Welcome to 2014.
The NBA ushered in the New Year with five games featuring 10 teams competing for postseason berths. There were season-best individual performances and victories that changed the culture of the postseason picture.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. The Toronto Raptors became the fourth team in the Eastern Conference to register a record of .500 or better by defeating the Indiana Pacers 95-82. Kyle Lowry dished out a season-high 14 assists, while DeMar DeRozan scored 26 points and Terrence Ross added 18.
Toronto is 15-15, and they are still a major underdog to win the Eastern Conference according to most major online sportsbooks.
2. Monta Ellis scored 23 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks to an 87-78 win over the Washington Wizards. Dirk Nowitzki scored nine points on 3-of-14 shooting, marking the first time since April 7, 2013 that he’s failed to score at least 10 in one game.
Trevor Booker grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds for the Wizards.
3. Ricky Rubio posted 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, three steals and two blocks as the Minnesota Timberwolves unleashed an offensive onslaught in a 124-112 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Kevin Love added 21 points and six rebounds on 6-of-19 shooting.
Love entered Wednesday on a seven-game streak with a double-double.
4. Blake Griffin dropped 31 points and 12 rebounds, and Chris Paul tallied 17 points and 14 assists during the Los Angeles Clippers’ 112-85 decimation of the Charlotte Bobcats. Paul leads all guards with 26 double-doubles, with the next-best mark coming from Stephen Curry at 15.
Perspective.
5. Evan Turner posted 23 points and Lavoy Allen scored a season-high 13 to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 114-102 road victory over the Denver Nuggets. Ty Lawson dished out 11 assists, but it wasn’t enough to prevent yet another setback for the Nuggets.
Denver has lost eight straight games.
Bonus Fact: Blake Griffin has at least 30 points and 10 rebounds in five separate games in 2013-14. He did it four times in 2010-11 and 2011-12 combined.