For two players facing different roads to redemption, Monday, November 10 marked a day that was a long time coming in the NBA.
With 10 teams taking part in five games, the association was graced with former stars returning to their status. An injury-prone MVP had his best scoring performance in almost three years, while an embattled center did the same.
With another massive triple-double sprinkled in, here’s everything that transpired.
1. LeBron James and Kyrie Irving both scored 32 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 118-111 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. James complemented his 32 points with 12 assists and 10 rebounds to overcome 32 points by Ryan Anderson and 27 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, four steals and three blocks by Anthony Davis.
This was James’ 19th triple-double with at least 30 points scored. No other player has more than two since James’ rookie season.
2. Derrick Rose scored 24 points and Jimmy Butler scored 19 to guide the Chicago Bulls past the Detroit Pistons 102-91. Pau Gasol added 17 points, 15 rebounds, four assists, four blocks and a steal, while Joakim Noah posted 13 points, 14 boards and six dimes.
Rose’s 24 points are his most since April 15, 2012.
3. Kawhi Leonard posted 26 points and 10 rebounds, and Blake Griffin pulled a Chris Webber in an 89-85 San Antonio Spurs victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Griffin called a timeout when the Clippers didn’t have one, thus enabling San Antonio to pull out the W.
Leonard’s 26 points set a new career-high.
4. Roy Hibbert scored 29 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 97-86 victory over the Utah Jazz. Gordon Hayward scored 30 points on 11-of-15 shooting for the Jazz, while A.J. Price scored 22 points and LaVoy Allen tallied 12 points and 15 rebounds off of the bench for Indiana.
Hibbert’s 29 points are his most since February 21, 2012.
5. Despite shooting just 38.0 percent from the field, the Atlanta Hawks used accuracy at the free throw line to defeat the New York Knicks 91-85. Paul Millsap led the Hawks with 19 points, while Carmelo Anthony tallied 25 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for the Knicks.
Atlanta shot 27-of-28 from the charity stripe. New York was 7-of-12.
Bonus Fact: The only players in NBA history with more 30-point triple-doubles than James are Wilt Chamberlain at 21 and Oscar Robertson ad 106.