Nikola Vučević

Sandwiched somewhere between his teammate’s franchise record-breaking 1,050th trifecta, and a 19-point, five-triple crunchtime quarter from his opponent, Nikola Vučević percolated into a performance that left him among the many long-range kings during November 29, 2024’s 3-point bonanza. Having already earned any “heat check”-type shot he pleased after burying triples during the second quarter’s 1:59, 1:33, and 57-second marks, Vučević stays cool in his up-the-floor gait, seemingly building suspense in the already-turbocharged arena. Locked, loaded, and now prepared to punish the Boston Celtics’ lax pre-halftime defense, Vučević flows into a fourth 3-pointer over a two-minute span, bringing the United Center to 1998-type levels of celebratory energy. Competitive in defeat against the league’s reigning champions, Vučević — starring on an evening that saw an eye-opening 105 combined 3-pointers — proved top-fold. Silently on pace for his career’s highest-scoring season at age 34, Vučević bolstered said chances, offering 32 points (on 11-of-16 shooting), 11 rebounds, three assists, one block, and six triples.