The 2013-14 NBA regular season continued on Friday, December 6. 20 teams were in action in 10 games, a league record was set, and the Eastern Conference became slightly less putrid.
Here’s everything you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Kyle Korver of the Atlanta Hawks set a new NBA record by converting a 3-point field goal in his 90th consecutive game. Korver passed Dana Barros’ previous mark of 89 straight games. Korver finished with 10 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the field and 2-of-3 from distance.
Atlanta defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 108-89 to become the third team in the Eastern Conference with a winning record.
2. Second-year forward Khris Middleton scored a career-high 29 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 109-105 overtime win over the Washington Wizards. The 22-year-old has scored in double-figures in 10 games in 2013-14 after topping 10 points in eight as a rookie in 2012-13.
3. The New York Knicks have won consecutive games for the first time this season. One day removed from a 113-83 demolition of the Brooklyn Nets, the Knicks picked up a 121-83 victory over the Orlando Magic. Carmelo Anthony posted a double-double and no more than 12 shot attempts in both of those games.
Who knew that ball movement leads to better results than isolation sets?
4. James Harden scored 34 points and Dwight Howard added 22 points, 18 rebounds, three steals and a block to guide the Houston Rockets past the Golden State Warriors 105-83. Terrence Jones added 16 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and three steals for his fifth double-double of the season after tallying one as a rookie.
5. Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes combined to shoot 12-of-40 from the floor during Golden State’s loss.
6. One game removed from Michael Carter-Williams’ first career triple-double, Tony Wroten Jr. started in the injured rookie’s place. All he did was post 21 points, nine assists and eight rebounds to flirt with a triple-double of his own.
Both of these men are having absolutely outstanding seasons, and it’s about time they get respect. Unfortunately, that wasn’t enough to prevent the Philadelphia 76ers’ 105-88 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats.
7. What has gotten into Steve Blake? The Los Angeles Lakers point guard registered 13 points and 10 assists during a 106-100 win over the Sacramento Kings. Blake has two double-doubles and eight games with at least 10 assists in 2013-14.
Before the season began, Blake hadn’t registered a double-double or a double-digit assist outing since April 14, 2010.
Steve Blake is playing like Steve Nash.
8. For just the third time this season, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook scored at least 25 points in the same game. Durant posted 29 on 11-of-17 shooting, while Westbrook finished with 25 on a mark of 8-of-16. The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 109-95.
9. Markieff Morris continued a stellar season with 25 points and 11 rebounds, and P.J. Tucker posted his first double-double of 2013-14 as the Phoenix Suns defeated the Toronto Raptors 106-97. Phoenix moves to 11-9, which is the team’s best start since 2010-11, when the Suns finished 40-42.
10. Wesley Matthews scored a game-high 24 points and LaMarcus Aldridge continued his MVP campaign with 20 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 130-98 decimation of the Utah Jazz. Portland is now 17-3 overall, 9-1 at home and 8-2 on the road.
Aldridge is averaging 23.4 points and 10.0 rebounds. It’s time he gets in on the MVP conversation.
Bonus Fact: 10 teams in the Western Conference are above .500. Three are in the Eastern Conference.