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It's obviously less than scientific to take this approach and make past point totals the ultimate standard for probability in this case ... but I found it somewhat stunning that nearly 100 players in today's NBA had posted a gaudier career night than Adebayo before Tuesday's South Beach proceedings. You can see for yourself by scrolling through the whole Keerthika-assembled list below. We stretched it to 107 players in the end to include the nine other active players who have scored 41 in a regular-season game to match Adebayo’s previous best. It’s a group that now includes Chicago’s Matas Buzelis, who was rumbling for 41 points of his own in an overtime win over Golden State on the same night that Bam somehow found a way to get us talking about Kobe, Wilt Chamberlain, tanking, ethical basketball and asterisks all at the same time.
During the second quarter, unprompted, Buzelis decided to start trash-talking Luka. The moment surprised Luka, but once he took in what was said, Doncic borrowed a page from Michael Jordan’s book and took it personally. “I’m not going to say what he said, but if I would’ve said that, I would definitely get a tech,” Luka said postgame. “But really, these games, sometimes you’re going easy and we kind of went easy in the first quarter, then he woke me up.”
Law Murray: Asked Matas Buzelis about Luka Doncic's comments about Buzelis' trash talk "I'd rather not say what I said. But he said something to me first. So that's why I had to respond. And I mean, I'm not gonna say what he said either. But I just felt like I responded to what he said."
?Law Murray ???: Matas Buzelis on Luka Doncic: "What was my take? ... I don't even know what to say, honestly. He started killing obviously when I started talking to him." Asked about the experience: "Probably not to talk to him."
Dave McMenamin: Reporter: When did you first know as a player that you’re the type of person that can hear [trash talk] and channel it [as fuel]? Luka Doncic: “2nd of February, 2001” (When Luka would have been about to turn two years old) “I don’t know. I don’t know exactly when.”
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Benjamin Royer: Austin Reaves on Luka Doncic's trash talk: "Half the time I don’t even know what the hell he’s saying. It’s never in English."
K.C. Johnson: Bulls upgrade Patrick Williams and Jalen Smith to questionable vs. Kings. Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey also listed as questionable.
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K.C. Johnson: Trail Blazers 121, Bulls 112 11th straight loss and 14th in 15 games. Ties for 3rd-longest losing streak in franchise history. Previous 11-gm skid occurred in 1999-2000 season. Matas Buzelis 20 pts, 7 in doubles. Jerami Grant 27 pts, 7 in doubles. Portland scored combined 43 pts off TOs/rebs
Following the recent trades, how do you see your role shifting toward leadership alongside players like Josh Giddey? Matas Buzelis: I talked to Billy about it, how I need to be more vocal as a player and I need to speak to guys. You know, guys don't know sets, guys don't know the defense and I have to be more vocal every time I step on the court to try to help my team win. And you know, I feel like I have, I wouldn't say pressure, but I can't find the word right now, I have to talk to everybody more. I have to be communicating on defense for us and also put on an example in the gym of, you know, how I work. And that's all it takes for some guys, just to see how guys work and they can put it into their game.
How has your relationship with Coach Donovan evolved from your first year to your second? Matas Buzelis: Honestly, just building a bond together, building the trust. You're not just going to come in and the coach is going to love you right away. You have to always build a bond. And me and Billy have gotten pretty close. And I'm able to communicate whatever I have on my mind to him.
How does it feel to carry the responsibility of providing for your family through your basketball career? Matas Buzelis: I always remember when my mother was crying and she didn't have any money to even drive us to practice. Sometimes you couldn't fill up the gas and that I always remember. When I step on the court, all the fear exits my body because I know this is what I love to do. And yeah, I have no stress doing it because I know my family's good and I know that I'm capable of many things.
