Around the league: Putting family first a slam dunk

Alfonzo McKinnie, as wellrespected and well-liked a Raptors905 player as there has ever been, might have had better days than last Monday, but probably not.

McKinnie, whose journey to the NBA began when he paid his own way to an open G League tryout with the Raptors affiliate, returned to his native Chicago as a rotation player with the Golden State Warriors and had a career-high 19 points.

And that wasn’t close to the best part of his day.

Before the game, McKinnie had taken time to sign the papers finalizing the purchase of a new home for his mother, one of the proudest moments of his life.

Rightfully so.

CHECKING IN ON VINCE:

In this installment of “How Old Is Vince” as we keep up with friend Vince Carter, the NBA’s oldest player, there’s this:

In a game last week, Carter was on the court against Chicago Bulls rookie Wendell Carter Jr.

On April 16, 1999, Vince Carter had 17 points, eight assists and 12 rebounds when Toronto lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers. On April 16, 1999, Wendell Carter Jr. was born.

AN ECONOMICAL OUTBURST:

That was some night for Golden State’s Klay Thompson on Monday, a league-record 14 three-pointers made and 52 points in less than 30 minutes of a rout over Chicago.

It shouldn’t have come as too big a surprise. In accomplishing the feat, Thompson took only 24 shots and dribbled the ball only 56 times in total. It was reminiscent of his 60-point, 33-shot, 29-minute, 11-dribble shocker in 2016.

How impressive? Over the entire course of the NBA history — more than 150,000 games — Thompson is the only player to have 50 or more points in 30 or fewer minutes, and he’s done it two times.

CHASING DEAR OLD DAD:

Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis had a game for the ages on Wednesday, as he scored 30 points that included a perfect 12-for-12 shooting night from the floor. He is only the eighth player in league history to make at least 12 field goals without a miss in a game. But he’s got a bit of room to go before truly making familial history. His dad, the incomparable Arvydas Sabonis, has a career-high of 33 points in an NBA game.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER:

Finally, something good happened to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Wednesday began with news that Jimmy Butler was taking a night off — ostensibly to ease general soreness — but it quickly led to rampant speculation he was walking away from the beleaguered franchise to hasten his exit via a trade demand. That was shot down and Butler is expected to play Friday in Golden State, but it was another hit to the franchise.

And then Derrick Rose happened.

The 30-year-old had a careerhigh 50 points, including gamesealing free throws in a 128-125 win over Utah, a dramatic return from oblivion for the oftinjured 2010-11 NBA MVP.