Kevin Durant has Washington D.C. roots, and with his free agency on the horizon, many wonder if he’ll someday play in D.C. But tonight it’s all basketball, as the Thunder and Wizards clash.
1. WARRIORS SLOW DRUMMOND, PISTONS
Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and the Warriors dismantled the Pistons and Andre Drummond Monday. | NBAE via Getty Images
Detroit’s Andre Drummond entered Monday with a ridiculous season statline — 20 points and 20 rebounds per game. Those are Wilt Chamberlain numbers.
On Monday, however, the defending champion Golden State Warriors were able to slow the big man down. Well, kinda. Drummond still had 14 points and 15 rebounds in the loss.
The Warriors were led by Klay Thompson’s 24 points, which marked the first time this season that Stephen Curry hasn’t led the Dubs in scoring. And Curry still scored 22 of his own.
Andrew Bogut had eight points and nine rebounds in his return from injury.
2. GETTING WIGGY WITH IT
Andrew Wiggins is playing at another level in the 2015-2016, and the rest of the league should be on notice. | NBAE via Getty Images
Last year’s No. 1 pick – Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins – has started to show flashes of brilliance early in the 2015-2016 season. Wiggins has scored 30+ points in his last two games, both Timberwolves wins.
Wiggins’ T’Wolves squad traveled to Atlanta to take on the red-hot Hawks Monday and surged to a massive lead. At halftime it was 72-42 Wolves, and they eventually held a 34-point lead. The Hawks battled back in the second half, forcing the Wolves to scrap down the stretch to eke out the 117-107 win. Wiggins finished with a season-high 33.
And how about the other big young star in Minnesota? Karl-Anthony Towns was huge once again, dropping 17 points on seven shots to go along with 12 rebounds and 3 blocks.
3. SMOOTH JAZZ
Rudy Gobert has been a key cog in a Utah defense that leads the NBA. | NBAE via Getty Images
The Minnesota Timberwolves have gotten most of the shine in the Northwest Division so far, but Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz are right behind them at 4-2.
Gobert is tied with Miami’s Hassan Whiteside with an average of 4 blocks per game and is continuing to add to the hype train that picked up steam last season. As a team, the Jazz boast the best Defensive Rating (estimate of points allowed per 100 possessions) in the league at 92.8.
Today that defense gets a true test when the Jazz take on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers, who have the third-ranked offense in the league.
4. DURANT BACK IN D.C.
Kevin Durant is back in his old stomping grounds for today’s matchup against the Washington Wizards. | NBAE via Getty Images
Kevin Durant’s looming free agency has led to countless questions about the possibility he could return home to Washington D.C. to play for the Wizards. But for now, Durant says he’s focused on the task at hand, which today happens to be John Wall, Bradley Beal and the 3-3 Wizards.
Thunder head coach Billy Donovan has implemented an offensive system that is working out quite well. Easy, right? Give the ball to Russell Westbrook or KD and let the magicians show off their tricks.
Okay, it’s a bit more complex than that, but the Thunder have the second best Offensive Rating behind the Warriors.
Westbrook leads the league in assists per game (10.9) and he’ll battle against John Wall, who has been playing some of the best basketball of his career this season. He’s breaking down defenses with ease and is second in the league in steals per game (2.5).
Buckle up, because this one should be good.
5. Three Notable Numbers
Karl-Anthony Towns is tearing it up in his rookie season. | NBAE via Getty Images
– Andre Drummond is the first player with 135 points and 135 rebounds through 7 games since Wilt Chamberlain (1970).
– The Big KAT – Karl-Anthony Towns – has four double doubles through his first six games. Others to do that? Shaquille O’Neal (6), Dikembe Mutumbo (5), David Robinson (5) and Alonzo Mourning (4).
– Russell Westbrook is scoring or assisting on over 50 points per game for the Thunder and he’s had a hand in 45% of the Thunder’s points.
