Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic and other NBA stars shine in busy Saturday slate

Kyle Irving

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Karl-Anthony Towns, Luka Doncic and other NBA stars shine in busy Saturday slate image

The NBA stars were out and about on a busy Saturday around the Association.

With nine games and 18 teams in action, there was plenty of star power ready to make a splash early in the 2019-20 season.

Take a look at some of the best performances from the day!

Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

Timberwolves 121, Hornets 99

Stat line: 37 points (13-18 FG, 4-7 3PT), 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 steals, 2 blocks

Karl-Anthony Towns has been an absolute monster through the first two games of the new season and the Timberwolves are 2-0 because of it.

He was completely unstoppable in Charlotte in this one, as the Hornets had no answer for the All-Star centre.

Towns nearly had a triple-double at halftime with 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Because of Minnesota's massive lead, KAT only logged 12 minutes in the second half, which makes this ridiculous stat line even more impressive.

He joins good company such as Wilt Chamberlain, Karl Malone, Elgin Baylor, Moses Malone and Anthony Davis as the only players to record 35 points and 10 rebounds in the first two games of the season.

He's averaging 36.5 points, 14.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 3.5 steals and 2.5 blocks shooting 60.0% from the field and 61.1% from 3-point range through two games.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Mavericks 123, Pelicans 116

Stat line: 25 points (10-19 FG, 3-9 3PT), 10 rebounds, 10 assists, 2 steals

Luka Doncic was magical as his play down the stretch of the game earned the Mavericks a big win to advance to 2-0.

Eight of his 25 points came in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter with the game within one bucket. He had a clutch and-1 to put the Mavericks up late, a strong take to the rim to put them up by four with under two minutes to go, and on the ensuing possession, banked in a miraculous 3-pointer to put the final dagger in the Pelicans' hopes.

With this triple-double – the ninth of his career – he builds upon his lead for the most triple-doubles in NBA history before turning 21-years-old.

Doncic is averaging 29.5 points, 9.5 rebounds and 6.5 assists through Dallas' two victories.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Nuggets 108, Suns 107 (OT)

Stat line: 23 points (8-18 FG), 14 rebounds, 12 assists, 2 blocks, 1 steal

Nikola Jokic did what Nikola Jokic does best, and that's a little bit of everything.

The Nuggets needed overtime to overcome a surging Suns team and Jokic was the star he's expected to be down the stretch of the close game. He did the majority of his damage in the third quarter where he had six points, six rebounds and three assists to give the Nuggets the lead heading into the final frame. 

When Denver was up by one point with 27 seconds left in the game, it was Jokic who knocked down the floater that should have sealed the game for his team, had it not been for a foul on a halfcourt heavy at the buzzer which ended up sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Jokic stepped up again scoring or assisting on the Nuggets first eight points of the extra period to lead the Nuggets to victory. One of the assists included this insane no-look pass to free up Gary Harris for a clutch wide open 3-pointer.

This was the 29th triple-double of his career, passing Michael Jordan on the all-time triple-doubles list.

Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Bulls 110, Grizzlies 102

Stat line: 37 points (13-23 FG, 4-8 3PT), 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals, 1 block

Zach LaVine had it going from the get-go against the Grizzlies.

He started the contest with a quick 10 points in the first quarter and had 20 points by the half. He cooled off a bit in the third quarter but his 11 points shooting 3-for-4 from the field in the fourth helped bring the Bulls to their first victory of the season.

LaVine is no stranger to big scoring outings, but it was a good sign to see him bounce back after a tough 17-point performance in Chicago's season opener versus the Hornets.

Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

Nets 113, Knicks 109

Stat line: 26 points (8-19 FG, 2-8 3PT), 5 assists, 3 steals, 2 rebounds

It wasn't exactly the 50-point outing that Kyrie Irving posted in his Nets debut, but I'm sure he'd take this result over that one.

The Knicks nearly snuck out a win in the Battle of the Boroughs, but Irving's clutch gene kicked in just in time to pick up his first win in a Brooklyn uniform.

Trailing by one point with 25 seconds to go, Irving got to his spot on the floor – the right wing where we've seen him knock down so many big shots. Well, you could guess how that went for the Knicks.

Irving was just 1-for-7 from beyond the arc before he got that shot to go. He is now averaging 38.0 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds through two games with the Nets.

Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Trail Blazers 122, Kings 112

Stat line: 35 points (12-20 FG, 3-7 3PT), 5 assists, 5 rebounds, 3 steals

Damian Lillard was his usual self, lighting up the Kings to assure Portland picked up their first win of the season.

He was already having himself a solid game with 22 points heading into the fourth quarter with a 10-point lead, but his final frame of the contest secured the victory. Lillard scored 13 points in the fourth quarter alone and did so without missing a shot.

The All-NBA point guard went a perfect 4-for-4 from the field and 3-for-3 from 3-point land to close things out.

Lillard is averaging 33.5 points, 6.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds through the Blazers' first two games.

LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers


Lakers 95, Jazz 86

Stat line: 32 points (12-22 FG, 1-4 3PT), 10 assists, 7 rebounds, 1 steal

The Lakers needed a bounce-back win after a tough loss to the Clippers to start the season and LeBron James delivered.

He stuffed the stat sheet for a near triple-double, controlling the pace of the game throughout its entirety. He was a man on a mission in the third quarter, going for 12 points, five boards and four assists in helping turn a six-point lead into a commanding 19-point lead going into the final frame.

LeBron is now averaging 20.0 points, 9.0 assists and 8.5 rebounds through his first two games this season.

Kyle Irving

Kyle Irving Photo

You read that wrong – not Kyrie Irving. From Boston, graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Sixth season as a content producer for NBA.com's Global editions. Covering the NBA Draft has become his annual "dream come true" moment on the job. Irving has a soft spot for pass-first point guards, with Rajon Rondo and Steve Nash being two of his favorite players of all time.