The Sweet Sixteen may be set in the NCAA Tournament, but only three NBA teams have secured postseason berths. Thus, every single result is of the utmost importance with roughly three weeks remaining until the 2014 postseason commences.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. The Cleveland Cavaleirs stormed back from a 17-point deficit to shock the New York Knicks 106-100 at Madison Square Garden. Jarrett Jack led the charge with his first double-double of the season, recording 31 points and 10 assists on 13-of-19 shooting from the field.
Both of those marks are season-highs.
2. Carmelo Anthony posted 32 points and eight rebounds for the Knicks. Thus, he passed John Stockton for 40th on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
3. The Knicks’ loss snapped an eight-game winning streak.
4. Marcus Thornton continued to be a revelation for the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 20 points in 24 minutes to help Jason Kidd’s squad defeat the Dallas Mavericks 107-104 in overtime. Joe Johnson scored 22 points, while Monta Ellis put up 32 to lead the Mavericks.
The story of the day was Brooklyn’s defense, which limited Dirk Nowitzki to 10 points on 2-of-12 shooting. It’s the first time Dirk has shot below 20.0 percent from the field since December 28, 2012.
5. The Nets’ forced overtime when Joe Johnson made a driving layup to tie the game at 91-91 with nine seconds left on the clock. Thus far in 2013-14, Joe Johnson is a perfect 3-for-3 in the final 10 seconds of regulation and overtime when the game is tied or the Nets are behind by three points or less.
That’s what you call clutch.
6. The Phoenix Suns clinched a record of .500 or better by storming past the Minnesota Timberwolves 127-120 at the Target Center. Markieff Morris led six Suns in double-figures with 25 points to overcome 36 points, 14 rebounds, nine assists and three steals from Kevin Love.
It was the fourth time this season and third time since February 25 that Love has been one assist shy of a triple-double.
7. The Toronto Raptors outscored the Atlanta Hawks 36-15 in the fourth quarter and erased a 14-point deficit to win 96-86 at home. Kyle Lowry scored 25 points and DeMar DeRozan posted 21, while only three players scored in double-figures for the Hawks.
Toronto is 21-10 at the Air Canada Centre, matching their home win total from a year ago.
8. Jordan Hill scored a career-high 28 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 103-94 win over the Orlando Magic. Nick Young added 26 points on 8-of-17 shooting for the Lakers, while Victor Oladipo registered 21 points and 10 assists for the Magic.
The Magic have lost nine consecutive games.
9. DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Isaiah Thomas took over to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Milwaukee Bucks, 124-107. Cousins went off for 32 points and 12 rebounds, Thomas poured in 30 points and eight assists, and Gay tallied 24 points and eight boards.
Cousins, Gay and Thomas are the only trio of teammates in the NBA to simultaneously average at least 20.0 points per game. All three are shooting better than 45.0 percent from the field.
10. Kenneth Faried posted 20 points, eight rebounds and three blocks as the Denver Nuggets continued their late-season success with a 105-102 win over the Washington Wizards. Denver has won seven of 11, and Faried’s emergence as a scoring threat is a major reason why.
Faried has more 20-point scoring outbursts in March, seven, than he had in all of 2012-13, six.