The 2013-14 NBA regular season continued on Tuesday, February 4. Only eight teams were in action, but the headlines were ripe as a future Hall of Famer returned from injury, a fellow star broke a franchise record and a top contender snapped a surprising losing streak.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Kevin Love posted 31 points and 17 rebounds, and Ricky Rubio dished out 13 assists as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Los Angeles Lakers 109-99. With this statistical outburst, Love extended his league lead with his seventh 30-point and 15-rebound game of the season.
More significantly, Love broke Kevin Garnett’s Timberwolves franchise record with his 25th 30 and 15 game of his career.
2. Steve Nash returned for the Lakers after being out since November 10, 2013. Nash played 25 minutes and put up seven points and nine assists on 3-of-6 shooting.
The last time Nash posted at least nine assists was March 17, 2013.
3. David West stepped up with 22 points, 10 rebounds and two steals as the Indiana Pacers took down the Atlanta Hawks 89-85. Lance Stephenson had 10 points in 23 minutes, but left the game after taking a scary spill on an And-One basket.
With the win, Indiana snapped a 12-game regular season losing streak in road games against the Hawks.
4. The Charlotte Bobcats went on the road and earned a statement win with a 91-75 defensive destruction of the Golden State Warriors. Al Jefferson posted 30 points and 13 rebounds, and Gerald Henderson stuffed the stat sheet with 17 points, eight rebounds, six assists and one steal.
Charlotte earned its 11th road victory of the season, which is its highest win total away from home since 2010-11.
5. Carlos Boozer posted 19 points and 12 rebounds, and Joakim Noah tallied 14 and 14 to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Phoenix Suns 101-92. Jimmy Butler and D.J. Augustin both added 18 points for Chicago, while Goran Dragic put up a game-high 24 for the Suns.
The loss snapped what tied a season-best five-game winning streak for Phoenix and marked the Bulls’ first game with at least 100 points since January 20.
Bonus Fact: Kyle Korver extended his NBA-record streak to 116 consecutive games with a 3-pointer by draining one from distance in the first quarter of the Hawks’ loss to Indiana.