Starting 5, Nov. 24: Wemby returns with a bang

Double the defense? Triple the trouble when you’re facing 15.

THE LINEUP 🏀
Nov. 24, 2024 | What’s inside today’s edition?
Do-It-All Joker: Jokić puts on a show in L.A. to continue his historic start
Stars Shine: Giannis & Dame overcome 50 from LaMelo, Wemby & Steph duel late
Saturday Roundup: A magical run in Orlando, a storybook moment in Chicago and more
Can’t-Miss McCain: How Steph Curry has helped inspire the Sixers’ scorching-hot rook
Cavs Chase History: Can the 16-1 Cavs stay perfect at home to join more elite company?
BUT FIRST … ⏰
A stacked Sunday slate…

Six games get underway Sunday on NBA League Pass, beginning with a matchup between Anthony Edwards and the Wolves against the defending champs, as the C’s seek their fifth straight win (3:30 ET).
Plus, the 16-1 Cavs will look to improve upon their historic start while remaining unbeaten at home as they host the Raptors (7:30 ET).
1. JOKIĆ PAINTS ANOTHER MASTERPIECE TO OUTPACE THE LAKERS

Nikola Jokić — three-time Kia MVP, four-time All-NBA First Team selection, six-time NBA All-Star, 2023 Finals MVP and 2023 NBA champion.
Despite all the accolades, the reigning Kia MVP — who is one of just nine players in NBA history to win the award 3+ times — may be playing the best ball of his career right now.
With 34 points, 13 boards and eight dimes, Jokić fell just two assists shy of extending his triple-double streak to six straight games, but made up for it in the scorers’ column with his fourth consecutive 30+ point game, while most importantly, leading the Nuggets to a 127-102 win over the Lakers. | Recap

So just how good has Jokić been this season? Well, for starters, the three-time MVP is currently averaging a career-high in points (30.3), rebounds (13.9) and assists (11.3).
And it doesn’t stop there.
No player has ever led the NBA in points, rebounds and assists in a single season. Through one month of 2024-25, Jokić leads the league in rebounds and assists and is second in points
2. STARS SHINE: A 50-BALL, BUCKS HISTORY & WEMBY’S RETURN

Bucks 125, Hornets 119: LaMelo Ball dropped 40 — yes, FORTY — points in the 2nd half on his way to a career-high 50 along with 10 dimes, while Brandon Miller added 32 points for Charlotte.
But the Bucks were simply too much and never trailed in the final two quarters thanks to Giannis Antetokounmpo (32 pts, 11 reb, 6 ast) and Damian Lillard (31 pts), who combined for 63 points to stave off the Hornets for Milwaukee’s fourth straight win. | Recap
to tally 50+ points and 10+ dimes in a game at 23 years and 93 days old, trailing only LeBron James (23y, 66d) and Kevin Porter Jr. (20y, 360d)

Spurs 104, Warriors 94: After missing the past three games, Victor Wembanyama returned and stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, seven boards, nine dimes and three blocks to rally the Spurs from 17 points down and stun the West-leading Warriors, marking San Antonio’s third win in a row. | Recap
Wemby also knocked down two triples in the final frame while going
, who finished with 14 points and five helpers
3. ROUNDUP: FRANZ FIRE, SCOTTY’S STORYBOOK NIGHT & MORE

Magic 111, Pistons 100: One game after dropping 37 points to beat the Lakers, Franz Wagner went for 30 along with nine boards and eight helpers to lead Orlando to its eighth win in nine games while improving its home record to 8-0. Detroit was without Cade Cunningham (hip) in the loss. | Recap
“It obviously feels great — it wouldn’t mean anything though if we weren’t winning these games. It’s not just me, everybody’s been stepping up.”
Jazz 121, Knicks 106: Lauri Markkanen sank five triples on his way to a game-high 34 points, while Collin Sexton posted season-highs in both points (25) and 3s (6) to help Utah pull away from OG Anunoby (27 pts, 7 3s) and the Knicks, snapping New York’s four-game win streak. | Recap

Grizzlies 142, Bulls 131: In the same arena where his father helped lead the Bulls to six NBA titles, Scotty Pippen Jr. dropped a career-high 30 points and 10 assists for Memphis, which had eight players score in double figures on its way to a wire-to-wire win over Zach LaVine (29 pts) and Chicago. | Recap
Jaylen Wells also posted a career-high in points (26) and 3s (6) for Memphis
Blazers 104, Rockets 98: With the score tied at 96 and 45 seconds left, Deni Avdija came up with a huge block before finding Anfernee Simons (25 pts) on the other end for a go-ahead triple with 28.7 seconds to play, boosting the Blazers to a clutch road dub over Alperen Sengun (22 pts) and the Rockets. | Recap

4. ROOKIE ON A MISSION: INSIDE McCAIN’S SCORCHING START

Weeks before his first NBA game, 76ers rookie Jared McCain could only imagine the magnitude of the moment.
it’s just going to be so surreal for me.”
One month into the season, McCain’s proven he’s more than ready for the bright lights.
Philadelphia’s No. 16 overall pick has scored 20+ points in seven straight games — the fifth-longest streak by a rookie in 76ers history — highlighted by his 30 points and six 3s on Friday to lead Philly to a win over Brooklyn in the Emirates NBA Cup.
to score more points over a five-game span on at least 50/45/90 shooting splits as a rookie? Larry Bird, Steph Curry and Coby White
As a smaller guard, McCain says he looks up to Curry and studies his game to find new ways to score, both on and off the ball.

McCain’s shown doses of Curry’s creativity throughout the season, including on this near mirror-image of a drive, dish and pop sequence leading to an open 3.

And once the catch-and-shoot 3s start to fall, the pump fake opens up driving lanes…

Both for the NBA’s all-time 3-point leader and the new kid on the block.

After burying his sixth triple of the game against Brooklyn on Friday, McCain let out a celebratory statement, yelling, “I’m the rookie of the year.”
But obviously, I believe in myself.”
On Sunday, McCain — who’s currently No. 1 on the Kia Rookie Ladder — will look to bolster his ROY campaign when the Sixers host James Harden and the Clippers on League Pass (6 ET).
5. 16-1 CAVS SEEK MORE HISTORY TONIGHT ON LEAGUE PASS

Five more games tip off Sunday on League Pass, including a matchup between the Raptors and Cavs as Cleveland looks to improve to an NBA-best 17-1 while remaining perfect at home this season.
Raptors at Cavaliers (7:30 ET): Cleveland and Toronto first met this year in their season-openers, which saw the Cavs’ offense explode for a 136-106 win, offering an early glimpse of their dominant form.

A Cavs victory on Sunday would make them just the sixth NBA team in the last 50 years to open a season with 17 wins in their first 18 games. Of those previous five teams, three made the Finals and two won it all.
17-1 start, lost in West Finals