Starting 5 Daily Newsletter

Starting 5, Jan. 15: Do you know these Damian Lillard clutch stats?

Lillard sinks his first #TissotBuzzerBeater as a member of the Bucks. Wolves jump back into first as a full MLK Day awaits.

January 15, 2024 3:08 PM

What a way to finish the weekend.

Damian Lillard’s #TissotBuzzerBeater — and mandatory Dame Time gif — leads the way today, along with a look at just how clutch he’s been since joining the league. (Hint: Very)

Then, we look ahead and invite you to join the NBA family today as we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. all day.

Tap here for more from MLK Day.

NBA History Quiz: Who holds the record for the most points scored in an MLK Day game? Find the answer in Section 3

THE LINEUP 🏀

⌚ Dame Time in Milwaukee
⏰ Sunday’s best in 2 mins
🏀 MLK Day in the NBA
⏪ Weekend rewind
📸 Photos of the week

The Wolves beat the Clippers to move back into sole possession of first in the West, Nikola Jokic joined Oscar Robertson with a major 40-game milestone and D-Wade had a monumental, emotional night in Miami.

Today brings 11 games, four between TNT and NBA TV, starting with Philly-Atlanta at 1 ET on NBA TV. Find the full schedule here

For three: Your vote counts 3x today in NBA All-Star Voting presented by AT&T. Tap here to help get your favorites to Indy

1. DAME TIME, FOR THE 1ST TIME IN GREEN

After stunning the Kings in overtime, Damian Lillard delights his new team's fans with his vintage 'Dame Time' celebration.

When Damian Lillard pulled up with time expiring, tucking the ball into twine from 30 feet out, he did more than just hit his first game-winning buzzer-beater as a Buck.

With his bucket, which capped a wild 143-142 OT win over the Kings (watch it all here), Lillard helped his case as one of the game’s all-time clutch performers.

Most the final 5 seconds: Since Lilllard’s rookie season in 2012, he’s made 10 game-winners in the last five seconds with the score within five. That ranks first among all players. Steph Curry’s second with nine.
Most in clutch time: Since 2012, Dame has hit more 3-pointers (132) with the score within five in the final five minutes of a regular season game than anybody else. Curry’s second at 124, followed by James Harden, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving
A class of five: The game-winner gave Lillard 2,500 treys for his career, joining Curry, Ray Allen, Harden and Reggie Miller as the only players to hit that threshold

Origins of ‘Dame Time’: Lillard’s iconic nickname started to rise after this series-winning buzzer-beater for Portland against Houston in 2014

‘Chills’: Watch Dame react to that 2014 moment
Every angle of Lillard’s Tissot Buzzer Beater from Sunday night, right here
‘We took it back’: Hear Bucks coach Adrian Griffin break down the final sequence
Where’s this one rank on the NBA.com Horry Scale?

2. SUNDAY’S BEST IN 2 MINUTES

Jokic, 1 of 2 ever: On the way to Denver’s win over Indiana, Nikola Jokic became the second player in league history with 1,000 points, 450 rebounds and 350 assists within his first 40 games of a season. Oscar Robertson first set the mark 62 years ago

‘I didn’t dream of this’: Dwyane Wade was speechless when Pat Riley revealed that the Heat would be making a statue for Flash – first in team history – as part of a night dedicated to honoring the new Hall of Famer. The emotions came right after.

Wolves lead West … again: A night after Oklahoma City drew even with the Minnesota Timberwolves for the best record in the West, the Wolves – leaders for most of the year – jumped back into sole possession of first with a W over the red-hot Clippers

Timberwolves 109, Clippers 105: In a showdown between the top team in the West and one of its hottest, Minnesota got 33 points from Anthony Edwards – including 20 in a 35-23 third quarter for the Wolves. Peep the hesi, the Euro & the reverse from Ant here. | Recap

