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The Five: Everything to know for Week 20

Witnessing history in real time, Durant set to make Suns debut, marquee matchups and more.

Brian Martin, for NBA.com

Damian Lillard scores career-high, franchise-record 71 points in a win over Rockets.

Every Monday we will tell you what you need to know heading into a new week of NBA action.

1. Witnessing history in real time

When it comes to incredible statistical achievements, the 1961-62 season has always been the bar by which all other seasons are measured.

It featured Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game and unbelievable 50.4 points per game average – two records that have yet to be seriously challenged, as Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game and Michael Jordan’s 37.1 ppg in 1986-87 are the closest any player has come.

It featured Oscar Robertson averaging a triple-double in his second NBA season – a feat that took 55 years for another player to achieve when Russell Westbrook joined The Big O in 2016-17.

It featured Elgin Baylor’s 61-point game in the NBA Finals – a record that still holds for the championship series and one that stood as the playoff record for 24 years before Michael Jordan topped it in 1986.

Like many NBA fans today, I was not alive to witness the 1961-62 season. I’ve read about it in books and watched grainy highlight reels of those legendary players and feats, but it is different to witness it in person and in real-time.

Over six decades later, the NBA is experiencing another season of remarkable statistical achievements, and now younger generations can witness performances like the ones their elders raved about back in the day.

Just this week, we saw the second-highest scoring game in NBA history as the Sacramento Kings edged out the LA Clippers 176-175 in double-overtime. Only Detroit’s 186-184 win over Denver in triple-overtime on Dec. 13, 1983 has seen more points scored in an NBA game.

Most points, both teams combined, single game

  • 370—Detroit (186) at Denver (184), Dec. 13, 1983 (3 OT)
  • 351—Sacramento (176) at LA Clippers (175), Feb. 24, 2023 (2 OT)
  • 337—San Antonio (171) vs. Milwaukee (166), March 6, 1982 (3 OT)
  • 329—Chicago (168) at Atlanta (161), March 1, 2019 (4 OT)
  • 320—Golden State (162) at Denver (158), Nov. 2, 1990
  • 318—Denver (163) vs. San Antonio (155), Jan. 11, 1984

Two days after that amazing game, we saw the second 71-point game of the 2022-23 season as Damian Lillard torched the Houston Rockets with career highs in both points (71) and 3-pointers made (13). Lillard’s masterpiece comes less than two months after Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell scored 71 in an overtime win over Chicago. These two games mark only the 12th and 13th games in NBA history in which a player scored at least 70 points as Lillard becomes the eighth member (and third active player) of the 70-point club.

70-point club, NBA history

  • Wilt Chamberlain: 6 70+ point games (100, 78, 73, 73, 72, 70)
  • Kobe Bryant: 81 points
  • David Thompson: 73 points
  • Elgin Baylor: 71 points
  • David Robinson: 71 points
  • Donovan Mitchell: 71 points
  • Damian Lillard: 71 points
  • Devin Booker: 70 points

Even with only four days of games due to the All-Star break, Week 19 saw another 10 games in which a player scored at least 40 points – bringing the season total to 147, which breaks the previous record of 142 set in the 1961-62 season. And there’s still a quarter of the regular season still to play to push that record even higher.

This season is also on pace to have the third-most 50+ point games and 60+ point games – which would be the most in 60 years. With 21 50+ point games already recorded, this season is on pace to reach 28, which would only trail the 1961-62 (57 games) and 1962-62 (34 games) seasons. Those same two seasons will also outpace this season in 60+ point games as 2022-23 should reach five or six games, while there were 17 in 1961-62 (15 by Chamberlain) and nine in 1962-63 (all by Chamberlain).

It will be interesting to see how history looks back at the 2022-23 NBA season, and how it compares to some of the best years ever seen.

2. Durant targeting Wednesday for Suns debut

After an active trade deadline and buyout market, we’ve seen plenty of new-look rosters over the past two weeks. Some of the moves are already paying dividends for teams looking to make a playoff push.

Of course, the player at the center of the marquee transaction of the trade deadline – Kevin Durant – has yet to make his debut with his new team in Phoenix as he has continued to work his way back to the court from an MCL sprain suffered on Jan. 8 while he was with the Brooklyn Nets.

All signs point toward Durant making his long-awaited Suns debut this week, with the target date set for Wednesday at Charlotte.

Here is Phoenix’s schedule for the week:

All eyes will be on that Sunday game against the Mavericks as Durant and Kyrie Irving will meet for the first time as opponents since both left Brooklyn in separate transactions in early February.

3. Quin Snyder era to begin in Atlanta

The Atlanta Hawks entered the All-Star break with a record of 29-30 and holding eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. Looking to make a push out of the Play-In field and into a top-six guaranteed playoff spot, the Hawks announced a coaching change this past Tuesday with the dismissal of veteran coach Nate McMillan after 179 games at the helm since assuming the job midway through the 2020-21 season and leading the Hawks to the 2021 Eastern Conference finals.

“Decisions like these, especially in-season, are always extremely difficult, but we believe it’s in the best interest of our team to move forward with another voice leading the way,” said Hawks general manager Landry Fields in the statement announcing the coaching change.

