Tuesday Tidbits Feb. 11, 2020

NOTE: ALL RESEARCH IS DONE VIA THE TEAM AND GAME FINDER FUNCTION ON BASKETBALLREFERENCE.COM

 LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS AT PHILADELPHIA 76ERS
 Kawhi Leonard’s 30 points are not unique but his 30-point game to go along with nine assists is a rarity in Clippers history against the 76ers as it is the first such instance, though it is the 69th instance in team history and that includes the time in Buffalo and San Diego.

 How rare is it for Paul George to shoot 3-for-15 like he did in Philadelphia on Tuesday night? It was the fifth instance where he made three field goals or less on 15 shots. George shot 3-of-15 on March 13, 2016, in Atlanta and Feb. 1, 2016, against Cleveland. He also had a 3-for-16 night March 23, 2018, against Miami and a 2-of-17 showing Dec. 3, 2017, against San Antonio.

Ben Simmons enjoyed another triple-double with 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists. He now joins George McGinnis, Allen Iverson, and Billy Cunningham as the fourth 76er to get a triple-double against the Clippers.

McGinnis totaled 38-21-10 Feb. 8, 1976, Iverson totaled 30-10-11 on Jan. 7, 2002 and Cunningham totaled 19-13-10 on Dec. 7, 1974.

 Tobias Harris collected 12 rebounds after entering Tuesday averaging 6.6 rebounds. His 12 rebounds are the 23rd time he had at least 12 rebounds and third time since becoming a 76er in last year’s trade from the Los Angeles Clippers.

CHICAGO BULLS AT WASHINGTON WIZARDS
Zack LaVine’s 41-point game was the eighth by a Bull against the Wizards and the first since Jamal Crawford on Dec. 27, 2003, in Chicago.

Michael Jordan had four games with at least 40 points, Elton Brand had one in 2000 and Bob Love had the other on Christmas Day 1970 in Baltimore.

Lavine’s 41 points and nine assists are the second such instance in Bulls history against the Wizards. On Dec. 23, 1992, Jordan totaled 57 points nine assists.

It was the 23rd game of 41 points and nine assists against the Wizards and second this season. James Harden totaled 59 and nine assists on Oct. 30. LaVine is the first player to get 41 points and nine assists while hitting eight 3-pointers.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS AT NEW ORLEANS PELICANS

Zion Williamson’s 31 points were the sixth-highest total by a Pelicans rookie. The record is held by Marcus Thornton, who scored 37 points on Feb. 23, 2010, at Cleveland.

What’s notable about Williamson’s 31 points is that he played 28 minutes. While not as rare as you might think, it was the 18th such instance and the second time this season. Toronto’s Terrence Davis also scored 31 in 28 minutes against Chicago on Feb. 2.

Perhaps a reflection of recent trends in managing minutes is that it has occurred eight times since the start of the 2015-16 season.

As for 31-point games by rookies against Portland, it was the 26th instance of a rookie getting at least 31 points and second this season. Eric Paschall scored 34 in 40 minutes for Golden State on Nov. 4. 

Damian Lillard finished with 20 points on 6-of-16 shooting and missed all four of his 3-point tries. It was his 12th career 20-point game without making a 3-pointer and first since going 0-of-7 on Feb. 7, 2019, against San Antonio.

As far as the Pelicans scoring 138 points against Portland it is their highest scoring output against the Blazers. Their previous highest output against the Blazers was 123 on Dec. 2, 2017, and that represents the only other time they ever scored at least 120 against Portland.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS AT OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

Dejounte Murray entered Tuesday averaging 10.1 points and 5.1 rebounds.

He ended it by getting 25 points and nine rebounds. It is the 26th instance of a Spurs guard getting 25 points and nine rebounds and first instance since Tony Parker totaled 27 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists on Dec. 10, 2012. Manu Ginobili also achieved the feat six times but the Spurs leader in those games is Alvin Robertson, who did it 12 times.

Chris Paul scored 31 points and had seven assists, marking his 48th such instance and second against the Spurs. He collected 36 points and 11 assists for the Clippers on March 9, 2012.

BOSTON CELTICS AT HOUSTON ROCKETS

James Harden scored 42 points and that marked Houston’s fifth instance of a player scoring at least 42 points on the Celtics.

Not surprising is the fact that Harden has done it three times. He scored 45 on Dec. 27, 2018, and then finished with 42 on March 3 in Boston.

Harden took 19 shots and still scored at least 40 points. It was his eighth instance of 40 points on less than 20 shots with seven of those coming as a Rocket. His most points on less than 20 shots are 45 on Feb. 20, 2013, against Oklahoma City when he shot 14 of 19.

How often does a 40-point occur on at least 15 3-point tries?

Glad you asked because it was the 107th instance and 23rd instance this season. It was the 11th time this season Harden achieved that.

Since the start of the 2014-15 season, there are 80 games of at least 40 points on at least 15 3-point attempts.

The first instance of it ever occurring took place on March 23, 1991, when Denver’s Michael Adams scored 54 on 16 3-point attempts against Milwaukee. Then on April 5, 1991, he scored 41 on 15 3-point tries against Houston.

Dennis Scott scored 41 on 19 3-point attempts in 1993, Joe Dumars scored 40 on 18-point tries on Nov. 8, 1994, and Vernon Maxwell scored 41 on 17 3-point tries for Philadelphia against the Nets on April 8, 1996.

Then it did not occur again until Antoine Walker shimmied his way to 42 points while hitting 6 of 17 3-point attempts on Dec. 11, 2001, in Boston’s overtime win over the Knicks.