The NBA has become an increasingly guard-oriented game these days. The biggest star in the game right now is Stephen Curry, while James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving and plenty others get their just due in the spotlight.
Below the radar, Hornets point guard Kemba Walker has had as good of a week as any guard has had this year, including Curry.
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Walker has been on fire as of late, scoring 113 points in his last three games (37.7 per game), including a 52-point outburst against the Jazz on Monday night. He scored 40 points Friday to lead the Hornets to a 120-116 overtime win on the road over the Magic.
Walker has quietly been playing the best basketball of his NBA career this season, averaging 19.9 points and shooting 43.6 percent from the field, both career-highs.
He’s not just putting up numbers just to be putting up numbers. The Hornets are better when Walker scores more. He’s averaging 22.1 points, shooting 50.1 percent from the field and shooting 46.7 percent from behind the 3-point line in the team’s 20 wins. Those number dip to 18.2 points, 38.3 field-goal percentage and 30.3 percent from long range in the team’s losses.
Walker may not make the All-Star team, but if he continues to play like one, the Hornets should be able to hop into the playoffs this season.
Tweet of the Night:
Pretty much how we all feel when Stephen Curry goes Stephen Curry. Well, minus the hat.
@BarstoolBigCat Ok pic.twitter.com/QPS6zZqMeL
— TJ Toto (@tjtoto) January 23, 2016
Highlights of the Night:
Rachel McAdams may have gotten the love from the Raptors mascot, but this spectator got the love from potential All-Star Kyle Lowry after he went into the stands. There’s plenty of love to go around in Toronto.
Second-year Magic guard Victor Oladipo got the Orlando fans hype after this 3-point make to force overtime, but the Magic eventually fell in overtime to the Hornets 120-116. Props to the non-TV angle.
Russell Westbrook is simply in another gear as he blows through the Mavericks defense on this drive. It’s almost unfair.
Studs of the Night:
Russell Westbrook was having an off shooting night on Friday, but he has a teammate that’s pretty good in his own right. Kevin Durant scored 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds to lead the Thunder to a 109-106 win over the Mavs.
Another game, another 30 points for James Harden. Harden also added eight assists and turned the ball over just twice as the Rockets held off the Bucks,102-98.
Dud of the Night:
The Knicks offense was just plain bad. They shot just 38.8 percent from the field and no starter shoot better than 40 percent as they fell 116-88 to the Clippers.
Looking Ahead:
Bulls (24-18) at Cavaliers (30-11) 8:30 p.m.: One of these teams has lost six of its last eight. The other one just fired its head coach. The Bulls desperately need a win, and Tyronn Lue wants to get his head coaching career off on the right foot after being promoted to replace David Blatt. The Bulls lost 110-101 to the Celtics on Friday, but Derrick Rose (27) and Jimmie Butler (28) combined for 55 points.