Clint Capela aligned himself with an Atlanta Hawks legend on Friday, joining Dikembe Mutombo as only the second player in franchise history to record a triple-double with 10 blocks.
The Swiss slotman achieved the impressive feat in the Hawks' convincing 116-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at Target Center.
Clint Capela is the first Hawks player with a triple-double including 10 blocks since Dikembe Mutombo in 2000❗ pic.twitter.com/w5x5fj0m3U
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 23, 2021
Against the Timberwolves, Capela put up a dominant stat-line of 13 points (5-for-11 FG), 19 rebounds, and 10 rejections in 30 minutes. The last player to complete this rare feat was Los Angeles Lakers superstar Anthony Davis in 2018, back when he was still playing for the New Orleans Pelicans.
Moreover, with his monster block triple-double, Capela has now recorded 45 rebounds and 15 blocks in his last two games. He finished with 27 points, 26 rebounds and five blocks against the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
Clint Capela has 45 rebounds and 15 blocks over his past 2 games. Since 1973-74, there has only been one other instance of a player recording 45 rebounds and 15 blocks over a 2-game span
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar had 47 rebounds and 17 blocks on Oct. 31 & Nov. 2 1975
H/T @EliasSports pic.twitter.com/1XACKSRcYZ
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 23, 2021
Dikembe Mutombo, on the other hand, is a beloved figure in Atlanta after anchoring the team's defense from 1996 to 2001. The Hall of Fame center blocked 1,094 shots in a Hawks uniform, good for third all-time in the franchise's history.
Clint Capela, of course, still has a long way to go to reach that level, but he certainly is off to a great start. The Hawks acquired the 6-foot-10 center from the Houston Rockets last year in a four-team, 12-player trade. He has become a difference-maker in Atlanta so far, averaging 14.2 points, 14.2 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 12 games.
Capela's strong interior presence and pick-and-roll prowess has become a great fit for head coach Lloyd Pierce's system. He also makes things a lot easier for the Hawks' two best players in Trae Young and John Collins.
With Capela manning the middle, Atlanta has finally regained their groove and have won their last three contests. They improved to 8-7 on Friday, tied for fifth place with the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference standings.
Follow Us
Subscribe