Anthony Davis’ teammates have seen plenty of jaw-dropping games from the 21-year-old over the past two-plus seasons, but even they were taken aback Wednesday by what they witnessed in an 88-85 win over Detroit. Using phrases like “he’s not human” and “unstoppable,” several New Orleans Pelicans attempted to describe what Davis had just wrought on the Pistons – a 39-point, 13-rebound, eight-block domination, despite the fact that he’d missed the previous six games with a right shoulder injury.
“It’s definitely one of the top performances I’ve seen, especially coming off an injury, being out for (six) games, and then come back like he never missed a beat,” said Pelicans reserve point guard Norris Cole, who played with LeBron James and Dwyane Wade in Miami. “It was a great performance.”
Statistically, it may have been the finest for Davis as a pro, although this season alone he’s already compiled points-rebounds-blocks stat lines of 26-17-9 (vs. Orlando on Opening Night) and 38-12-3 (at Oklahoma City on Feb. 6, punctuated by a game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer). On Wednesday, Davis became just the third player in the last 20 seasons to register 35-plus points, 10-plus rebounds and eight-plus blocks in the same game.
“The game is a little bit easier sometimes when he’s doing stuff like that,” reserve center Alexis Ajinca said. “He’s unstoppable when he’s like that. We just enjoyed having him back.”
“He just did it in so many ways, whether it was offense, defense,” Pelicans fifth-year head coach Monty Williams. “He had eight blocks. His ability to affect the game in so many ways says a lot about his talent and how hard he works at it. I thought the blocks he got around the basket, most people thought they were going to be layups.”
While smothering Detroit’s attacks of the rim on one end – Davis swatted nearly one-fifth of the Pistons’ 43 misses from two-point range and became New Orleans’ all-time career leader in blocks – he again showed his otherworldly offensive ability. Davis finished 17-for-30 from the field, scoring in a multitude of ways. His perimeter shot was a bit off early, one of the few areas where Davis didn’t excel, but he finished four plays with dunks, ran 94 feet for two fast-break layups, had four putback hoops and nailed four mid-range jumpers.
“You have a big guy who can block the shot with two hands, outlet the ball, run the court, set a screen, come off the screen, shoot it and make it, and then come back down, block (another shot), get the rebound and do it again,” Cole said, listing some of Davis’ skills. “He’s not human, trust me.”
That Davis was able to dominate coming off an injury that forced him to the sideline for 11 days wasn’t lost on his teammates, either. Davis played a game-high 42 minutes against the Pistons, his fifth-highest minute total of 2014-15. It doesn’t hurt that the University of Kentucky product won’t turn 22 until next week.
“The trainers and doctors did a great job of protecting it,” Davis said of his shoulder injury. “I wasn’t trying to think about it. I knew they did a great job of getting it strong, as best as they can for this game. I’ll probably feel it tomorrow. In the game, it felt great.”
“He’s 21. He doesn’t get tired,” said Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (21 points, 9 assists vs. Detroit). “He’s running around like a bunny rabbit out there. He’s just everywhere. That’s the way he plays. It’s fun to watch.”
“He’s a young’n, so he can run all day,” Cole said. “And jump all day, obviously. He definitely led us and we needed that motor and the points and everything else.”
The lone tiny blemish in Davis’ overall numbers was his shooting efficiency; he’s had four other games this season in which he made 15-plus baskets while connecting on over 60 percent of his attempts. Davis expressed frustration over starting 1-for-6 from the field vs. Detroit, but he still finished with the fourth-best scoring game of his NBA career (he’s compiled games of 43, 41 and 40 points). The two-time All-Star credited his teammates for sticking with him through the sluggish beginning.
“I made my first shot, but missed my next five, so it was frustrating,” Davis said. “It was easy looks, looks I know I can make. But when you play hard, with these guys who fight as hard as they do, who come out prepared each and every night, great things happen.”