With a temporary break from the NCAA Tournament, the NBA provided some March Madness of its own.
A fourth team reached 50 wins, a surprising player erupted for a season-high scoring total and a pleasant surprise continued to establish new success. Furthermore, a superstar sank a game-winner, a championship contender remained red-hot and a struggling squad continued to re-define inferiority.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Austin Daye scored a season-high 22 points to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Philadelphia 76ers 113-91. As for how improbable this performance was, Daye entered the game with a grand total of 14 points scored the entire season.
San Antonio’s winning streak was extended to a league-best 14 games, while Philadelphia has lost an NBA-worst 25 straight. That’s one game shy of the worst losing streak in NBA history.
2. Kevin Durant and Reggie Jackson took over to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 117-96 obliteration of the Denver Nuggets. Durant finished with 27 points and eight assists for his 35th consecutive outing with at least 25 points, while Jackson scored 16 and dished out 11 assists.
Jackson has a double-double in back-to-back games. Prior to this mini-streak, he had zero career double-doubles.
3. Blake Griffin went off for 27 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, three blocks and a steal to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 106-98 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. It was Los Angeles’ 13th win in 14 appearances, and Griffin’s 29th consecutive game with at least 20 points.
More importantly, it marked the second time in franchise history that the Clippers reached 50 wins. The previous time was just last season.
4. Taj Gibson scored 23 points and Kirk Hinrich tallied 18 as the Chicago Bulls defeated the Indiana Pacers 89-77. Joakim Noah continued to be one of the most well-rounded forces in the NBA with 10 points, eight rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks.
The Pacers dished out a season-low 11 assists during what was another underwhelming defeat.
5. LeBron James scored 32 points and made the game-deciding layup as the Miami Heat took down the Portland Trail Blazers 93-91. It was a familiar result for Portland, which has lost 10 consecutive games against teams with a win percentage of .600 or better.
The issue: if the season ended today, seven of the other eight Western Conference teams that would qualify for the playoffs, including Portland, have a win percentage of .600 or better.
6. Six separate players scored in double-figures to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Minnesota Timberwolves 109-92. The individual star of the game was rookie center Gorgui Dieng, who tallied 11 points and 17 rebounds for the T-Wolves.
Memphis has secured its fourth consecutive season with a record above .500. That’s a franchise record.
7. Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe helped the Detroit Pistons fight off a fierce attack from Gordon Hayward of the Utah Jazz for a 114-94 blowout win. