CJ McCollum 38 points vs Timberwolves (Feb 9, 2026): 3rd-best of 49 games
38 PTS · 12-of-25 FG · 5-of-9 3P · 9-of-11 FT · 32:48 MIN
Usual before this game: 18.3 PTS · 15.0 FGA · 30.1 MIN, from 48 regular-season games
3rd-best Game Score of 49 games this season: 26.8 against a usual 12.6 (+14.2)
above usual
No more than 5 in 100 games by players at this level finish this far above their usual.
For a player who plays every game, a game this far above the usual comes about 2 to 4 times a season.
How the score worksWhy did CJ McCollum score 38 points?
CJ McCollum scored 38 points against the Timberwolves on Feb 9, 2026 in 32:48: 12-of-25 from the field (48.0%), 5-of-9 from three (55.6%), 9-of-11 on free throws (81.8%). Before this game, McCollum averaged 18.3 points on 15.0 shots in 30.1 minutes across 48 regular-season games. By Game Score it was the 3rd-best of 49 games this season. McCollum took 25 shots, 10.0 more than usual. McCollum shot 48.0% from the field, against a usual 45.6%. Points by shot type, against the usual: threes 15 (7.5), free throws 9 (2.1), two-pointers 14 (8.7). McCollum played 32:48 against a usual 30.1 minutes; per 36 minutes the Game Score was 29.4, against a usual 15.1. McCollum had 4 steals and 0 blocks, against a usual 0.7 and 0.4. The Hawks lost 138-116 at the Timberwolves, a 22-point loss. The box score records what changed, not why: it holds no injury, matchup or coaching information.
Generated from the box score and this season's game log. How the score works
What changed
McCollum in this game against the usual line
| Stat | This game | Usual (48 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minutes | 32:48 | 30.1 | +2.7 |
| Points | 38 | 18.3 | +19.7 |
| Shots (FGA) · FG% | 25 · 48.0% | 15.0 · 45.6% | +10.0 · +2.4 |
| 3PA · 3P% | 9 · 55.6% | 6.6 · 38.0% | +2.4 · +17.6 |
| FTA · FT% | 11 · 81.8% | 2.7 · 77.1% | +8.3 · +4.7 |
| Rebounds | 1 | 3.4 | -2.4 |
| Assists | 2 | 3.5 | -1.5 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1.6 | +1.4 |
| UsageUsual: minutes-weighted average of per-game usage, 48 games | 37.2 | 25.0 | +12.2 |
| Game Score per 36 minutes | 29.4 | 15.1 | +14.3 |
Points by shot type
Twos, threes and free throws: the changes add up to the points change
| Shot type | This game | Usual (48 games) | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Threes | 15 (5-of-9) | 7.5 (2.5-of-6.6) | +7.5 |
| Twos | 14 (7-of-16) | 8.7 (4.3-of-8.4) | +5.3 |
| Free throws | 9 (9-of-11) | 2.1 (2.1-of-2.7) | +6.9 |
| Total | 38 | 18.3 | +19.7 |
Game Score
One measure of the whole box score line
26.8 against a usual 12.6 (+14.2)
Its five parts
| Part | Change |
|---|---|
| Scoring, net of shot attempts | +14.2 |
| Rebounds | -1.0 |
| Assists | -1.1 |
| Steals and blocks | +3.1 |
| Turnovers and fouls | -1.0 |
| Total | +14.2 |
Season so far
Regular season, in date order
3rd-best Game Score of 49 games this season.
Context
From the rows this page already reads
- The Hawks lost 138-116 at the Timberwolves, a 22-point loss.
- Previous appearance: Feb 7, 2026, 2 days earlier.
- Earlier regular-season meetings with the Timberwolves this season: 14 points (Nov 19, 2025), 20 points (Jan 4, 2026).
What this page cannot tell you
The same on every performance page
Box scores record what happened, not why: no injuries or health, defensive assignments, matchups, coaching decisions or play-by-play.
Game Score against the player's own usual line. How rare a gap is comes from NBA regular-season games of 2023-24 and 2024-25, checked on 2025-26.