Two of the NBA’s premier big men squared off Tuesday as Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins hosted Anthony Davis and the New Orleans Pelicans. Despite a monster performance from Cousins, the Pelicans were able to move to 6-4 on the season. New Orleans is above .500 through 10 games for the first time since Chris Paul led the team to a 9-1 start in 2010-11.
DavisDavis doing it all
Davis led the way for the Pelicans with 28 points, nine rebounds and three blocks in the win. Davis has seven 25-point games this season, tied with Carmelo Anthony and Kobe Bryant for most in the NBA.
Through 10 games, Davis is averaging 25.5 points per game, 11.4 rebounds per game and 3.9 blocks per game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Davis’ averages have him just one block shy of joining Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only players to average 25 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks per game through 10 season games since blocks were first recorded in 1973-74.
Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins
This Season
Davis is currently ranked third in scoring, a huge jump from being tied for 14th last season. He’s the second-best scorer as a pick-and-roll man this season with 5.6 points per game in such situations. While Davis was 13th with 18 points per game in half-court offense last season, those numbers have risen to fourth with 21.3 points per game in 2014-15.
Davis and Cousins are now knotted at 4-4 career in head-to-head games.
CousinsCousins dominant in loss
The man they call “Boogie” continued to build on what is clearly the best season of his young career with a 24-point, 17-rebound night. Cousins has eight double-doubles this season, tied with Nikola Vucevic for most in the NBA.
After being one of only five players to average 20 points per game and 10 rebounds per game last season, Cousins and Davis are the only two players with those averages this season.
Cousins has particularly been a force in post-up situations, averaging 8.5 points per game, better than everyone except Blake Griffin and Al Jefferson this season.
Are both of these immensely talented players potential All-Star Game starters this season? That remains to be seen.