Thursday’s four-game slate delivered some historic moments, while an up-and-coming team got some bad news as the 2024–25 NBA Season continues to heat up.
Klay Thompson Joins Steph Curry in Prolific Three-Point Club
Thompson, one of the NBA’s premier marksmen from downtown, hit two triples in the Dallas Mavericks’ 108-102 loss to the Houston Rockets at American Airlines Arena.
With this pair of trifectas, both of which came at the height of the Mavs’ furious fourth-quarter rally, Thompson now joins five others as the only six NBA players to have made 2,500 threes. Leading the list is Steph Curry at 3,758 and counting, followed by Ray Allen (2,973), James Harden (2,950), Damian Lillard (2,619), and Reggie Miller (2,560).
Thompson achieved this milestone in just 798 games—second to Curry as the fastest all time to reach 2,500 total threes.
Victor Wembanyama Records 5×5, Joins Elite Company
The San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama followed a career-worst game with a historic one, recording 25 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks to lead the Spurs past the Utah Jazz at Delta Center.
Wembanyama’s 5×5 is only the 23rd time an NBA player has recorded at least 5 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 5 steals, and 5 blocks in a game. He was the last one to do it as well, achieving the feat last season as a rookie. With his second 5×5, Wembanyama is now only one of three players to have recorded such a stat line, joining Hakeem Olajuwon (six times) and Andrei Kirilenko (three times).
Bucks Drop Fourth Straight in Early Season Struggles
The Milwaukee Bucks are reeling early in the season, following up their opening-day win over the Philadelphia 76ers with four straight losses, with the last one a blowout against the Memphis Grizzlies, 122-99, at the FedEx Forum.
Ja Morant finished with a triple-double of 26 points, 10 rebounds, and 14 for the Grizzlies, while Giannis Antetokounmpo had 37 points and 11 rebounds for the Bucks, who saw All-Star guard Damian Lillard finish with only 4 points on 1-for-12 shooting.
Orlando Magic to Be Without Main Man Paolo Banchero
The Orlando Magic announced on Friday that franchise centerpiece Paolo Banchero will be sidelined indefinitely due to a torn right oblique. The Magic star sustained the injury in the fourth quarter of the team’s 102-99 loss to the Chicago Bulls on Thursday.
Banchero, who has been averaging 29.0 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 5.6 assists, will be re-evaluated in four to six weeks. His return to the court, according to Magic sources, will depend on how he responds to treatment.