase ‘get used to it,'” Irving said with a smile.
It didn’t faze Irving that — according to Elias Sports Bureau research — Harden became the first player to record 30 points, 15 assists and at least 10 rebounds with zero turnovers since individual turnovers were first tracked in 1977-78. Harden finished with 14 rebounds on the night.
“When James is being James,” Irving said, “it makes our job a lot easier. And so we got to get used to somebody special like that, things like that in terms of breaking records. So, I can’t wait to be right alongside of him, my name in Nets history — and all the guys on our team where we’re just breaking records as a team, and then individually we’re stacking up with some of the best to ever play.”
Seven triple-doubles is also the most in a season by a Nets player since Jason Kidd had 12 in 2007-08, according to ESPN Stats & Information research.
After he committed six turnovers in the Nets’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks on Saturday, Harden vowed to be more careful handling the basketball.
“If I’m the point guard,” Harden said Monday, “and my teammates and coaching staff is giving me the responsibility to handle the basketball, I have to do a really good job with my passes, making them precise and not just giving away points.”
After going on a 10-0 run down the stretch Monday night, the Spurs were able to force overtime on a buzzer-beater from Dejounte Murray.
The Nets were up by double digits with just under four minutes remaining in regulation before they allowed the Spurs to get going. Harden said he was pleased with how the Nets refocused in overtime.
“We hear all the talk about us not being a very good defensive team,” Harden said. “We’re picking that up, and we’re finding ways to get better.”
The Nets have one game remaining before the All-Star break — against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday. It will also be the first time Harden faces off against his former team.
“We’re excited to play basketball, go back to where James had a great career,” Irving said. “Looking forward to the experience, looking forward to having fun. It’s going to be highly competitive, a lot of great players, no animosity on the court: Just greatness on display.”
Irving added: “Everybody at home, enjoy the game, there will be no tension and no s— -talking going on, on the court or about James in my presence or anybody else’s presence. So we’re coming to Houston, to enjoy the game of basketball and play it at a high level on behalf of James and the rest of the guys, because we know it’s a special night regardless.”