After a Thanksgiving layoff, the NBA returned with 13 games featuring 26 teams. There were buzzer-beaters, superstars facing their former teams, and downright outstanding performances.
Here’s everything you need to know about last night’s games.
1. In what will go down as one of the best games of the year, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Golden State Warriors 113-112 in overtime. Russell Westbrook scored 34 points for the Thunder and Stephen Curry dropped 32 for the Warriors, which ended up being the deciding factor.
Westbrook hit the game-winning three-pointer with 0.1 seconds remaining in overtime. Prior to that shot, he’d been 1-of-20 on game-winning or game-tying field goal attempts in the final five seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.
2. The Indiana Pacers keep on winning. Lance Stephenson posted seven points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, and Paul George scored 23 to lead the Pacers to a 93-73 victory over the Washington Wizards. Indiana is now a league-best 15-1.
John Wall had nine assists in the loss.
3. LeBron James scored 27 points and Dwyane Wade followed with 22 to lead the Miami Heat to a 90-83 win over the Toronto Raptors. No other player on the team scored more than seven, including Chris Bosh, who had four points and fouled out during his return to the Air Canada Centre.
Miami has won nine straight games.
4. Carmelo Anthony scored 27 points in his return to the Pepsi Center, but the New York Knicks fell 97-95 to the Denver Nuggets. Randy Foye blocked Anthony’s attempt at a game-winner to seal the Nuggets’ vengeance victory over their former franchise player.
New York is now 3-12, which is the team’s worst start since 2009-10. The Knicks finished 29-53 that year.
5. For strictly precautionary purposes, Los Angeles Clippers superstar Chris Paul missed his first game of the year. Jamal Crawford stepped up in his place, posting season-high marks across the board with 31 points, 11 assists and seven rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 104-98 overtime win over the Sacramento Kings.
It was Crawford’s first double-double since Nov. 29, 2008 and his first double-double with at least 10 assists since Jan 24, 2007. If that’s not impressive enough, DeAndre Jordan posted 10 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocked shots.
6. In a game in which James Harden attempted four total field goals and Dwight Howard played just 17 minutes, the Houston Rockets dominated the Brooklyn Nets by a score of 114-95. Nets head coach Jason Kidd benched four of his starters in the second half and Houston made 19 three-point field goals—the second-highest mark in franchise history.
Brooklyn is now 4-12.
7. Jordan Crawford had his third career triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Boston Celtics defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-86. Jeff Green scored 31 points, while Dion Waiters had 21 off of the bench for the Cavaliers.
Crawford now has three games with at least 10 points and 10 assists in 2013-14 after reaching those marks just three previous times during his entire career.
8. Steve Blake posted his seventh double-digit assist performance in nine games after failing to reach that plateau in any of his previous three seasons. In that same game, Wesley Johnson scored 27 points and Shawne Williams posted his first 20-point scoring output since January 12, 2011.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Detroit Pistons 106-102.
9. Markieff Morris scored 23 points and Eric Bledsoe put up 19 to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Utah Jazz 112-101. Phoenix is now 9-7, which is its best start since 2009-10, when it won 54 games and reached the Western Conference Finals.
Before Suns fans get too excited, Phoenix was 13-3 after 16 games in 2009-10.
10. The Dallas Mavericks made just three of their final 19 shots and allowed the Atlanta Hawks to complete a 13-point fourth quarter comeback in an 88-87 road loss. Hawks center Al Horford drained a 19-foot jumper with 4.2 seconds remaining to give Atlanta the win.
Lou Williams, who recently returned from a torn ACL, scored a season-high 12 points in 25 minutes.
Bonus Fact: Starting in place of the injured Andre Iguodala, second-year small forward Harrison Barnes had 26 points and helped limit Kevin Durant to 7-of-22 shooting and four turnovers.
Bonus Fact: Everything came together perfectly for the New Orleans Pelicans during a 121-105 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Anthony Davis had 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, four blocks and two steals. Jrue Holiday finished with 20 points, 13 assists and three steals. Eric Gordon scored 26, Ryan Anderson dropped 18, and Tyreke Evans put up 16.
The five faces of the franchise showed why New Orleans is a dark horse postseason contender.
Maxwell Ogden is a contributor to Sheridan Hoops. Make sure you follow him on Twitter.