The 2013-14 NBA regular season continued on Saturday, February 8 with a number of different intriguing results. From an organization that set a bizarre NBA record to postseason contenders that exceeded their 2012-13 success, there was no shortage of excitement.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. The Memphis Grizzlies toppled the Atlanta Hawks 79-76 in a defensive slugfest. Zach Randolph posted 20 points, six rebounds, three blocks and two steals, and Courtney Lee added 14, but this one was about what Memphis was unable to do.
Memphis became the first team in NBA history to attempt one or fewer free throw in a game, going just 1-of-1.
2. In defeat, Atlanta’s All-Star power forward Paul Millsap put up 20 points, 11 rebounds, six assists and five steals. That’s not just a strong stat line, but it’s downright stellar.
Millsap is the first player to post those numbers during the entire 2013-14 season.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge posted 26 points as the Portland Trail Blazers went on the road to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 117-110. Rookie guard C.J. McCollum added a career-high 19 points in 28 minutes to help Portland earn yet another win over a Western Conference foe.
After going 18-34 against the West in 2012-13, Portland is 19-11 in conference play in 2013-14.
4. Minnesota may have lost, but Ricky Rubio displayed a different side to his usually pass-first approach. The Spanish star finished with a career-high 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting from the floor, 2-of-4 from 3-point range and 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
It was just the second time this season that Rubio has eclipsed the 20-point plateau.
5. Brandon Jennings and Josh Smith took over as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Denver Nuggets 126-109. Jennings led the charge with 35 points, 12 assists and six 3-point field goals, and Smith finished with 30 points, 10 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and a block.
Jennings is the first Pistons player to tally at least 35 points and 12 assists in the same game since Isiah Thomas on January 2, 1988.
6. Patty Mills scored a season-high 32 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 104-100 road win over the Charlotte Bobcats. Mills saw just 25 minutes of game action, but he shot 10-of-13 from the field, 4-of-5 from beyond the arc and 8-of-9 from the charity stripe with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
With the win, San Antonio improves to a league-best 19-6 on the road.
7. With their wins tonight, the Grizzlies and Spurs joined the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors as the only teams in the NBA with more road wins than home wins.
8. Dwight Howard and James Harden flashed their potential as a tandem as the Houston Rockets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 101-95. Howard finished with 27 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal, and Harden put up 22 points and four steals.
Jeremy Lin had 18 points as Houston achieved its second five-game winning streak of the season.
9. All three members of the Big Three saw at least 35 minutes of playing time, but the Miami Heat fell 94-89 to the lowly Utah Jazz. LeBron James and Chris Bosh each scored 13 points on a combined shooting mark of 7-of-25 from the floor and 1-of-9 from beyond the arc.
Marvin Williams led Utah with 23 points, marking the first time since December 21, 2007 that he’s scored at least 20 points in three straight games.
10. Goran Dragic out-dueled Stephen Curry as the Phoenix Suns took down the Golden State Warriors 122-109. Dragic posted 34 points and 10 assists on 10-of-13 marksmanship and Gerald Green had 25 on a tally of 10-of-15, while Curry put up 28 points and nine dimes on 10-of-20 shooting, and Klay Thompson had 17 on 6-of-13.
Phoenix improves to 17-8 at home, which matches its 2012-13 home win total at 17-24.
Bonus Facts
- Prior to their win over the Heat, the Jazz had lost four straight games, including three in a row by at least 15 points.
- Kevin Love missed tonight’s game. During the past two seasons, Minnesota is 33-33 when Love is active and 22-45 when he’s not.