On a night in which the star power of the NBA was limited, there were a number of stunning results. From career performances by rising forces to defensive clinics, there was no shortage of noteworthy outings.
The question is, what do you need to know about last night’s games?
1. The Denver Nuggets outlasted the Washington Wizards 75-74 in one of the ugliest games of the year. Denver had 20 turnovers and shot 57.1 percent from the free throw line, while Washington posted a team slash line of .360/.208/.556.
This was Denver’s lowest scoring total since it lost 81-72 to the Memphis Grizzlies on December 29, 2012.
2. Zach Randolph posted 19 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Grizzlies to a 94-85 victory over the Orlando Magic. The Grizzlies are 7-0 when Randolph leads them in scoring and 3-10 when he doesn’t.
3. Jon Leuer came off of the bench for Memphis, adding 16 points and 12 rebounds for his first career double-double. Kosta Koufos came up with 11 boards and the Grizzlies dominated the Magic 52-35 on the boards. That includes a margin of 11 offensive rebounds for Memphis to three by Orlando.
If that’s not enough, the Grizzlies hit more three-pointers, 10, than they’d made in their previous two games combined.
4. Rising star point guards dueled as Kemba Walker led the Charlotte Bobcats to a 115-111 win over Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors. Walker finished with 31 points, five assists and five rebounds on 10-of-18 shooting from the field and 9-of-11 from the charity stripe. Curry had 43 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two blocks.
The future of the point guard position is very, very bright.
5. Golden State made five more three-point field goals, grabbed seven more total rebounds, three more offensive boards and shot 81.8 percent from the free throw line during its loss to Charlotte. The Warriors also committed 15 turnovers and 24 personal fouls to seven and 16 by the Bobcats.
6. Blake Griffin scored a game-high 26 points as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 94-83. Griffin has 14 games with at least 20 points through 22 games. In 2012-13, Griffin had nine 20-point games through 22 outings.
7. Chris Paul tallied 25 points, 13 rebounds and three steals during the Clippers win. Paul is tied with Kevin Love for the league-lead at 18 double-doubles. The next leading guard is Curry at eight.
8. Evan Turner finished with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and one steal for the 76ers. Turner has 16 20-point games through 22 outings. Turner had five 20-point games after 22 appearances in 2012-13.
Evan Turner deserves Most Improved Player of the Year consideration. No matter how early it is.
Turner is a primary candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year.
9. Just six games into his tenure with the Sacramento Kings, Derrick Williams scored a career-high 31 points on 12-of-16 shooting. Isaiah Thomas added 24 points and a career-high 12 assists in his first game since Greivis Vasquez was traded to the Toronto Raptors during the Kings’ 112-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
10. DeMarcus Cousins posted 32 points, a season-high 19 rebounds, three assists, three steals and a block for the Kings. With Williams dropping 31, last night marked the first time since February 4, 2005 that two Kings players scored 30 points in the same game.
Brad Miller and Mike Bibby achieved the feat in ’05.
Bonus Fact: The Portland Trail Blazers improved to 18-4 with a 105-94 win over the Utah Jazz. Portland has the best record in the Western Conference.
Bonus Fact: DeAndre Jordan of the Clippers finished with 11 points and a season-high 21 rebounds. He also saw the words, “Los Angeles” fall off of his jersey. That’s literal, not figurative.