When I say this, please understand that it’s not a form of hyperbole: December 22 was a very memorable evening in the NBA.
A championship contender suffered its first home loss of the season, and fellow teams with title aspirations earned impressive victories. There was a position battle that will forever be remembered by those who witnessed it, and an acknowledgement of elite potential that will not go unrecognized.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s exceptional action.
1. The top two under-25 forwards in the NBA clashed as Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Clippers defeated Kevin Love and the Minnesota Timberwolves 120-116 in overtime. It was everything that fans could ask for and plenty more.
Love finished with 45 points, 19 rebounds, six assists and one steal on 15-of-23 shooting. Griffin tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and four steals on a mark of 11-of-20.
In the end, it was Jamal Crawford who scored four points in the final 13 seconds of regulation to force overtime before Chris Paul proceeded to score nine points in overtime to seal the win.
2. On top of stepping up in the clutch, CP3 finished with 19 points, 13 assists and two steals. That marks double-double No. 22. No other guard has more than 11 double-doubles thus far.
3. Paul George scored 24 points, including 18 in the third quarter, as the Indiana Pacers defeated the Boston Celtics 106-79. Roy Hibbert added 15 points, 12 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal as Indiana won its second game in three nights.
Indiana moves into a tie for the best home record in the NBA at 13-1 and the second-best overall mark at 22-5. Only the Portland Trail Blazers are better at 23-5.
4. Lance Stephenson recorded 12 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and a steal for Indiana. With his performance, Stephenson extended his league-lead with his third triple-double of 2013-14.
Prior to this season, he hadn’t posted a single one.
5. The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first home loss of the season in a stunning 104-98 upset at the hands of the Toronto Raptors, who were an 11-point underdog in most online sports books. Six Raptors were in double figures, including point guard Kyle Lowry, who finished with 22 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and four steals.
Oklahoma City is 13-1 at home. Don’t lose too much hope after this slip-up, Thunder fans.