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🏀 Good morning to all, however particularly to …

LeBRON JAMES … 

In November 2019, the basketball world marveled when a 34-year-old LeBron James grew to become the oldest participant to document triple-doubles in three straight video games. Quick ahead 5 years, and the 39-year-old LeBron James has replicated the feat following the Lakers‘ 128-123 win over the Grizzlies final evening in Los Angeles.

With Anthony Davis in foul hassle for a lot of the evening, James was doing all of it (35 factors, 12 rebounds, 14 assists) and for lengthy stretches. James logged 37 minutes, the second-most he is performed this season, after notching triple-doubles within the Lakers two earlier video games, additionally wins, final Sunday towards the Raptors and final Friday versus the 76ers.

Let’s face it. Making an attempt to clarify how James, in his twenty second season, is competing — no, excelling — towards some gamers actually half his age evening even has Father Time stumped at this level. Suffice it say that coaching and preparation matter so much, however so to does the scenario. And, to that finish, our Sam Quinn has a thought on how some tinkering by JJ Redick doubtless has a hand in James’ triple-double streak.

• Quinn: “In fact, the first-year Lakers coach does deserve a little bit of credit score for James’ historic streak. After a Nov. 6 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, Redick benched former start line guard D’Angelo Russell in favor of Cam Reddish. James has posted a triple-double in each recreation since, performing as a degree guard for the offense for the primary time since that 2019-20 season.”

… AND VICTOR WEMBANYAMA …

Even now, simply over a 12 months into his NBA profession, we’re used to seeing Victor Wembanyama do issues which can be presupposed to be unattainable.

However we might by no means seen this earlier than. Wembanyama scored a career-high 50 factors in a 139-130 win over the Wizards, turning into the fourth-youngest participant in league historical past with a 50 burger.

1. Brandon Jennings (20 years, 52 days)
2. LeBron James (20 years, 80 days)
3. Devin Booker (20 years, 145 days)
4. Victor Wembanyama (20 years, 314 days)

It is not simply what number of factors however how he acquired them. Wembanyama made eight 3-pointers, one shy of tying the franchise document. After an ice-cold begin from deep this season, Wembanyama is now the primary middle in league historical past to make no less than 5 3-pointers in three straight video games.

Wembanyama turned on this efficiency with out Corridor-of-Fame coach Gregg Popovich patrolling the sideline. Popovich, 75, has been away from the workforce since Nov. 2, and Wednesday, the Spurs introduced that is as a result of he had a light stroke that day.

Popovich, whose 1,393 wins are most all-time, is in a rehabilitation program and is anticipated to make a full restoration. There isn’t any timeline for him returning to the sideline.

… AND GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO

From one athletic marvel to a different, Giannis Antetokounmpo strapped the Bucks to his again once more, scoring 59 factors in a 127-120 additional time win over the Pistons.

• Antetokounmpo’s supporting forged has underwhelmed this season, and it was no completely different early on: He had 22 of the workforce’s 24 factors — and was the one Bucks participant to make a shot from the sector — within the first quarter.
• The 59 factors are second-most in franchise historical past, solely behind his 64-point effort final 12 months, and the league’s excessive mark for any participant this season.
• Together with playoffs, this was Antetokounmpo’s tenth 50-point recreation, tying Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for many in franchise historical past.

👍 Honorable mentions

😕 Not so honorable mentions

🏈 Greatest questions getting into loaded NFL Week 11

How’s this for the headliners of a loaded Week 11 slate?

It is the first time ever there are no less than three video games that includes a number of seven-win groups this early within the season, and our Cody Benjamin examines causes for and towards all six groups being Tremendous Bowl contenders.

In fact, there are different groups that can have a say within the postseason, and Cody assessed the groups with essentially the most deceiving data, together with …

• Benjamin: “49ers (5-4) — Offensive drives have stalled too usually, and particular groups has been streaky. Even with accidents to principally each premium talent weapon, nonetheless, they boast the league’s No. 2-ranked offense — and No. 8-ranked scoring group — below Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy, who’s leaned much more into his off-script athleticism. Now Christian McCaffrey is again within the fold, and rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall is settling in. They might not carry the identical ‘juggernaut’ label that is rightly adopted them lately, however to rely them out as an NFC pressure can be perilously silly.”

I voted the 49ers the most certainly breakout workforce down the stretch in Josh Edwards’ midseason superlatives, and I wasn’t alone.