Nuggets 117, Pacers 109: Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. each put up 25 points to move Denver a game behind Minnesota out West. One of the night’s best moments belonged to former Nugget Bruce Brown, who got his championship ring, heard a ‘Bruce’ chant from the Denver crowd and got mobbed by his former teammates. | Recap
Milwaukee 143, Sacramento 142 (OT): Dame’s bucket ended a classic between two of the game’s best offenses – one that saw Sacramento rally from 12 down in the fourth to force overtime, and Milwaukee win after being down four late in OT. | Recap
Giannis Antetokounmpo had the 40th triple-double of his career, while Domantas Sabonis became the first player in NBA history to have 20+ pts, 15+ ast and 10+ reb while shooting 90% or better
Heat 104, Hornets 87: On a night of celebration in Miami, the Heat got a near triple-double from Bam Adebayo and a career-high 15 first-quarter points from Jaime Jaquez Jr. before the rook left the game due to injury. | Recap
Phoenix 127, Portland 116: Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal combined for 78 points to offset a career-high 33 from Scoot Henderson. | Recap

3. MLK DAY IN THE NBA

During 2024 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and beyond, the NBA will honor Dr. King's legacy through action that answers the needs of today.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and beyond, the NBA will honor Dr. King’s legacy through action that answers the needs of today. Hear from the NBA family on the importance of continuing to celebrate his legacy.

We are reminded of the continued responsibility to protect and promote freedom and justice for all people.

The time is always right to do what is right.

Eleven games await on the 38th edition of MLK Day in the NBA, including four across TNT & NBA TV.

Sixers-Rockets, 1 ET on NBA TV: With Joel Embiid (questionable) back at practice on Sunday, could the Kia Race to the MVP leader return for a matinee matchup with one of the game’s elite young big men, in Houston’s Alperen Sengun?
Special TNT coverage starts at 2:30 on TNT
Spurs-Hawks, 3:30 ET on TNT: Back at No. 1 in Steve Aschburner’s Kia Rookie Ladder, Victor Wembanyama’s had a big last week-plus. From a viral dunk that’s now @NBA IG’s most-viewed video ever to his first triple-double (and second fastest in NBA history), the Spurs rookie’s switch to center from PF has seen him average 22.6 ppg, 9.8 reb and 3.2 ast in January.
Warriors-Grizzlies, 6 ET on TNT: Will Draymond make his return to the Dubs, who find themselves at 12th in the West – a game and a half out of the final Play-In spot (and just 2.5 out of seventh) in a wildly crowded conference?
Thunder-Lakers, 10:30 ET on NBA TV: One of the hottest teams in the league, Oklahoma City could move back into a tie for first with a win over LA. But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (3rd in scoring, 1st in steals in the NBA) and OKC will be tested on their road trip – starting with LeBron & a Lakers squad looking to find their stride again

MLK Day Hoops History

History quiz answer (& more): Damian Lillard’s 61 points in 2020 set a record for the most points scored on MLK Day. Tap here for records from 37 years of MLK Day games
All-Time great MLK Day games: From Dame to a Warriors-Cavs showdown coming off the 2016 Finals to a Kemba Walker masterpiece, how many of these do you remember?

4. WEEKEND IN REVIEW: ALL-TIME JOKER DIME, OKC KEEPS RISING

Friday

The Joker dime: Nikola Jokic felt that Aaron Gordon was gonna be there. Threw a pass completely behind his head, facing the other direction. And Aaron Gordon was there.
It wasn’t the first time. Use 80 seconds this Monday morning for the best no-look dimes ever from one of the best passers ever
Old-school Miami W: The Heat beat the Magic, 99-96, in just the seventh game this year that saw a team win without scoring 100 points
No. 1 vs. No. 2 Pick: Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs took down Brandon Miller’s Hornets in the first matchup between the top two picks in the 2023 NBA Draft, putting up a 26-pt, 11-reb double-double in just 20 mins. Wemby leads all rookies in points, rebounds & blocks

Saturday

19-0. After hitting 24 treys to beat the Rockets, the Celtics still haven’t lost at home, rattling off the longest home unbeaten streak to open a season (19) in the 78-year history of the franchise
Two-way SGA: Shai-Gilgeous Alexander put up his league-leading 11th game this year with 30+ pts and 3+ steals, sending the Thunder to the win over the Magic – one of the league’s top defenses
Jazz in rhythm: Utah has won five games in a row — the league’s longest win streak — after defeating the Lakers on Saturday night. Rookie Keyonte George scored 17 of his 19 in the second half to lead the Jazz back from 12 down
Rising tide: SGA (25 years old) and George (20) paced a night that belonged to young stars, with Pelicans rook Jordan Hawkins (34 pts), Houston rook Cam Whitmore (22 pts) and Golden State second-year guard Jonathan Kuminga (28) all scoring career-highs

5. PHOTOS OF THE WEEK