SALT LAKE CITY — A week into the NBA season, the defenses are losing. By a lot.

If it seems like there's never been this many high-scoring performances in the first few days of a season, that's because this indeed is unprecedented. Going into Tuesday, there have been 16 instances of a player scoring 40 or more points in a game already this season.

Austin Reaves and Luka Doncic of the Los Angeles Lakers have already had 40-point games twice, and Philadelphia’s Tyrese Maxey has two so far himself.

The others who have done it so far this season: Denver’s Aaron Gordon, Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, Brooklyn’s Cam Thomas, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Denver’s Jamal Murray, Boston’s Jaylen Brown, Utah’s Lauri Markkanen, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Golden State’s Stephen Curr

See Full Page