The Opening Tip

Must-watch games

You gotta give.

1. Scoring is down now

The Magic scored 75 points on Friday night, a new season-low by any team. Last night, the Knicks topped (bottomed?) that by scoring 73, matching Luka Doncic’s single-game output vs. the Hawks earlier this season.

These games are drastic but indicative: Since the NBA’s scoring averages went gonzo in October, November, December and January  -- creating a decent measure of bad press and existential questions -- the averages have plummeted. 

This could be fatigue, technically, but Ethan Strauss, via his newsletter, floated this on Saturday:

OK.

The big alleged rule change is how drives to the basket are reffed, wrote Strauss:

We’ve got six games tonight. Watch out for less scoring and more complaining after no-calls. 

[READ: GMs and HCs think the NBA changed its rules midseason]

2. Daily GIF: This close 🤏

Ant Edwards almost ended Anthony Davis last night a few days after his game-winning, Play of the Year Candidate block vs. the Pacers.

3. Trivia

4. Numbers we found interesting but couldn’t find a higher use for

30-point triple-doubles

Luka Doncic on Saturday became the first player to have six straight 30-point triple-doubles. For the season, he’s averaging 34.8-9-9.8.

88 games

Heard on the Knicks’ broadcast last night: Walt Bellamy has the record for games played in one season with 88(!).

45 double-doubles

Domantas Sabonis has a current streak of 45 straight double-doubles, which is eight away from tying Kevin Love’s post-NBA-ABA merger of 53. Sabonis is averaging 20-13.5-8.4 on 61% shooting, but didn’t make the All-Star Game.

1,208 games

LeBron has now scored 10-plus points in 1,208 straight games, which a Redditor points out is longer than Shaq’s career.

Quick hits

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