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Triple-Double Watch Week 13: Jarrett Jack nabs second of career

By Aaron Fischman

AUBURN HILLS, MI - DECEMBER 22: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 22, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - DECEMBER 22: Jarrett Jack #55 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against the Detroit Pistons on December 22, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Welcome to Triple-Double Watch, a weekly check-in on everyone’s favorite arbitrary milestone of round, base-ten numbers.

You might not expect Jarrett Jack to appear on this weekly rundown. On Wednesday, the 34-year-old journeyman point guard eked out the second triple-double of his career, but he needed every bit of two overtime periods to do it. Through regulation, the Knicks and Bulls were knotted at 105 points apiece after neither team could muster a point in the final 1:20 of the fourth. At the time, Jack had produced 12 points but had six assists and eight rebounds; not quite a triple-double.

In each of the two Bulls-Knicks overtime frames, our man recorded two assists and one rebound. In fact, Jack was largely responsible for extending the game, feeding Kristaps Porzingis on a game-tying, buzzer-beating dunk to end the first overtime and force a second. Ultimately, however, the 6-3 Georgia Tech product could not be the Knicks hero on that night. Down two, after intercepting a Kris Dunn pass, Jack, himself, coughed up the ball. Finally, with New York trailing by three, Jack’s 26-foot pull-up with a few seconds remaining did not connect. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, and a big fat L.

To reiterate, that was Jack’s second career triple-double. But when was his first? Well, I’m glad you asked. It came six seasons ago during the lockout-shortened 2011-12 campaign. Playing for the struggling New Orleans Hornets (11-34 heading into the game) against the sub-.500 Warriors, Jack notched 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. Golden State must have seen something it liked, because Jack was a Warrior the very next season.

Another fun fact involving Jack’s triple-double Wednesday: Carmelo Anthony had been the latest Knick to achieve a triple-double, doing it on April 17, 2012, when Melo’s 35-12-10 night allowed his team to overcome 43 points from Boston’s Paul Pierce (this Celtics team wound up getting eliminated by the eventual champion Heat, 4-3, in the Eastern Conference Finals that year). On Monday night, rookie point guard Frank Ntilikina fell three rebounds short of recording the Knicks’ second triple-double in a week. It was the most well rounded NBA performance for the 19-year-old Belgian who was taken with the Knicks’ No. 8 overall pick back in June.

After Ntilikina’s effort leading the Knicks to victory over the Nets, teammate Michael Beasley sung the teenager’s praises in a quote with particular Triple-Double Watch implications:

"“Frank’s an amazing player. He has to learn what pace he wants to go. But as soon as he figures it out, Frank will be an easy triple-double guy. Easy triple-double.”"

Of course, Ntilikina hasn’t yet achieved the first triple-double of his NBA career, but we’ll surely be watching.

Although Jack was the only player to get over the TD hump this week, many guys came extremely close.

  • For our purposes, committing double-digit turnovers technically does not count toward securing a triple-double, but just for fun, let’s note that Devin Booker finished with 27 points, nine assists, and nine turnovers in a loss to Houston Friday. For what it’s worth, he also corralled six rebounds.
  • The TD King, Russell Westbrook, nearly notched his league-leading 15th of the season twice this week but fell one rebound or one assist shy on Tuesday (Jan. 9) and Monday, respectively. And speaking of those embarrassing triple-doubles, Westbrook actually got one of those Monday, although we aren’t counting it, finishing with 19 points, 16 rebounds, 10 turnovers, and nine assists.
  • Lonzo Ball had 11 rebounds and 11 assists but could only muster five points on 2-10 shooting as the Lakers defeated the Kings Tuesday, although, like a good teammate, on at least one occasion, he gave up an easy transition bucket in exchange for an assist.
  • DeMarcus Cousins is still stuck on one for the season, but he turned in a phenomenal effort in the Pelicans’ win over Portland on Friday. The Alabama native showed off with 24 points, 19 rebounds, and eight assists. For good measure, frontcourt mate Anthony Davis added 36 points and nine rebounds.
  • Speaking of versatile big men who attended the University of Connecticut, we have Karl-Anthony Towns, who helped the Timberwolves to their fourth straight win on Friday. Despite averaging just over two assists per game, Towns accumulated nine to go with his 23 points and 15 rebounds.
  • In his fourth pro year, 24-year-old Spencer Dinwiddie is undoubtedly having the best season of his career. On Wednesday, while facing the franchise where he was drafted and spent his first two seasons, Dinwiddie turned in a dud of a performance (two points and three assists in 26 minutes). Two nights later, he went off for 20 points, nine rebounds, and 10 assists. Dinwiddie was particularly impactful in the game’s final three minutes as the Nets closed out the Hawks.
  • On Monday night, Draymond Green and Tyreke Evans respectively fell an assist and a rebound shy of TD magic. Each of their teams won, with the Warriors defeating the Cavaliers and the Grizzlies dispatching the Lakers.

Next: 30 best NBA players who never won a championship

Before I relinquish control of our beloved Triple-Double Watch back to Paul, observe some cool developments I’ve noticed:

  • Teams are 30-13 this season when one of their own notches a triple-double.
  • Interestingly enough, 25 of this season’s 43 triple-doubles (58.1 percent) have been achieved by visiting players.
  • The Jazz “lead” the league with four triple-doubles surrendered, with two coming against Westbrook (luckily for Utah, it’s done facing RW this regular season after going 1-3). The Cavs, Pacers, Hornets, Bulls, and Lakers are all tied with three apiece. This season, nine teams have yet to give one up.
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