{"id":699286,"date":"2026-04-05T08:29:34","date_gmt":"2026-04-05T08:29:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699286\/"},"modified":"2026-04-05T08:29:34","modified_gmt":"2026-04-05T08:29:34","slug":"starting-5-51-for-flagg-wemby-vs-joker-in-just-hours-hawks-rockets-stay-hot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/699286\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting 5: 51 For Flagg, Wemby vs. Joker In Just Hours, Hawks & Rockets Stay Hot"},"content":{"rendered":"

Flying high\u00a0to 51.<\/p>\n

Cooper Flagg\u00a0just threw down the NBA\u2019s first 50-piece from a teenager ever.<\/p>\n

Read on\u00a0to learn all about last night\u2019s impact on postseason positioning and get set for today\u2019s Wemby-Joker showdown.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

5 STORIES IN TODAY\u2019S EDITION \ud83c\udfc0<\/p>\n

April 4, 2026<\/p>\n

Sizzling 5-Seeds: Hotlanta, Houston extend Friday\u2019s longest win streaks with 140+ point eruptions<\/p>\n

Flagg Scores 51: Rook nets NBA\u2019s youngest 50-piece, but Orlando keeps up with Charlotte in East Play-In race<\/p>\n

Bubble Battle: Sixers top Wolves in clash of 6-seeds, stay ahead of 7th-place Raptors for final Playoff spot<\/p>\n

Friday Roundup: JB & JT guide Celtics, Knicks step up, Fears sets another NBA youth record<\/p>\n

Saturday On Prime: Wemby and Joker\u2019s first matchup this season, with longest-active win streaks on the line<\/p>\n

BUT FIRST \u2026 \u23f0<\/p>\n

Three games, big stakes\u2026<\/p>\n

\"Scores<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s 3-game focus features a Prime matin\u00e9e between the streaking Spurs and Nuggets (3 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>), and an NBA TV nightcap between the Pistons and Sixers (7 ET | Tap To Watch<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Latest On Luka: Lakers\u2019 Don\u010di\u0107 will miss the remainder of the regular season with a left hamstring strain, the team announced Friday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

WNBA Expansion Draft: Ahead of their inaugural seasons in 2026, the Toronto Tempo and Portland Fire each selected 11 players in Friday\u2019s Expansion Draft. View the results here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. 5-SEEDS STAY HOT: HAWKS, ROCKETS DROP 140+ TO EXTEND STREAKS<\/p>\n

\"CJ<\/p>\n

The red-hot Hawks are rolling with the East\u2019s longest active win streak amid their best stretch of basketball in over 10 years.<\/p>\n

Hawks 141, Nets 107: Atlanta got out to a 10-0 start and never let up, with CJ McCollum (25 pts, 7 ast) leading the way, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (21 pts, 3 blk) staying hot and Jalen Johnson (18 pts, 11 reb, 5 ast) doing a bit of everything for a 4th straight win. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Hottest In A Decade: Seven Hawks reached double figures and 14 of 15 scored to extend an 18-2 hot streak that\u2019s good for 5-seed Atlanta\u2019s best 20-game stretch since 2015<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Straight across the standings in the West\u2019s 5-slot, Houston\u2019s won five in a row to keep pace with San Antonio (W11) and Denver\u2019s (W7) winning ways.<\/p>\n

Rockets 140, Jazz 106: Kevin Durant (25 pts, 5 reb, 6 ast, 8-12 FG) propelled Houston to a fifth straight win, flanked by 40 more points from Amen Thompson (21 pts, 8 reb, 4 ast) and Alperen Sengun (19 pts, 5 ast) to match the team\u2019s highest score and largest win margin (+34) of the season. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

2. FLAGG\u2019S 51: ROOK\u2019S CAREER-HIGH DOESN\u2019T SLOW MAGIC IN PLAY-IN RACE<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

A 50+ point NBA first.<\/p>\n

Magic 138, Mavericks 127: Cooper Flagg (51 pts, 6 reb, 6 3s<\/a>) became the first teenager in NBA history to reach 50 points in a game, pouring in 24 of Dallas\u2019 35 4th-quarter points, but couldn\u2019t catch the Magic.<\/p>\n

