The Most Valuable Triple-Double Streak

After the second half began, the main attraction of the game was no longer who would win or lose.

Early in the third quarter, the Warriors went on an 8-0 run, making it seem as though the game might actually become suspenseful again.

But after an adjustment during a timeout, the Grizzlies quickly stabilized their defense and did not allow the Warriors to meaningfully cut into the deficit again.

The hole was too deep, and the less time remained, the harder it would be to climb out of it.

If the Warriors could not cut the gap to under 20 points before the fourth quarter, a comeback would be truly difficult.

But judging from the current situation, the Warriors were unlikely to reach that goal.

Thus, winning or losing had long since ceased to be the main attraction of this game. The spotlight was now entirely focused on Link alone.

"If the situation doesn't change, Link will almost certainly not play in the fourth quarter. That means he only has a few minutes left to tie the record. Seven straight games with a triple-double—only three people in NBA history have done it. And Link could very well become the first player in the league to accomplish it in the 21st century!"

Hubie Brown flipped through his notes. Since Jordan, no one had even come close to this record.

The "triple-double maniac" Kidd? The all-around forward James? Even they could not do it! Seven consecutive triple-doubles were impossible even for them.

It was not because Kidd and James were not good enough. To achieve seven straight triple-doubles—or even Chamberlain's nine straight—required a great deal of special historical context.

The reason Chamberlain and the "Big O" could pile up triple-doubles consecutively was that they played in an era of statistical explosion.

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