Friday, March 14 was one of the most significant days of the 2013-14 NBA regular season. A trio of players reached new heights of legendary status, two teams were eliminated from the playoffs and a star continued an extraordinary streak.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. The San Antonio Spurs received double-digit scoring totals from five separate reserves during a 119-85 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Matt Bonner recorded 13 points and 10 rebounds for his first double-double since November 29, 2012.
With the win, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michael Cooper and Magic Johnson as the second-winningest trio in NBA history.
2. Paul George scored 25 points and Lance Stephenson tallied 13 points and 12 rebounds to help the Indiana Pacers get past the Philadelphia 76ers 101-94. Thaddeus Young countered with 25 points and a career-high 10 assists in 45 minutes of action.
Philadelphia has lost an NBA-worst 19 consecutive games.
3. The Miami Heat’s recent struggles continued with a shocking 111-107 home loss to the Denver Nuggets. Kenneth Faried posted 24 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, and Darrell Arthur scored a season-high 18 points for the victorious Nuggets.
Miami has lost five of its past six games, which is its worst stretch since March 8, 2011. The Heat have also lost back-to-back home games for the first time since March 8, 2011.
4. Blake Griffin scored 20 points and Chris Paul tallied 18 as the Los Angeles Clippers won their ninth straight with a 96-87 victory over the Utah Jazz. Derrick Favors scored 18 points and Enes Kanter pulled down a season-high 15 rebounds, but it was yet another loss for the Jazz.
At 22-44, Utah has lost its highest number of games since 2004-05.
5. Anthony Davis scored a career-high 36 points, but the New Orleans Pelicans still found a way to fall 111-103 to the Portland Trail Blazers. LaMarcus Aldridge was absent, but all five of Portland’s starters poured in at least 15 points for a balanced offensive attack.
Nicolas Batum led the charge by becoming the first player in franchise history to record at least 22 points, 18 rebounds, five assists and one steal.
6. Jonas Valanciunas scored a season-high 23 points to lead the Toronto Raptors to a 99-86 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Kyle Lowry tallied 22 points, 12 assists, seven rebounds, one block and a steal to win the point guard battle between he and Mike Conley.
Toronto has won 11 of its past 14 games.
7. The Washington Wizards inched closer to a postseason berth with a 105-101 victory over the Orlando Magic. John Wall recorded 21 points and 11 assists, and Marcin Gortat added 19 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks to lead the attack down low.
At 18-15 on the road, the Wizards have their highest win total away from home since 2007-08.
8. The recently returned Eric Bledsoe posted 17 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Boston Celtics 87-80. P.J. Tucker chipped in 11 points, 10 boards and a season-high five steals for his second consecutive double-double.
This was Bledsoe’s first double-double since December 23, 2013.
9. Al Jefferson put up 25 points and 16 rebounds to lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a 105-93 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Love recorded 18 points, six rebounds and five assists for the T-Wolves, but Minnesota shot just 42.7 percent from the floor as a team.
It was just the eighth time in 61 games that Love failed to record a double-double.
10. Spencer Hawes took over with 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers went on the road and pulled off a 103-94 upset of the Golden State Warriors. It was Hawes’ third game with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in his past five appearances.
Golden State has lost back-to-back games after previously winning five in a row.
Bonus Facts
- The Lakers and Jazz became the first teams to be eliminated from the 2013-14 NBA playoffs.
- The Spurs are the first team in NBA history with 13 separate players recording at least one point, one rebound and one assist in the same game.
- Blake Griffin has scored at least 20 points in 25 consecutive games. Only Kevin Durant has done it in more this season.