Assistant coach Joe Prunty served as interim head coach for the two games following the dismissal of McMillan, and the Hawks responded by winning both games. On Sunday, the Hawks finalized a deal to bring Quin Snyder on as their 15th full-time head coach in franchise history. Snyder spent eight seasons as the head coach of the Utah Jazz (2014-15 to 2021-22), making the playoffs six times in that span. Snyder has a history with the Hawks as he served as an assistant coach under Mike Budenholzer during the 2013-14 season.

After the two wins under Prunty, Snyder takes over a team that is one win over .500 (31-30) and in the middle of the playoff race in the Eastern Conference. The Hawks enter Week 20 in eighth place, one game back of seventh place Miami (losers of four in a row) and 3.5 games back of sixth place New York (winners of five in a row) for the coveted final guaranteed playoff berth.

Snyder has 21 games to work with as the Hawks look to salvage their season after performing below expectations through the All-Star break, which ultimately led to the coaching change.

4. National TV Spotlight: Five must-see matchups

Tuesday: Los Angeles Lakers at Memphis, 7:30 p.m. ET, TNT

Both teams start Week 20 coming off impressive wins over the weekend. The Lakers completed a 27-point comeback against the Dallas Mavericks to earn a much-needed 111-108 win on Sunday. The Grizzlies knocked off the Nuggets 112-94 on Saturday in a battle of the top two teams in the Western Conference. Which team will be able to build on that momentum to open a new week?

Wednesday: Cleveland at Boston, 7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN

Of the 27 teams that Boston has played so far this season, which is the only one that the Celtics have yet to beat? The Cleveland Cavaliers, who swept a two-game home-and-home set on Oct. 28 and Nov. 2, with both games going to overtime. Will No. 4 Cleveland continue to have No. 1 Boston’s number as they meet twice in less than a week (Wednesday on ESPN, next Tuesday on League Pass)?

Friday: Memphis at Denver, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN

This is a rematch of Saturday’s battle between the top two teams in the Western Conference. Memphis protected its home court on Saturday to even the season series 1-1. The third and final meeting of the regular season between these teams – which will determine the head-to-head tiebreaker if it is needed at season’s end – will be played in Denver on Friday night.

Saturday: Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 8:30 p.m. ET, ABC

This is a matchup of No. 2 (Milwaukee) and No. 3 (Philadelphia) in the Eastern Conference. The Bucks enter Week 20 riding a 14-game win streak as they challenge Boston for the top spot in the East, sitting just a half-game back. Meanwhile, Philly is trying to stay within striking distance of the Bucks and Celtics as they open the week 4.0 games back of Boston and 3.5 back of Milwaukee. The Bucks have been one of the best teams in defending league scoring leader Joel Embiid (33.1 ppg). In two games against Milwaukee, Embiid is averaging 23.5 ppg on 38.3% shooting – his second-lowest mark against any opponent this season in both categories.

Sunday: Phoenix at Dallas, 1 p.m. ET, ABC

Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving decided to join forces with the Brooklyn Nets back in 2019. After four years that saw plenty of turmoil and flashes of brilliance on the court, the two went their separate ways in a pair of blockbuster trades near this year’s deadline. Irving was the first to be moved as he headed to Dallas to team with All-Star Luka Doncic. Three days later, the Nets moved Durant to Phoenix in the biggest deal of trade deadline day.

Assuming Durant is able to return to the court as planned this week, this will be the first time Durant and Irving will face off as opponents in over four years.

5. League Pass games to watch: Five more to check out

Monday: Boston at New York, 7:30 p.m. ET, League Pass

The Knicks enter the week having won five straight and seven of their last eight games. Can they keep their winning ways going against the top team in the East as the Celtics visit Madison Square Garden to open Week 20? The Knicks enter the week with a solid grip on a top six spot in the East – holding a 2.5-game lead over seventh-ranked Miami in the play-in field – and looking to climb higher.

Tuesday: Portland at Golden State, 10 p.m. ET, League Pass

After dropping a career-high 71 points on Sunday against Houston, what does Damian Lillard have in store for a follow-up when the Blazers visit the Warriors to open the week? There are four players in league history that have hit at least 13 3-pointers in an NBA game. Two will be on the court – Klay Thompson (who holds the record with 14) and Lillard (who hit a career-best 13 on Sunday) – and another will be on the bench as Stephen Curry remains sidelined.

Damian Lillard makes 13 attempts from 3-point range and joins the 70-point club despite playing fewer than 40 minutes.

Wednesday: Phoenix at Charlotte, 7 p.m. ET, League Pass

We mentioned this earlier, but you have to circle this Suns at Hornets matchup on Wednesday as it is the target date for the debut of Kevin Durant in a Phoenix uniform. The Suns enter the week in fourth place in the Western Conference at 33-29 and have 20 games to work Durant into the mix and prepare for a postseason run.

Friday: LA Clippers at Sacramento, 10 p.m. ET, League Pass

Another game mentioned above. Who is ready to run back the second-highest scoring game in league history? This time the game will be in Sacramento. Is another instant classic on the horizon between these two California squads?

Saturday: Toronto at Washington, 5 p.m. ET and Atlanta at Miami, 8 p.m. ET, League Pass

The four teams that currently occupy the Eastern Conference play-in field – No. 7 Miami, No. 8 Atlanta, No. 9 Toronto and No. 10 Washington – face off in a pair of games on Saturday night. Will this be a preview of what’s to come in April at the end of the regular season? Or can one or more of these teams climb the standings and get out of the Play-In and guarantee themselves a playoff berth?

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