November 7 was a busy night in the NBA, with all 30 teams in action. Games started in staggered increments of 15 minutes, and there were interesting matchups with important outcomes.
Although it’s early in the season, there are a few things fans can take away from Monday’s games.
Bucks’ First Loss: The Milwaukee Bucks were dealt their first loss of the season. The Atlanta Hawks, without Trae Young, won 117-98. Dejounte Murray led Atlanta’s scoring with 25 points. Khris Middleton is still unavailable for Milwaukee, and it is unclear when he may return. The Bucks are still at the top of the east with their 9-1 record.
Luka! (photo, Dallas Mavericks)
Luka for MVP: Luka Dončić continues to make an early case for himself as the league MVP. He had 36 points,six6 rebounds,six6 assists,three3 steals, and a block in the Maverick’s 96-94 win over the Brooklyn Nets. This was Dončić’s ninth straight 30+ point game to start the season. This streak is second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 23-game streak to start the 1962-63 season. If Luka can keep this up, he’ll receive a lot of MVP votes.
Warriors Got a Much-Needed Win: The defending champs snapped their five-game losing streak with a 116-113 win over the Sacramento Kings. Steph Curry has proven his value again this season during a time when some fans worry the Warriors were suffering from a “championship hangover.” Curry’s stat line speaks for itself. He became the first player since 1977-78 to have at least 47 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Curry’s line: 48 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists. Golden State improved its record to 4-7.
Jazz on Top after Another Laker Loss: The Utah Jazz is currently leading the West with their 9-3 record after Utah defeated the Lakers 139-116. Anthony Davis led the Lakers with 29 points, but that wasn’t enough to get the win. As a team, LA has a 2-8 record, the second-worst in the West. The surprising Jazz is in first place after trading Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, and a renovated roster has overcome those losses. Jordan Clarkson is helping to fill the void.
