Advertisement

Dwight Howard posts first 30-30 night in NBA since 2010 in Hornets win over Nets

While the eyes of the basketball world were enamored with LeBron James’ remarkable 35-point, 17-assist 0-turnover performance in a marquee Cavs win over the Toronto Raptors Wednesday, Dwight Howard was busy making his own stat history in the relative darkness of Hornets-Nets.

The Charlotte center did something the NBA has not seen since 2010 and only one other time since 1982 with a 32-point, 30-rebound performance in a 111-105 win over Brooklyn.

It’s a remarkable line and one that wouldn’t have happened without a missed layup from Demarre Carroll on the final shot of the game.

Now we’re not suggesting that Carroll grooved that one, to borrow a phrase from baseball lexicon, but Hornets teammate Frank Kaminsky treated that miss like it was toxic. Nobody else was getting that rebound.

As they shouldn’t have of course. Howard, a surefire Hall of Famer who doesn’t always get the respect of one, deserved to have that moment.

And he got some love from the last guy to do it, who was coming off a pretty big night of his own in Cleveland.

Individuals have posted 30 points and 30 rebounds in a game 53 times in NBA history according to Basketball Reference, with most of those performances, of course, coming by the hands of Wilt Chamberlain.

Dwight Howard celebrates after his historic 32-point, 30-rebound night in a Hornets win over the Brooklyn Nets. (AP)
Dwight Howard celebrates after his historic 32-point, 30-rebound night in a Hornets win over the Brooklyn Nets. (AP)