“I got the magic in me. Every time I touch that track it turns into gold. Everybody knows I got the magic in me.” The list of Orlando Magic greats may not be excessively long, but the names up there are definitely hard to argue against. Shaquille O’Neal. Penny Hardaway. Tracy McGrady. Dwight Howard. Should I go on? You get the jest. When your name is mentioned in with those greats, that means that you have just accomplished something special. That is exactly what Aaron Gordon did Friday night. Just when you thought that losing another dunk contest would hurt his self esteem. Rather than sulking about falling short yet again in the dunk contest in this year’s All Star Weekend, this man messed around and got his first career triple-double.
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 11 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1/6 | 6/13 | 4/5 |
Here’s what else I saw Friday night:
Nikola Vucevic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 27 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0/4 | 12/18 | 3/4 |
Just another day at the office for the near seven-footer. Averaging 19 points and 10 rebounds on the season with 46% shooting from the field, this is nothing more than a stat line that Vucevic can put up in his sleep.
Terrence Ross
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7/15 | 13/25 | 0 |
34 minutes coming off the bench?! Really? Just give the man the starting job already. He is playing out of his mind. As a second unit “spark plug” guy, he continues to come into the game smooth like Lou Will and shooting like Steph. Nearly a point per minute and clearly making every minute count.
Miles Bridges
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 17 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3/5 | 6/11 | 2/2 |
As if winning the Rising Stars MVP was not enough for Bridges. Coming out of the All Star break, Bridges is really starting to assert himself as “The Guy” in Charlotte. He pulled out the full package of high flying dunks and big time blocks, showing his versatility on both sides of the floor. Not to mention that he hit the go-ahead three to seal the game. Range and ice in his veins? This man is coming.
Terry Rozier
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 18 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3/4 | 6/12 | 3/3 |
Led the team in scoring alongside his backcourt mate Devonte’ Graham. It has taken time but, throughout the course of the season, these two are slowly starting to ascend as a potential dynamic young backcourt in the Eastern Conference.
Seth Curry
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 37 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8/9 | 13/15 | 3/4 |
Who says that there can only one “Chef Curry with the shot”? Shooting from the parking lot, the man could not miss. The dynamic duo of Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis combined for 47 points on the night, but it was Curry who stole the show for the Mavs. A career night where everything that went up came down all. Two shots? The man only missed two shots all night in over 30 minutes on the floor. He had the whole Heat team doing a double take wondering whether they were playing the Dallas Mavericks or the 2016 Golden State Warriors. Did I mention that he just so happened to tie Zach Lavine and his brother for the second-most threes in a single game? The man was on a mission.
Jimmy Butler
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8/14 | 10/12 |
Jimmy “Buckets” just can’t seem to help himself. Even with no shot attempts from behind the arc, the man still walks out with more than 20 points. What is this, the 1960s? Butler lived in the mid-range and flirted with the free throw line all night.
Duncan Robinson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6/9 | 8/11 | 2/2 |
Who needs heat when you have a literal flamethrower? Robinson practically shot all threes and pretty much did not miss. With Tyler Herro out with a right ankle injury, Robinson is already starting to step up as the lead shooter on the team. With unlimited range and the green light to let it fly, you would have thought Robinson and Curry were competing to see who could break Klay Thompson’s record for most threes in a game (which is 14 by the way).
Spencer Dinwiddie
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4/9 | 6/16 | 8/8 |
If you ask me, I am sure that Dinwiddie is not missing Kyrie Irving one bit. With Irving out for the season, Dinwiddie continues to build off his breakout season last year. Looking more and more like a lead facilitator by the dribble, he clearly is the engine that is still keeping the Nets going.
Cam Reddish
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6/9 | 9/14 | 2/4 |
Finally! I mean I know we have seen a few 20 point games from Reddish here and there, but this is the kind of game that the league needed to see. After being the third wheel on the Duke Blue Devils for a year behind Zion Williamson and RJ Barrett, Cam fans claimed that he was being held back and that he is better than he looked back in college. Well, the cat is out of the bag now. Reddish is averaging 17.2 points per game since the All Star break and is starting to take strides as a legit perimeter scorer for the Hawks alongside Trae Young.
John Collins
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 33 | 13 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3/4 | 11/15 | 8/10 |
Only one word comes to mind: Unstoppable. Typically, Collins lives above the rim as a high flyer, but in this game he went into his back and pulled out some range. Three threes! Must have gave the Monstar ball from Trae Young for the night and borrowed his range because it looks like he is really starting to feel himself, showing off some stretch-four ability.
