What happened: Wendell Carter Jr. recorded 13 points and eight rebounds in the first half against Phoenix on Friday. Carter converted 80% of his field-goal attempts across the opening two quarters.

Why it matters: The scoring output moved Carter past his season scoring average of 12.4 points per game in just two quarters of action. His eight first-half rebounds also put him within reach of his 8.9 per-game mark in 2026-27.

What to watch: Carter looks to sustain his interior efficiency as the game heads into the second half against Phoenix.