The Sportsletter - Early Hoops Hype 🏀

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BY JEFF YODER

NOV. 7, 2024 | SUBSCRIBE | WEB VIEW

Good Morning 👋

A chilly Wednesday night in November could only mean one thing: Winter is coming. It’s early-season hoops hype in today’s midweek edition. Plenty of early NBA and NCAA storylines have our attention. Nikola Jokic is a stat-stuffing maniac and UConn begins their quest for the 3-peat. Plus, there’s an AFC North banger tonight on Thursday Night Football (Bengals at Ravens, 8:15 pm ET). Yes, please.

⭐️ Star of the Night

🎥 Creighton’s Ryan Kalkbrenner Goes Off for 49 Points

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NBA

Joker's Gone Wild: Another 20-20-10

Photo: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Images

Nikola Jokic (23-20-16) Notches 4th Triple Double in First 8 Games of NBA Season

I’ll level with you, team. I went hunting record books but came up empty. Nikola Jokic now has seven career 20-20-10 games, and I think that's only shy of Wilt Chamberlain (still confirming). Regardless, the former 3x MVP is on a roll right now. After a somewhat slow start — 0-2 — the Nuggets' big man packaged his fourth triple double (in just eight games) last night. Denver handed Oklahoma City its first loss of the season (124-122), and the Joker (23 pts, 20 rebs, 16 ast) was a menace. Those 16 dimes helped get his teammates involved, and three of them also went for 20-plus — Russell Westbrook (29 pts), Christian Braun (24 pts), Michael Porter Jr. (24 pts). The Nuggets have won five out of six after the 0-2 starts, and the Joker has a grip on the early MVP odds.

Nikola Jokic’s 1st 8 Games

29.6 Pts | 12.6 Rebs | 10.3 Asts | 54.3% FG

Watch: Jokic’s 20-20-10 Game Hands Thunder 1st Loss (124-122)

🏀 Other NBA Highlights

Hawks def. Knicks (121-116)

Top Pick Zacharrie Risacher (33 pts, 7 rebs)

Warriors def. Celtics (118-112)

Steph Curry (27-7-9) in ’22 Finals Rematch

Grizzlies def. Lakers (131-114)

LeBron James Has 39 Points in Losing Effort

Cavaliers def. Pelicans (131-122)

Donovan Mitchell (29 pts), Cavs Stay Perfect (9-0)

Suns def. Heat (115-112)

Kevin Durant (32 pts), Suns Improve to 7-1

Clippers def. 76ers (110-98)

LAC Boos Paul George in Return Game

NCAA

Hurley, Huskies & 3-Peat History

Photo: Icon Sportswire / Getty Images

Huskies Hang Banner to Celebrate 2024 Title Before Beginning Quest for Historic NCAA 3-Peat

The fresh beginnings of a new college basketball season are upon us, and it wouldn’t be college hoops without checking in on Dan Hurley and his Husky dynasty. UConn raised their 2024 championship banner last night in Storrs, Connecticut, and then they handed Sacred Heart a 36-point shellacking that was to be expected (92-56). These first few weeks of tune-up games are hard to cover, honestly. UConn opens the season at No. 3 in the rankings behind only #1 Kansas and #2 Alabama. The Huskies said goodbye to Donovan Clingan and Stephon Castle in last year’s NBA Draft, but one familiar face is still in town. Alex Karaban (20 pts, 7 ast, 6 rebs, 7 blks) had a monster night in limited minutes.

Watch: UConn Hangs Banner, Crushes Sacred Heart in Season Opener (92-56)

Hurley’s Huskies’ 3-Peat Quest

You might remember the summer whirlwind where Hurley spurned the Lakers after Los Angeles offered him $70 million to coach the team. Hurley chose to return to Storrs, which is still mind-boggling to many. But hey, a shot at history? The last men’s NCAA basketball team to win three straight titles was UCLA (1971-73). In fact, UCLA did it twice, and they’re the only team to ever do it. Legendary head coach John Wooden holds that accolade all to himself. Hurley's Huskies are hunting history.

POLL 📊

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