Kevin Love accomplished something no player has done since 1982, as the third-year forward recorded 31 points and 31 rebounds to help the Minnesota Timberwolves erase a double-digit halftime deficit en route to a 112-103 triumph over the New York Knicks.
Not only was it the first 30-30 since Moses Malone did it in 1982 but it was one of the top ten best rebounding performances of all-time.
The Knicks held a 65-51 halftime lead but watched that lead evaporate in the second half, mostly thanks to Love. He capped his historic night with a rare make from behind the arc with 1:17 left, putting Minnesota up 12 points in front of the excited Target Center crowd.
Canis Hoopus says tonight's win was "flat out the most fun I have had watching a wolves game in at least 3 years." They also point us in the direction of Love's most recent blogpost for GQ in which he details his philosophy on rebounding:
For me, rebounding is all a mindset. My dad told me back in the day that there is no such thing as a selfish rebound because it's a team stat. If you have to fight one of your own teammates for a rebound, do it—as long as you get it. Also, I studied the greats. Dennis Rodman had it figured out: he knew that most shots are going to come to the other side of the rim. So that's how I position myself. And Bill Russell always used to say that 80 percent of rebounds are below the rim. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to jump and touch the top of the square every time. I use my body for positioning, and I work relentlessly underneath the rim. You don't have to be the most athletic guy in the world to get a bunch of rebounds, so I just try and take what my dad said to heart, what Rodman said to heart, and most importantly what Bill Russell said to heart. He's got 11 championship rings so I think he knows what he's talking about
Love's accomplishments were so big, it caused NBA folk from around the league to respond in the most obvious way they know how...via Twitter.
Here's Love discussing his big night with the TNT crew.