Led by Wendell Carter Jr. (28 pts) and Desmond Bane (27 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast), all five Orlando starters scored in double figures for 102 combined points, as the Magic maintained a double-digit lead throughout the 2nd-half. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt just speaks to who I am and the confidence I have in myself,\u201d Flagg said of his 51-point night<\/a>. \u201cJust the improvement. Grinding, getting better all year long.\u201d
\nBucket Getters: Flagg is the first rookie with a 50-piece since Brandon Jennings in 2009<\/a>. He joins Jennings and Allen Iverson as the only rookies to score 50+ and hit 5+ 3s in a game
\nFifty, Efficiently: Shooting 63.3 FG% (19-30), Flagg\u2019s performance is the most efficient 50-ball from a rookie since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 1970
\nWith AI Again: This was the third time Coop crossed the 40-point mark this season, the most by a rookie since Iverson had five 40-pieces in 1996-97<\/p>\n

\"Franz<\/p>\n

Glenn James\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

9-seed Orlando moved a full game ahead of 10th-place Miami in the East, now within a half-game of 8th-place Charlotte.<\/p>\n

Franz Delivers: On his second night back after missing 22 games (ankle), Franz Wagner (18 pts) had his best scoring performance since the NBA Berlin Game on Jan. 15<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Hornets 129, Pacers 108: Brandon Miller (22 pts, 4 3s) and Kon Knueppel (20 pts, 3 3s) led six double-digit Hornets scorers in a barrage of 24 made 3-pointers to clear Pascal Siakam (30 pts, 7 reb) and the Pacers. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Piling 3-Pointers: Buzz City shot past 20 made 3s for the 14th time this season, improving to 12-2 when they do. They tie Golden State for the 2nd-most games of 20+ triples this season
\nCharlotte remains in 8th place in the East, 1.5 games back of the 7-seed Raptors, and at 42-36, has secured its first finish of .500-or-better since 2021-22<\/p>\n

3. EAST BUBBLE: SIXERS WIN 6-SEED CLASH, STAY AHEAD OF 7TH-PLACE RAPS<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Sixers 115, Wolves 103: Paul George (23 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast), Tyrese Maxey (21 pts, 6 reb, 8 ast) and Joel Embiid (19 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast) teamed up again, combining for 63 points to outlast Julius Randle (21 pts, 7 reb) and the Wolves. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Thriving In The 3rd: Embiid paired with Maxey (17 pts) for 30 points in Philly\u2019s 42-24 3rd-quarter blitz, which gave them the lead for good after rattling off a 15-1 close to the period
\nKelly Oubre Jr. (21 pts, 4 3s) sealed the game with back-to-back triples in the final 70 seconds, capping a big night and denying the Wolves\u2019 18-7 last-ditch run
\nPG\u2019s Red-Hot Return: Paul George has scored under 20 points just once in his five-game return, averaging 27.0 ppg on 50.0\/42.6 shooting splits
\nAnt Back In: Anthony Edwards returned from illness, chipping in 8 points in 26 limited minutes
\nSix vs. Six: The Sixers remain 6th in the East, 1.5 games back from 5th, while the TWolves drop to 2 full games behind the 5th-place Rockets in the West<\/p>\n

\"RJ<\/p>\n

Joe Murphy\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

Raptors 128, Grizzlies 96: RJ Barrett (25 pts, 4 3s) led six Raps in double figures past GG Jackson\u2019s game-high 30 points and the Grizz, as 7th-place Toronto trailed by no more than 1 point in stopping a two-game skid to keep pace with the Sixers in 6th. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

BI With Franchise Faves: Brandon Ingram (17 pts, 7 reb, 5 ast) has surpassed 1500+ points, 400+ rebounds and 250+ assists this season, joining Vince Carter and Pascal Siakam as the only Raptors to do so in a single season<\/p>\n

4. ROUNDUP: WINS FOR EAST ELITES KNICKS & CELTICS, KINGS CLIP PELS<\/p>\n

\"OG<\/p>\n

Knicks 136, Bulls 96: OG Anunoby (31 pts, 8 reb, 7-10 3FG<\/a>) led all scorers, Mitchell Robinson (17 pts, 11 reb, 7-7 FG) didn\u2019t miss while starting in place of KAT (elbow), and Jalen Brunson (17 pts, 10 ast) returned from a one-game absence (ankle) for New York\u2019s 50th win of the season. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

What A Run: New York ignited for 20 straight points on the way to a 38-16 1st quarter, a 78-point half, and a third 40+ point win this season
\n50\/50\/50: The Knicks reach 50 wins for the third season in a row, their longest streak of 50+ win seasons since 1991-94
\nHolding tight in 3rd place in the East, New York stretches its advantage to 1.5 games over the 4-seed Cavs<\/p>\n

