Thursday, January 23, 2014 featured just two games of NBA action, but there was more than enough excitement for one night. Two stars responded to snubs from the All-Star Game starting lineups, and two championship contenders earned victories.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge made his case for midseason MVP by scoring a career-high 44 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Denver Nuggets 110-105. Aldridge complemented his 44 points with 13 rebounds, five assists and two blocks on 15-of-29 shooting from the field and 12-of-15 from the charity stripe.
Aldridge scored Portland’s final 13 points in a wild fourth quarter.
2. Aldridge joins Carmelo Anthony, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love—All-Star starters—as the only players to post at least 40 points and 10 rebounds in the same game during the 2013-14 regular season. Aldridge is the first Blazers player with at least 40 points and 10 rebounds since Zach Randolph on March 29, 2007.
Aldridge has recorded at least 12 rebounds in a career-best seven straight games.
3. Ty Lawson recorded his 16th double-double of the 2013-14 regular season with 13 points and 11 assists. Prior to 2013-14, Lawson had never registered more than 11 double-doubles in the same season.
4. On the night that he was left out of the Eastern Conference’s All-Star Game starting lineup, Chris Bosh erupted and led the Miami Heat past the Los Angeles Lakers 109-102. Bosh finished with 31 points on 15-of-22 shooting to counter a 22-point and 11-rebound performance by Pau Gasol.
Dwyane Wade missed another game due to precautionary rest. Miami is 7-6 without D-Wade in the lineup.
Looking for Heat tickets? Look no further.
5. Kendall Marshall dished out 11 assists for his eighth game with double-digit dimes during the month of January. That’s the second-best amongst all NBA players in the first month of 2014, trailing only Lawson.
Bonus Fact
- On the college basketball front, BYU Cougars star Tyler Haws scored 48 points in a 114-110 triple-overtime loss to the Portland Pilots. It was a good night to be a scorer, and an even better night to play in Portland.