About Last Night

About Last Night: Karl-Anthony Towns joins elite company

Spurs silence Staples Center in overtime thriller; Blazers start Halloween early in Portland

Lonny Krasnow, NBA.com

October 23, 2018 6:14 AM

Karl-Anthony Towns played in his 250th career game Monday night, finishing with 17 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks in the Timberwolves’ 101-91 victory over the Pacers.

The fourth-year center joined an impressive club in the process. With career averages of 21.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, Towns is one of 26 players in NBA history to average 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds through their first 250 games. And Towns is the youngest to reach 250 games.

The previous five players to accomplish the feat: Blake Griffin, Tim Duncan, Alonzo Mourning, Shaquille O’Neal and David Robinson.

Popovich draws up another winner

Staples Center was rocking after LeBron James drilled a deep 3-pointer to force overtime. The Lakers, seeking their first win of the season, had just erased an 18-point deficit against the Spurs.

In OT, however, it was the Spurs who came storming back with a 7-0 run to close the game, capped by Patty Mills’ game-winning jumper.

The deciding play was vintage Gregg Popovich. Drawing attention to DeMar DeRozan (the inbounder) and LaMarcus Alrdridge (the receiver), who had dominated the Lakers with a combined 69 points, Mills comes off the screen for a clean look. Spurs lead for good.

PATTY MILLS! #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/5sM9zAlxjJ

— NBA TV (@NBATV) October 23, 2018

“It’s a play we’ve run over and over … usually with Tim, Tony and Manu.”

— Mills on the game winner

Blazers arrive in Halloween costumes

The Blazers celebrated Halloween a bit early on Monday, arriving to Moda Center wearing some amazing outfits.

Damian Lillard stole the show when he strolled in as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, complete with mask, championship belt and just the right amount of swagger.

And that’s the bottom line, because @Dame_Lillard said so. pic.twitter.com/JvIMyoVkJQ

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 23, 2018

Blazers rookies Anfernee Simons and Gary Trent Jr. clearly did not choose their costumes.

• More photos: Blazers get Halloween started early

Slovenian sensation shows sleight of hand

Mavs rookie Luka Doncic has produced plenty of highlights already this season, but this one may be the best. Doncic drives into the paint and fakes out two defenders before finding DeAndre Jordan for an easy bucket.

All in the family

Whether he’s dribbling the basketball with his feet or nailing shots from the tunnel, Stephen Curry’s pregame ritual has become a sight to behold.

Steph incorporated his father, Dell, into the routine last season when he spotted the him standing over on the sideline. Steph tossed the ball to the elder Curry, who promptly banked home a 40-footer.

Steph’s mother, Sonya, got into the act last night. Sitting courtside, the former collegiate volleyball star set up her son for a corner 3.

https://twitter.com/warriors/status/1054546558467813376

Markieff Morris being Markieff Morris

Markieff Morris scored 28 points and grabbed nine rebounds in the Wizards’ first win of the season, a 125-124 overtime victory in Portland. Even when he was on the bench, Morris was trying to help his team: