Kelsey Plum’s buzzer-beater was the perfect note to end Wednesday night’s game on, but you’ve got to feel for Paige Bueckers. Her hard-won 44 points, a career-high, were a masterclass right away. She curled off screens, she cut towards the rim, and she pulled up whenever she had an inch of space. Not to mention, the guard made the right play in transition every time. That’s hardly the look of a rookie, and it’s got people gushing.

The Wings versus Sparks game was abuzz with excitement until the very last second, because it wasn’t just number 5 from Dallas popping off. For every bucket that Bueckers scored, Rickea Jackson had her response! The LA forward had a near-perfect night from beyond the arc and was instrumental in the late Sparks comeback, putting up 25 points on 6/7 from deep. You had to see it to believe it.

Even NBA players were witnessing greatness at the Crypto Arena. Chet Holmgren, the starting center for the OKC Thunder, was seen sitting courtside at the LA vs DAL game, and it’s safe to say he enjoyed it! The seven-foot-one NBA champion put out multiple tweets about tonight’s game. “Idk where y’all can watch this game but Paige and Rickea goin at it rn,” he said, applauding both the stars for their hard-fought battle.

Holmgren urged his followers to tune in to the game multiple times, especially during Bueckers’ late-game scoring run. “Turn this sh-t on Paige got 40.” And honestly? It was heartwarming to see the NBA star’s continued support of PB. If you didn’t know, both of them go way back.

They’re both from Minnesota and have known each other for years. Bueckers always has kind words for the OKC superstar, and Holmgren always pulls up to watch her hoop! “He’s a unicorn,” she said once. And it was Holmgren’s chance to be in awe today.

Although it’s obvious Paige Bueckers stole the show today, dropping league-high points for the season, the Wings star is giving all the credit to her teammates. Here’s what Bueckers had to say about her record-breaking performance tonight.

Paige Bueckers shouts out her Dallas Wings teammates after record-breaking performance

Looking at Paige Bueckers after the game, you could see the heartbreak in her eyes. It isn’t about records or personal accolades for the Dallas Wings star. Or, as she said at the post-game presser, “Individual accomplishments are a true acknowledgement of team accomplishments.” It’s all about winning and team success for PB, and that’s what separates her from the rest. She’s a true floor general, and in her case, it doesn’t stop at hardwood.

The Wings guard was asked about how she reached the big 44 even while being double-teamed in the second half, and her response was simple: Her teammates came through for her.

“Just my teammates getting me open. Screening for me, running some off-ball actions, trying to get myself open looks.” Bueckers said, crediting her tight-knit Dallas team for this amazing personal accolade. “I mean, just bringing the ball up to four. [Luisa Geiselsoder] set amazing screens for me the entire night, and then my teammates just looking for me, getting me open. That’s really just them.”

She went on to talk about how her mid-range scoring really opens up the game for her. “I think basketball’s truly gotten away from it, and it’s mostly layups and threes,” she said. “So it’s really hard to guard. Teams don’t know how to guard it, and don’t have counters for it.” And after watching tonight’s game, we’re bound to agree!

There was no stopping Bueckers from pulling up whenever she wanted to. Whether it be through an attack in transition or through a number of screens that are hard to fight through, the Dallas Wings star was showing out. Unfortunately, her team is officially out of playoff contention after this game. However, it will be interesting to see whether Bueckers can keep up her purple patch of scoring during the dying embers of the season, and maybe walk away with her first piece of hardware.