While the Academy Awards dominated the headlines, the NBA provided seven games with significant importance to the postseason picture. Multiple contenders earned wins, while others fell in disappointing fashion.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Joakim Noah tore the New York Knicks apart with 13 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists, two blocks and a pair of steals as the Chicago Bulls secured a 109-90 win. D.J. Augustin posted 23 points to lead the Bulls in scoring, while Carmelo Anthony had 21 for the losing Knicks.
Noah is the first center with at least 14 assists since Sam Lacey of the Kansas City Kings in 1978-79.
2. The only players in Chicago’s franchise history with more triple-doubles than Joakim Noah are Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.
3. Tony Parker returned from a five-game injury absence to post 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting as the San Antonio Spurs took down the Dallas Mavericks 112-106. Dirk Nowitzki countered with 22 points and Vince Carter scored 21, but it was San Antonio’s balance that, once again, earned a win.
When both players are active, Tim Duncan’s Spurs have won seven straight meetings with Dirk Nowitzki’s Mavericks.
4. Carter, who shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc, passed Peja Stojakovic to move into eight place on the all-time 3-point field goals list.
5. David West scored 25 points as the Indiana Pacers survived a 94-91 scare against the Utah Jazz. Gordon Hayward scored 21 points for the surprisingly strong Utah squad, but Indiana overcame a collective 10-of-28 shooting performance by Paul George and Lance Stephenson.
Indiana secured its league-best 46th victory, which is one more than the 45-15 Oklahoma City Thunder.
6. Kevin Durant scored 28 points on 8-of-24 shooting and Russell Westbrook dropped 26 on a mark of 10-of-12 from the floor as the Oklahoma City Thunder took a double-digit win over the Charlotte Bobcats, 116-99. Al Jefferson tallied 25 points for Charlotte, but Charlotte fell short on the road.
With the win, OKC secured its fifth consecutive season with at least 45 wins. The last time the organization achieved that was 1998, when the Seattle Supersonics won at least 45 in seven straight seasons.
7. Westbrook’s field goal percentage of 83.3 was the best of his career.
8. Tobias Harris scored a career-high 31 points to lead the Orlando Magic to a 92-81 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Thaddeus Young poured in 29 for the Sixers, but it was yet another loss for the embattled Philadelphia squad.
The Sixers have lost a league-worst 14 consecutive games—their worst losing streak since 1994.
9. DeMar DeRozan and Stephen Curry dueled in a down-to-the-wire affair in which the Toronto Raptors took down the Golden State Warriors 104-98. Curry scored 34 points on 13-of-27 shooting, while DeRozan poured in 32 on a mark of 10-of-16 from the field.
Toronto improves to 26-14 since trading Rudy Gay.
10. The unsung heroes shined as the Phoenix Suns out-gunned the Atlanta Hawks en route to a 129-120 home win. Gerald Green scored 33 points, and twins Marcus and Markieff Morris combined for 39 points and 17 rebounds.
Green has three 30-point games in 2013-14. He had three in his first six seasons combined.
Bonus Fact: Since starting the season at 25-21, the Atlanta Hawks are 1-11. Al Horford is dearly missed.