This is extra:

🏈 NFL, CFB QB Energy Rankings

Very similar to one week in the past, Joe Burrow is chasing Lamar Jackson. After the Bengals‘ 35-34 loss to the Ravens, Burrow is as much as No. 2 in Cody’s NFL QB Energy Rankings.

1. Lamar Jackson (earlier: 1)
2. Joe Burrow (3)
3. Josh Allen (2)
4. Jayden Daniels (4)
5. Jared Goff (5)

Tonight is one other premier Thursday evening showdown, with Daniels going through Jalen Hurts, who climbed to sixth in Cody’s rankings. Kyler Murray was the most important riser, going from sixteenth to tenth, and I broke down Murray’s play in “5 issues we preferred and did not like in Week 10.”

• Pereles: “I’m particularly impressed with how Murray has progressed in Drew Petzing‘s offense, which locations a larger emphasis on conventional play-action ideas and extra various formations. On Sunday, Murray used play motion on 40% of his dropbacks and went 10 for 10 for 143 yards. His accuracy was off the charts total. … This season, Arizona is sixth in success fee … and second in explosive play fee.”

As for extra quarterback information, the Colts reinstalled Anthony Richardson as starter. It comes two weeks after it regarded like Richardson may by no means play for Indianapolis once more and three days after coach Shane Steichen mentioned Joe Flacco would proceed to begin.

I can not even start to grasp the method from the powers that be, whether or not it is Steichen, GM Chris Ballard, proprietor Jim Irsay, others within the group or some mixture. However I can say that is the precise choice. Crucially, Steichen mentioned Richardson is the starter for the rest of the season, a refreshing and much-needed endorsement for a participant who wants any increase he can get.

• Steichen mentioned Richardson “made big-time strides” and was working at a “greater commonplace” behind the scenes throughout his benching.
• Richardson, 22, is the definition of a boom-or-bust participant. His 44.4% completion fee is on tempo to be the worst since 2000, this as his 16.2 yards per completion is on tempo to be the very best since 1998.

I mentioned this when he was benched, and I will say it once more: Richardson wants the reps. He performed simply 4 video games as a rookie earlier than season-ending shoulder surgical procedure. This was after he was the full-time starter for only one 12 months at Florida. The misfires and errors are irritating, however that is a part of the deal.

Transferring to varsity soccer, Ole Miss‘ win over Georgia over the weekend vaulted the Rebels into the Faculty Soccer Playoff image and vaulted Jaxson Dart to No. 1 in Tom Fornelli’s Faculty QB Energy Rankings.

• Fornelli: “I am unable to promise he’ll be right here once more subsequent week as a result of the general efficiency on the season hasn’t justified it, however he deserves it for now. I’ve lengthy been a skeptic about Ole Miss’ candidacy as a playoff workforce as a result of it so usually failed towards playoff-caliber competitors. Now it is confirmed it could beat a prime program, and Dart’s a giant purpose why.”

This is the highest 5:

1. Jaxson Dart (earlier: 5)
2. Dillon Gabriel (1)
3. Jalen Milroe (not ranked)
4. Shedeur Sanders (3)
5. Will Howard (7)

🏈 How Georgia can get again within the playoff, and a giant choice for Tennessee

Talking of quarterbacks, the most important recreation of the weekend options an interesting state of affairs for each sign callers when No. 7 Tennessee visits No. 12 Georgia.

Nico Iamaleava‘s standing is reportedly “undetermined” after the Volunteers star missed the second half of the workforce’s win over Mississippi State with an “higher physique damage.” He is been within the concussion protocol this week. As such, Tennessee has a powerful and multi-layered choice on its fingers, David Cobb writes.

• Cobb: “Iamaleava’s well being ought to completely think about to how the committee views the Vols shifting ahead. … Given the Volunteers’ well being scenario and given their final aspirations, a cautious method could also be warranted. … The worst-case state of affairs can be that Iamaleava performs towards Georgia and the Volunteers take a beating anyway. Then, Tennessee can be coping with an unpleasant loss at Arkansas and a blowout loss at Georgia that has no asterisk.”

Georgia, in the meantime, has to get one thing discovered offensively, and it will begin with Carson Beck. The much-maligned passer and his workforce have their backs towards the wall, however Shehan Jeyarajah explains how they will get again among the many prime 12 seeds.

📺 What we’re watching Thursday

⚽ Jamaica vs. USMNT, 8 p.m. on truTV/TNT
🏈 Commanders at Eagles, 8:15 p.m. on Prime Video
🏀 Mavericks at Jazz, 9 p.m. on NBA TV