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A16 SPORTS
Wednesday 11 January 2023
Analysis: 3-point shooting leads to more NBA scoring binges

By NOAH TRISTER largely ignored the shot
AP Sports Writer and nobody attempted all
Giannis Antetokounmpo that many.
set a career high with 55 “Guys are taking 15 or 16
points last Tuesday in Mil- 3s in some games,” Los
waukee’s victory over Angeles Clippers coach
Washington and it wasn’t Tyronn Lue said. “Teams
even the week’s top scor- are encouraging guys to
ing performance in the take those shots, and if you
NBA’s Central Division. take so many shots, and
That belonged to Cleve- if you get hot and make
land’s Donovan Mitchell, some, you can score a lot
with a staggering 71 the of points.”
previous night. So current players have a
The NBA these past few variety of ways they can
weeks has featured an al- accumulate points in a
most nightly display of one- hurry, and the 3-point shot
upmanship among the affects the game even be-
game’s greatest scorers. yond that. With so many
Whether it was Mitchell’s players capable of making
extraordinary effort for the open 3s, teams can space
Cavaliers or Dallas’ Luka the floor in a way that pun-
Doncic reaching 50 points Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) shoots against Chicago Bulls center Nikola ishes defenses for double
three times in a nine-day Vucevic (9) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cleveland. teams.
span, everywhere you turn, Associated Press “You have to pick and
it seems like another player choose the guys you try
is putting up a huge total. Before 2016-17, no more points, but only two play- But the sport has changed and double team and get
“I think there are a lot of than eight different players ers had a 50-point game. In in other ways, too. the ball out of their hands
layers to it. had ever had a 50-point 1984-85, the highest-scoring “Guys come into this because they are not great
You just see night after night, game in one season, ac- season of the 1980s, teams league, and the most im- passers, but there are some
guys are having enormous cording to Sportradar. averaged 110.8 points. pressive thing is the skill set guys who can score, but

offensive games,” Wizards Since then, at least 10 have But only five players Ber- the handle and the shoot- can also pick you apart
coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. done it every season, in- nard King, Larry Bird, Purvis ing,” Golden State coach with their passing,” Lue
“It’s fun to watch as a fan, cluding a record 14 in 2021- Short, Kevin McHale and Steve Kerr said. said. “So, when you have
of course. Frustrating when 22. Moses Malone produced a “What’s lacking, I think, is guys like that, you want to
you’re trying to game plan Some of this is to be expect- 50-point game that season. the foundation, the institu- let those guys try and get
to stop some of these guys ed in what has become a So what’s happening late- tional knowledge that play- theirs and take everyone
because they’re scoring at very high-scoring era. NBA ly is not just higher scor- ers used to have when they else out, but sometimes
all levels the paint, the 3s, teams were averaging ing league-wide. The top came into the league af- it can backfire on you as
getting to the line.” 113.8 points per game en- players are also producing ter a few years of college. well.”
Ten different players have tering Monday night, which huge games with remark- Sometimes the defense When King scored 60 points
already scored 50 points if it continues would be the able frequency. Expansion isn’t great. Transition de- on Christmas in 1984, he
in a game this season: An- highest mark for the league may play a role. The num- fense is at an all-time low in didn’t attempt a single 3.
tetokounmpo, Mitchell, since 1969-70. ber of teams is 30% higher this league.” Even this year, Antetok-
Doncic, Joel Embiid, Devin But the overall scoring en- than it was in 1985. More Nowadays, basically every ounmpo didn’t make any
Booker, Anthony Davis, Klay vironment tells only part of teams means more games, top scorer has some de- when he scored 55. But
Thompson, Pascal Siakam, the story. so it makes sense that there gree of proficiency from Mitchell attempted 15 and
Darius Garland and Ste- In that 1969-70 season, are more examples of a 3-point range, whereas made seven in his 71-point
phen Curry. teams averaged 116.7 player scoring 50. back in the ‘80s, some stars game. q

Record on hold as Shiffrin finishes 2nd

in night slalom

By ERIC WILLEMSEN victories by winning a giant back in third.
Associated Press slalom in Kranjska Gora, Shiffrin’s next chance
FLACHAU, Austria (AP) — Slovenia, on Sunday, but to break the record will
American skier Mikaela wasn’t able to produce an- come in a super-G in Cor-
Shiffrin finished second to other win in her best disci- tina d’Ampezzo, Italy, in 10
Olympic champion Petra pline, slalom, to move past days. She plans to sit out
Vlhova in a night slalom her former teammate. speed races in St. Anton
race Tuesday, meaning Vlhova had the fastest time this weekend.
she will have to wait for an- in the first run and then ex- Vonn broke the previous
other chance to break the tended her lead over Shif- record, Annemarie Moser-
record for most wins on the frin for her first win this sea- Pröll’s mark of 62 wins, in
women’s World Cup cir- son. The Slovakian skier fin- Cortina eight years ago.
United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin looks at the scoreboard after cuit. ished 0.43 seconds ahead Vonn retired four years ago
completing an alpine ski, women’s World Cup slalom in
Flachau, Austria, Tuesday, Jan.10, 2023. Shiffrin matched Lindsey of Shiffrin, while Lena Duerr when injuries cut her career
Associated Press Vonn’s record of 82 race of Germany finished 0.85 short.q