Celtics 133, Bucks 101: Jaylen Brown (26 pts) guided the C\u2019s scoring and Jayson Tatum (23 pts, 11 reb, 9 ast) was a dime shy of a second straight triple-double as Boston started hot and never trailed in topping Taurean Prince (18 pts) and the Bucks. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Getting Comfortable: Tatum is averaging 26.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg and 8.3 apg in his last four games, 13 games into his return (Achilles)
\nMore Early Fire: Boston drained eight of their first nine 3-point attempts in a 43-point 1st quarter, building a 17-point lead
\nFour games behind East-leading Detroit with five games remaining, the 2nd-place Celtics maintained their 1.5-game edge over the Knicks<\/p>\n

Kings 117, Pelicans 113: Fresh off West Rookie of the Month honors, Maxime Raynaud (28 pts, 9 reb, 4 ast) paced the Kings offense and sank the eventual game-winning layup with 44.2 remaining to put away Jeremiah Fears (28 pts, 8 reb, 6 ast, 5 3s) and the Pelicans. | Recap<\/a><\/p>\n

Another Youth Record: Fears (age 19) became the youngest player in NBA history to log 25+\/5+\/5+ in a game with 5+ made 3s, beating LaMelo Ball\u2019s previous mark by 20 days<\/p>\n

\"Standings\"\/<\/p>\n

5. ON PRIME: STREAKS, COMEBACKS AND THE SEASON\u2019S FIRST WEMBY-JOKER BATTLE<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

If you think you\u2019ve seen it all at this point of the season, think again.<\/p>\n

Two of the game\u2019s most unique talents in Victor Wembanyama and Nikola Joki\u0107 collide today (3 ET, Prime), for the first time since Jan. 2025.<\/p>\n

These transcendent bigs and their top-4 teams carry in the two longest-active win streaks in the league.<\/p>\n

Winners of 11 straight, Wemby\u2019s 2-seed Spurs are 27-2 in their last 29 games, seeking their best 30-game stretch in franchise history. One more win grants them their first 60+ win season since 2016-17
\nSeven W\u2019s in a row have the 4th-place Nuggets a win away from their fourth straight 50+ win season, as they eye the No. 3 seed held by Los Angeles, one game ahead in the standings
\n\u201cHe\u2019s a special player now. You need to do special or extra things to score against those guys,\u201d Joki\u0107 said of Wemby. \u201cHe\u2019s working hard and he\u2019s still hungry. I think that\u2019s a really good combination.\u201d<\/p>\n

By looking at new advanced metrics from Inside the Game<\/a>, powered by AWS, we can quantify Joker and Wemby\u2019s on-court impacts as two of the largest in the game this season.<\/p>\n

Scoring Ringleader: Joki\u0107 leads the NBA in Offensive leverage (1.77), meaning his offensive contributions improve the Nuggets\u2019 win% by 17.7%
\nFire & Ice: Wemby\u2019s defensive contributions lead the league in Defensive leverage, with his presence improving the Spurs\u2019 win% by a whopping 29.3%<\/p>\n

\"Julian<\/p>\n

Michael Gonzales\/NBAE via Getty Images<\/p>\n

This is the 3rd matchup of four this season between Denver and San Antonio, with the teams splitting two contests Wembanyama was not available for, and each winner coming back late from 15+ point deficits:<\/p>\n

Nov. 28: Devin Vassell shot 7-of-9 from 3 for a season-high 35 points and Julian Champagnie scored a then-season-high 25 as the Spurs roared back from an 18-point 3rd-quarter deficit
\nMarch 12: Joki\u0107 (31\/20\/12), Murray (39 pts, 7a) and the Nuggets overpowered Castle\u2019s triple-double (30\/11\/10), as Denver came back from 20-down. Murray outscored the Spurs alone 13-12 (18-12 overall) in the final 5 minutes to seal the win. That was the last time San Antonio lost a game
\nCount On A Comeback? San Antonio leads the league with seven comeback wins of 15 or more points, while Denver is tied for the most 20+ point comebacks this season (2)<\/p>\n

Now they\u2019ll see each other twice in the season\u2019s final eight days, starting today in the Mile High City, and again on the regular season finale April 12th.<\/p>\n

Roundup: The Pistons visit the Sixers on NBA TV (7 ET), plus the Heat welcome the Wizards (3 ET).<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Flying high\u00a0to 51. Cooper Flagg\u00a0just threw down the NBA\u2019s first 50-piece from a teenager ever. Read on\u00a0to learn…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":699287,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[7,225,938,6,1193,253,693],"class_list":{"0":"post-699286","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-nba","8":"tag-basketball","9":"tag-cooper-flagg","10":"tag-kevin-durant","11":"tag-nba","12":"tag-nba-starting-5","13":"tag-nikola-jokic","14":"tag-victor-wembanyama"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nba\/116351172289874799","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=699286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/699286\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/699287"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=699286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=699286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=699286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}