Lou Williams becomes 1st player since MJ to record 30 points and 10 steals

NBA fans rarely associate Lou Williams with great perimeter defense.

However, the Los Angeles Clippers guard recorded a career-high 10 steals in Saturday's 125-113 loss to the Utah Jazz, proving even a defensive liability can be a factor on D.

Williams was one off the single-game record of 11 steals, achieved by Kendall Gill in 1999 and Larry Kenon in 1976. He also became the first player since Michael Jordan in 1988 to score 30 or more points and grab 10 steals in the same game.

Only Williams and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Draymond Green have recorded games with double-digit steals since 2009.

The stellar defensive outing was the latest highlight for Williams, who has averaged 31 points on better than 45 percent shooting in 11 games since New Year's Eve. It's the sort of production that's convinced him he deserves to be an All-Star, and has other teams reportedly inquiring about his availability ahead of the trade deadline.