Trae Young
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 22 | 2 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1/6 | 6/18 | 9/10 |
Ice Trae? More like ice cold. Whether it be just a bad shooting night or Trae handing over the offensive load to Reddish and Collins, the night was not great for him shooting wise. Practically could not hit the broad side of a barn if he tried. Nonetheless, he may have been cold from the floor but with 14 assists you can definitely say he fed the hot hands.
Dillon Brooks
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3/7 | 12/22 | 5/5 |
Close but no cigar. In a game that would result in another loss to push the Grizzlies’ losing streak to five games, the bright side at least came from Brooks’ promising play. With 32 points on the night, Brooks reached a career-high scoring feat and continues to display why he looks like a promising guard to pair with Ja Morant for the foreseeable future.
Jonas Valanciunas
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 13 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1/3 | 4/14 | 4/4 |
For a big man like Valanciunas, his job is strictly get buckets and boards. Unfortunately for him, there were not a lot of buckets, but there were definitely more than enough boards to go around. First time ever getting more than 20 rebounds in his career. With Zebo aka Zach Randolph and Tony Allen, Valanciunas’ career high rebounding night was the perfect way to put the old Grizzlies’ “Grit n Grind” on full display.
De’Aaron Fox
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 25 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3/6 | 10/19 | 2/3 |
The driving force of the nights and the lead scorer for the Kings in the win. Has to be rough shouldering the scoring load against the fire power of the Grizzlies, but held his own and was just barely able to hold Memphis off.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 32 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2/4 | 13/20 | 4/5 |
Only 27 minutes? This kind of scoring output is starting to get ridiculous from Giannis. He is dropping 30+ points and double-digit rebounds while basically playing just over half of the game. With a plus/minus of +44, this game was nothing more than just straight domination or “barbeque chicken” as Shaq likes to say for the Greek Freak.
Zion Williamson
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 11/16 | 2/2 |
History in the making on a nightly basis. Nothing less than a classic Zion game. Williamson became the first rookie since Michael Jordan to have consecutive games of 25 or more points on 57% or better shooting from the floor. Did somebody say GOAT talk?
Collin Sexton
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6/10 | 11/20 | 3/5 |
Shoot the lights out, young fella. The only player really giving the Cavaliers any chance in these games. From a fantasy perspective, Sexton is just due for these kind of nights shooting from behind the arc and he is already a high volume scorer. He is practically their whole offense.
D’Angelo Russell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 28 | 3 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5/11 | 11/22 | 1/2 |
Another all-around game for D Russ, as he is continuing to shoulder the offensive load while Karl Anthony-Towns remains out with a broken wrist. Impressive usage and efficiency considering how much the ball is played through him.
Pascal Siakam
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1/5 | 9/23 | 5/9 |
Sounds funny to say that Siakam had a rough game on a night where he nearly double-doubled with over 20 points. Nonetheless, the ball continues to run through Siakam at a high clip and it is quite obvious that the Raptors are getting him ready to be a high volume shooter for the postseason. He nearly reached his career-high of 28 shot attempts in a game. On the season, he is averaging just under 19 shots per game. More shots mean more chances for points. Simple math.
Derrick Rose
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 31 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1/2 | 15/24 | 0 |
Another blast from the past performance to end the Pistons’ seven game skid. Shades of MVP Derrick Rose in full effect for another high volume shooting night with his fair share of acrobatic lay ins and finesse finishes.
Devin Booker
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 26 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 1/4 | 10/17 | 5/7 |
Still a top 10 scorer in the league for a reason. If there is one thing Booker can do on nightly basis, it is put the ball in the hoop.
Bradley Beal
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 42 | 5 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6/15 | 17/33 | 2/4 |
No drugs here. Looks like Beal decided to dial things back after being drug tested following back-to-back 50-point games. Guess he had to give the league a break. Does not want to look to suspicious. Wink emoji.
Donovan Mitchell
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 30 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4/6 | 9/21 | 8/10 |
A walking bucket. Just one of the many offensive threats that the Jazz have at their disposal night in and night out. Looks like tonight was the Spida’s night.
Nikola Jokic
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 21 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0/2 | 9/13 | 3/4 |
The points are always going to be there. The Joker is just too crafty. From a fantasy perspective, Jokic is nearly a top ten player, so every night you get that daily dose of buckets and boards.
Paul George
| PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | TOV | 3PT | FG | FT |
| 24 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6/8 | 9/15 | 0 |
Back from injury and came out swinging. Led the Clippers to a big blowout win over the Nuggets. Do not let this man keep getting this hot from three or you might as well give the Larry O’Brien Trophy to the Clippers right now. The main thing to watch is that the combination of George, Kawhi Leonard, and Patrick Beverly are back to putting the clamps on people. They held the backcourt of Gary Harris and Jamal Murray to a combined 15 points on the night. I feel sorry for any opposing backcourt that goes against that trio.
