Embiid wins NBA’s scoring race, Harden takes assist title

MIAMI (AP) —The individual stat races in the NBA saw two repeat winners thisseason. Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid is now a back-to-back scoringchampion, and Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr. won the blocks race forthe second consecutive year.

A look at thetop stat races:

SCORING

Embiid is theNBA’s scoring champion for a second consecutive year, averaging33.1 points per game. His closest pursuers were Dallas’ Luka Doncic(32.4) and Portland’s Damian Lillard (32.2).

This seasonwas the first in NBA history when three players averaged at least32 points per game. Embiid becomes the 19th player to win multiplescoring championships.

Thehigh-point game this season was 71, done twice — Donovan Mitchelldid it for Cleveland against Chicago on Jan. 2, and Damian Lillarddid it for Portland against Houston on Feb. 26.

ASSISTS

Philadelphia’s James Harden reclaimed the assist title, averaging10.7 per game this season. It’s his second time finishing as theleader in assists per game; he also did it in 2016-17 when he waswith Houston.

Harden is the13th player to win multiple assist titles. He also had thehigh-assist game by a player this season, with 21 of them inPhiladelphia’s win over the Los Angeles Clippers on Dec. 23.

REBOUNDS

Sacramento’sDomantas Sabonis led the league in rebounds per game, averaging12.3. It’s his fourth consecutive season averaging at least 12rebounds per contest, the longest such active streak in theNBA.

The mostrebounds any player had in a game this season was 29, done by IvicaZubac of the Clippers against Indiana on Nov. 27.

STEALS

Toronto’sO.G. Anunoby edged Miami’s Jimmy Butler for the steals title in avery close race. Anunoby averaged 1.91 per game, while Butleraveraged 1.83.

Anunoby isthe first Raptors player to win the steals crown. Butler was tryingto become the 10th player with multiple steals titles; he also ledthe league in 2020-21.

Philadelphia’s De’Anthony Melton and Minnesota’s D’Angelo Russellhad the most steals in a game this season. They each had seven,Melton getting his on Dec. 9, Russell on Oct. 28 — and both effortswere against the Los Angeles Lakers.

BLOCKS

Jackson Jr.has gone back-to-back as the NBA’s blocked-shot champion, averaging3.0 per game this season.

He’s thefirst player to lead the league in blocks in two consecutiveseasons since Anthony Davis (2013-14, 2014-15).

Milwaukee’sBrook Lopez had the high-block game this season, swatting nineagainst Brooklyn on March 9.

THREE-POINTERS

GoldenState’s Klay Thompson had the most 3-pointers by a player thisseason, getting to 301 by making six in Sunday’s finale.

Thompson isonly the third player to make 300 3′s in a season. Warriorsteammate Stephen Curry has done it four times, and Philadelphia’sJames Harden did it while playing for Houston in 2018-19.

Portland’sDamian Lillard had the most 3’s in a game this season, connectingon 13 in his 71-point outburst against Houston on Feb. 26.

TEAMBESTS

Sacramento(120.7 points per game) led the NBA in average scoring this season.Denver (50.4%) was the NBA’s best team from the field.

And from theline — be it the foul line or the 3-point line — nobody was betterthan Philadelphia.

The 76ersmade 83.5% of their free throws — the second-best rate by a team inNBA history. The Los Angeles Clippers made 83.9% of their triesfrom the line in 2020-21.

The 76ersalso shot a league-best 38.7% from 3-point range this season, justahead of Golden State’s 38.5%. The Warriors made 1,363 3’s thisseason, a single-season record.