Domantas Sabonis has averaged a triple-double (23.0 ppg, 14.3 rpg, 10.7 apg) over nine games in the month of May.
Get ready for Tuesday’s pair of Play-In games on TNT with five key stats to know about each Eastern Conference matchup. Also, take a deep dive into the stats with John Schuhmann’s numbers preview for all four East teams in the Play-In Tournament.
(10) Hornets at (9) Pacers
6:30 p.m. ET, TNT
• LaMelo Ball finished the regular season with averages of 15.7 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Only four other players have hit those marks or better during their rookie season: Ben Simmons (15.8 ppg, 8.2 apg, 8.1 rpg) in 2017-18; Michael Carter-Williams (16.7 ppg, 6.3 apg, 6.2 rpg) in 2013-14; Magic Johnson (18.0 ppg, 7.3 apg, 7.7 rpg) in 1979-80; and Oscar Robertson (30.5 ppg, 9.7 apg, 10.1 rpg) in 1960-61.
• The Pacers (70.8 ppg) and Hornets (70.1 ppg) rank second and third, respectively behind Golden State, in points created by assists this season. The Pacers (27.4 apg, 2nd) and Hornets (26.8 apg, 5th) both rank in the top five in assists per game despite neither having a player ranked in the top 12 individually. Domantas Sabonis (6.7, 13th) and TJ McConnell (6.6, 14th) lead the Pacers, while LaMelo Ball (6.1, 17th) leads the Hornets.
• Domantas Sabonis is one of five players to average at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and five assists this season, joining Giannis Antetokounmpo, Nikola Jokic, Julius Randle and Russell Westbrook. Sabonis has been on a tear since returning to the lineup on May 1 after missing six games with a sore back. Over nine games in May, Sabonis averaged a triple-double — 23.0 ppg, 14.3 rpg and 10.7 apg. He ranks third in rebounding and second in assists among all players in May.
• The Pacers (111.9) rank 14th in defensive efficiency on the season. Indiana’s defense allows 4.8 fewer points per 100 possessions with Myles Turner on the court (107.9) than it does when he’s off the court (112.7). That is the equivalent of going from the fifth-ranked defense to the 22nd-ranked defense. Turner led the NBA in blocks (3.4 per game, the NBA’s highest average since 2015-16), and ranked third in rim protection (holding opponents to 49.6% shooting at the rim) among the 72 players that defended at least 200 shots at the basket this season.
• Keep an eye on Charlotte’s turnovers; the Hornets ranked 25th in turnover percentage (14.9%) and 14.8 turnovers per game. When the Hornets commit 15 turnovers or more, they are 14-23 (0.378), compared to 20-15 (0.571) when they commit fewer than 15 turnovers. The Pacers lead the NBA in deflections (16.8 per game), rank fifth in steals (8.5 per game) and tied for fifth in points off turnovers (18 per game).
Bradley Beal averaged 40.7 points in three games against the Celtics this season.
(8) Wizards at (7) Celtics
9 p.m. ET, TNT
• Bradley Beal has eight 40-point games this season (2nd in NBA), with two coming against the Celtics (both in losses). Beal’s 40.7 points per game is the second-highest average against the Celtics this season, and is the ninth-highest scoring average of any player against any opponent that they have faced more than once this season.
• Damian Lillard: 43.0 ppg vs New Orleans (3 games)
• Jayson Tatum: 42.5 ppg vs. San Antonio (2 games)
• Stephen Curry: 42.5 ppg vs. Boston (2 games)
• Donovan Mitchell: 42.0 ppg vs. Washington (2 games)
• Stephen Curry: 41.7 ppg vs. Oklahoma City (3 games)
• De’Aaron Fox: 41.3 ppg vs. New Orleans (3 games)
• Stephen Curry: 41.0 ppg vs. Portland (3 games)
• Zach LaVine: 41.0 ppg vs. New Orleans (2 games)
• Bradley Beal: 40.7 ppg vs. Boston (3 games)
• Over the final 15 games of the regular season, the Wizards went 10-5 (tied for the sixth-highest win percentage in the league) while the Celtics went 5-10 (tied for 22nd in win percentage). Washington’s offense averaged a league-best 126.5 points per game during that stretch, compared to 112.4 (17th) for Boston. This game features three of the top five scorers over the past 15 games, as well as the leader in assists (Westbrook at 14.4 per game).
• No team has appeared in more clutch games (score within five points in final five minutes of fourth quarter or overtime) than the Celtics (43) and no team has logged more clutch minutes than the Wizards (169). As such, the Wizards and Celtics account for three of the top seven clutch scorers in the league this season: Bradley Beal (150 pts, 2nd), Russell Westbrook (131 pts, T-4th) and Jayson Tatum (120 pts, T-6th). Of the 33 players with at least 50 clutch field goal attempts, Tatum (60.1%), Beal (60.0%) and Westbrook (59.2%) rank 11th, 12th and 14th, respectively, in true shooting percentage.
• The Wizards lead the NBA in free throws made (20.1 per game) and attempted (26.2), but rank just 19th in free throw percentage (76.9%). Beal ranks fourth in free throws made (6.8), sixth in attempts (7.7) and 13th in percentage (88.9%). Westbrook ranks 15th in attempts (6.4 per game), but his 65.6% shooting matches his career low from the line.
• Russell Westbrook broke Oscar Robertson’s career triple-double record with No. 182 of his career on May 10 against Atlanta. He added two more to close the 2020-21 season with 184 career triple-doubles. However, only two of those 184 have come against Boston as the Celtics have allowed the fewest triple-doubles to Westbrook of any team in the NBA. Westbrook’s last triple-double against the Celtics came on Feb. 3, 2019 as a member of the Oklahoma City Thunder.
