Wembanyama's 52-24-8 headlines a night the NBA's stars took over

The line of the night

Victor Wembanyama recorded 52 points, 24 rebounds and 8 blocked shots as the Spurs beat the Dallas Mavericks 112-111, and the Spurs postcast noted that only Bob McAdoo had previously recorded a 50-point, 20-rebound, 5-block game in NBA history. The win stretched the Spurs' winning streak to six games. The postcast hosts also pointed to a tactical shift behind the streak: the Spurs have moved their offense to prioritize Wembanyama after early attempts to force guard-heavy lineups, and they won this one despite shooting 5 of 36 from three-point range. m:…1905

The rest of the night belonged to the league's other stars. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 32 of his 42 points in the second half as the Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Cleveland Cavaliers in back-to-back games, with AJ Mitchell averaging 21.6 points on 53 percent shooting over the last five games. The Thunder did it shorthanded, missing Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic and Dillon Sorber, and the postcast hosts credited the supporting cast, including Alex Caruso's return from injury, for the connective playmaking that held the team together. m:…0342

Doncic and Jokic keep their runs going

Luka Doncic is averaging approximately 43 points per game over his last five games, and the Lakers podcast noted he is the first player in NBA history to record six consecutive games with at least 35 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 5 three-pointers. Austin Reaves recorded 21 points and zero turnovers in the game against the Kings, the Lakers held the Kings to no 30-point quarters, and Walker Kessler was integral to the defensive success in the fourth quarter — all while the Lakers shot 32 percent from three-point range. Coach JJ Redick is utilizing Jake LaRavia in the starting lineup for his size and rebounding ability. m:…0144

Nikola Jokic recorded 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists in under 30 minutes of play against the Toronto Raptors, and the Denver Nuggets outscored the Raptors 41-15 in the third quarter. Denver shot 61 percent from the field and 39 percent from three-point range, Bryce Hopkins scored 18 points on seven shots, and Tyus Jones recorded eight assists and only one turnover. DeMar DeRozan was a late scratch from the game due to low back spasms. m:…9644

The surprise team, and the team that keeps finding ways

The Portland Trail Blazers improved to 6-1 after defeating the Phoenix Suns 132-119, and they are 5-0 on the road for the first time since the 1990-91 season. Portland outscored the Suns 43-25 in the second quarter, and the Blazers podcast noted Damian Lillard had his best driving game of the season. The win came with a cost: Krejci sustained a fracture in his leg during the game. Against the Rockets, the Timberwolves scored 33 points off 18 turnovers and their bench outscored the Rockets' bench 38 to 29, though they shot 52.6 percent from the free-throw line. m:…8281 m:…8515

What the night says about the early season

One night does not make a season, but the shape of it is worth noting. The biggest performances came from teams that have decided who they are: the Spurs building everything around Wembanyama, the Lakers riding Doncic's scoring run, the Nuggets letting Jokic do the work in under 30 minutes. This suggests the early season is sorting itself into teams with a clear first option and teams still searching for one. The Thunder are the exception that tests the rule — winning back-to-back games against Cleveland while missing Chet Holmgren, Cason Wallace, Nikola Topic and Dillon Sorber — and the Blazers are the other one, at 6-1 with a road record their franchise has not matched since 1990-91. The open question is whether the shooting holds up: the Spurs won while shooting 5 of 36 from three, and the Lakers won while shooting 32 percent, which are the kinds of numbers that usually lose games. m:…1905 m:…0144 m:…9644 m:…0342 m:…8281