What has gotten into Atlanta Hawks centre Clint Capela?
The big man has been on a tear this season and his last two games have placed him in good company in the history books.
Earlier this week, Capela dominated the Detroit Pistons in Atlanta's overtime win, going for a monster double-double of 27 points, a career-high 26 rebounds and five blocks.
Just a monster night for @CapelaClint 😤
— Atlanta Hawks (@ATLHawks) January 21, 2021
◾️ 27 PTS
◾️ 26 REB (career-high)
◾️ 5 BLK
🎞 Presented by @KumhoTireUSA pic.twitter.com/71wIJ9XzeU
It was the first 25-point, 25-rebound, five-block game since Shaquille O'Neal in 2004 and the NBA has only seen five players – Capela, O'Neal, Dikembe Mutombo, Patrick Ewing and Hakeem Olajuwon – accomplish the feat in the last 35 seasons.
If you thought that was impressive, Capela still had more to show in the Hawks' win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday.
The Swiss centre wasn't done placing himself alongside all-time greats in the history books, recording a triple-double with 13 points, 19 rebounds and a career-high 10 blocks (!) to lend a helping hand to All-Star guard Trae Young's 43 points in the team's victory.
1⃣0⃣ BLOCKS for @CapelaClint en route to a TRIPLE-DOUBLE! pic.twitter.com/dCCOG2ZrP2
— NBA (@NBA) January 23, 2021
Capela was the first player since Anthony Davis (2018) to record a triple-double with blocks and the first Hawks player to accomplish the feat since Mutumbo in 2000. He is the 33rd player in NBA history to record a triple-double with blocks.
With this two-game stretch, he also joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the only two players in nearly 50 seasons to have 45 rebounds and 15 blocks over a two-game span.
The Hawks acquired Capela at the trade deadline last season but a heel injury prevented the centre from taking the floor for the remainder of the year. Returning to full health during Atlanta's long offseason, Capela has been incredible in his first season with the Hawks averaging 14.2 points with career-highs of 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. He has grabbed double digit rebounds in all but one game this season with eight double-doubles and now, one triple-double.
Atlanta is starting to hit its stride, winning three consecutive games to bring its record to 8-7, good for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
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