LaMelo Ball achieved a special feat in the Charlotte Hornets’ 113-105 win over Atalanta Hawks as he became the youngest player in NBA history to score a triple-double.
Ball reached the milestone at 19 years and 140 days and thus surpassed Markelle Fultz’s previous record of 19 years and 317 days. He achieved the feat by scoring 22 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. As a result, the youngster also became only the fourth rookie to record a triple-double in the NBA.
“A 19-year-old rookie does not look like this,” said Hornets head coach James Borrego.
“This is rare, what you’re seeing.”
The Hornets recorded their third straight win in the season and thus became the first player to score a triple-double for the Hornets off the bench.
Ball was the third overall pick in the 2020 Draft and he had also missed out on his first triple-double a couple of nights back, with 12 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists to his name in his team’s win over New Orleans Pelicans.
“I live my life and I know what I’m capable of, so stuff like this doesn’t move me like that,” Ball said. “I know that’s supposed to happen.”
In other results, the Eastern Conference Leaders Philadelphia 76ers fell to a 115-103 defeat to the Denver Nuggets, which ended their winning streak of 20 games at home.
Miami Heat also registered a thrilling 128-124 win over Washington Wizards as Tyler Herro scored a season and game-high 31 points.
DeMar DeRozan scored a season-high 38 points too as he helped the San Antonio Spurs to a narrow three-point victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was also the thies straight win for the Spurs.
Not only the Spurs, the Dallas Mavericks registered their third straight win of the season as well, as both Tim Hardaway Jr. and Trey Burke scored season bests of 36 and 29 points respectively to take their team to a 112-98 win over Orlando Magic.
The Milwaukee Bucks played without their star player Giannis Antetokounmpo but still managed to register a 100-90 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
