Some of the NBA’s most powerful players and teams were at their best on Wednesday, January 22, 2014. A rising squad decimated the top team in the league, a superstar continued his historic stretch of dominance, and an under-the-radar star solidified his status amongst the rising elite.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. In a nationally televised game, the Phoenix Suns dominated the Indiana Pacers 124-100. All five of Phoenix’s starters scored in double-figures, including Gerald Green, who posted 23 points against his former team.
Most shockingly, Phoenix shot 53.2 percent from the field and 68.8 percent from 3-point range against the NBA’s No. 1 defensive unit. Talk about a statement win.
2. DeMar DeRozan stepped up with a career-high 40 points as the Toronto Raptors defeated the Dallas Mavericks 93-85. DeRozan was 15-of-22 from the field to lead Toronto to victory on a night in which his teammates combined to shoot 31.5 percent from the field.
DeRozan is the seventh player in franchise history to score at least 40 points in one game. The others were Andrea Bargnani, Chris Bosh, Vince Carter, Acie Earl, Tracy Murray and Charlie Villanueva.
3. Kevin Durant ripped off his ninth consecutive game with at least 30 points to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the San Antonio Spurs 111-105. Durant finished with 36 points, seven rebounds, five assists, one block and a steal on 12-of-22 shooting from the field, 2-of-4 from 3-point range and 10-of-11 from the free throw line.
Reggie Jackson added 27 points and eight assists to counter a season-high 37 points from Tony Parker.
4. Jeff Green scored a season-high 39 points to lead the Boston Celtics to an incredible 113-111 overtime win over the Washington Wizards. Green also had nine rebounds, three steals and eight 3-point field goals made, while Gerald Wallace dished out a season-high nine assists and Phil Pressey scored a career-high 20 points.
In the loss, John Wall recorded his second career triple-double with 28 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals.
5. The Chicago Bulls defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-87 during Luol Deng’s first game against his former team. D.J. Augustin scored a season-high 27 points for the second consecutive game, Taj Gibson posted a season-high 26 and Mike Dunleavy threw up 22 for the victorious Bulls.
Deng had 11 points on 2-of-11 shooting, while friend and former teammate Joakim Noah extended his career-best streak to 14 straight games with at least 10 rebounds. Noah tallied nine points, 18 boards, six assists, two blocks and a steal.
Deng likely got an update on his phone because of Noah’s feat.
6. Evan Turner scored a career-high 34 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Philadelphia 76ers to a 110-106 win over the New York Knicks. Michael Carter-Williams added 19 points, a career-high 12 rebounds, seven assists and two steals to help Philly earn the road victory.
Carmelo Anthony scored 28 points, Andrea Bargnani dropped 20 and Iman Shumpert tallied 19, but New York lost its fifth in a row since going on a five-game winning streak.
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7. Pero Antic recorded his first career double-double as the Atlanta Hawks took down the Orlando Magic 112-109. Antic finished with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Paul Millsap scored 24 and Jeff Teague added 23 for the win.
Atlanta and Orlando posted identical team marks of 41-of-83 from the field and 21-of-24 from the free throw line.
8. Dwight Howard took over with 26 points and 13 rebounds to guide the Houston Rockets past the Sacramento Kings 119-98. Omri Casspi chipped in a season-high 20 points and a career-high 12 rebounds for his first double-double since January 19, 2011.
Derrick Williams led Sacramento with 22 points and a season-high 11 rebounds for his first double-double since April 10, 2013.
9. Al Jefferson finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds as the Charlotte Bobcats shocked the Los Angeles Clippers 95-91 at the Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina. It was Jefferson’s fourth straight double-double and the Bobcats’ second straight win.
Blake Griffin had 27 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a steal, and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds for the Clippers. Suddenly, Chris Paul is being missed.
10. Caron Butler came out of nowhere with 30 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 104-101 win over former point guard Brandon Jennings and the Detroit Pistons. Jennings countered with 30 points of his own, but Josh Smith and Kyle Singler combined to shoot 2-of-17 from the field.
Milwaukee’s win snapped a nine-game losing streak.
Bonus Facts
- Sacramento Kings stars DeMarcus Cousins and Rudy Gay both left last night’s game with lower-leg injuries. Neither are expected to be season-ending.
- Per Elias, Kevin Durant joins Tiny Archibald, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, LeBron James and Oscar Robertson as the only players in NBA history to record at least 30 points and four assists in nine consecutive games.
- Prior to their loss against the Phoenix Suns, the last time the Indiana Pacers allowed at least 120 points was January 23, 2011.
- 124 is the most points the Pacers have allowed since January 3, 2010.
- Take this as you will: The Boston Celtics have allowed a league-worst three triple-doubles.