Five Fast Facts From NBA Games: 2.8.13

If you didn’t spend all night watching every NBA game (technically impossible, unless you have a heck of a DVR and do not require sleep), you can get caught up in less than a minute with SheridanHoops’daily feature, Five Fast Facts.

It was another Friday night packed with NBA action. Milestones were set, records were broken and LeBron somehow became more impressive. He is still the front-runner for the leagues Most Extraterrestrial Player. 

So without further ado…

The Facts:

1. Friday night in Miami was a LeBron-A-Thon as the Heat beat the Clippers 111-89. LeBron James recorded his 51^st game of at least 30 points, five rebounds and five assists since joining Miami three seasons ago. That is more than the next two players combined: Kevin Durant (20), Kobe Bryant (18). LBJ shot 9-for-11, giving him 37 makes on his last 47 attempts and his fourth 30-point game in a row. During that four-game span James has 123 points on 49 shots. More LeBron: James is shooting 55.95 percent this season (Jordan’s best season FG% 53.9%). Wow.
2. Jason Kidd became the second point guard in NBA history to reach the 12,000 assist mark – John Stockton (15,806) being the other – as the Knicks overcame an 11-point fourth quarter deficit to beat the Timberwolves 100-94. Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points, including the go-ahead basket with 1:10 remaining. This is the 17^th time this season he has topped 30 points.
3. The enigmatic Los Angeles Lakers continued their unpredictable season Friday night, erasing a 20-point second-half deficit in the final 17 minutes to beat the Bobcats 100-93. During that span they outscored Charlotte 49-22. It may have only gotten so bad because of Kobe Bryant’s poor first half. Bryant finished with 20 points after going scoreless in the first half. It was the second-most points Bryant has scored in a game in his career after a scoreless first half. Yes, desperate times call for desperate measures.
4. The Indiana Pacers, winners of five in a row, snapped their 15-game home winning streak Friday, losing to the Toronto Raptors 100-98 in overtime. The newest Raptor, Rudy Gay, came up big for Toronto, scoring 17 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, including a game-winner with 1.7 seconds to play. The Raptors are the only team in the NBA to win twice at Indiana this season.
5. New Orleans Hornets point guard Greivis Vasquez may be the NBA’s most improved player this year. Vasquez recorded his first career triple-double, tallying 21 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds as the Hornets beat the Hawks 111-100 Friday night. He has been terrific all year. Not to be outdone, Atlanta’s Kyle Korver continued to scorch the earth from beyond the 3-point line. Korver went 3-of-6 from 3-point range, setting a franchise record with his 43^rd consecutive game making at least one 3-pointer. Mookie Blaylock (42) previously held the record.

Congrats to my brother @greivisvasquez on his first of many triple doubles..#mostimproved

February 9, 2013 1:59 am via EchofonReplyRetweetFavorite

@KDTrey5

Kevin Durant

Bonus: James Harden scored 20 points on a perfect 8-for-8 from the field in the first half Friday in Houston’s crucial 118-103 win over Portland. That ties the most field goals he’s made in ANY half in his career, and is the most field goals he’s made without a miss in any half in his career. He finished with 35 points on 13-of-16 shooting.

Ben Baroff is an aspiring sports journalist and marketing professional who blogs and writes columns for SheridanHoops.com. Follow him on Twitter.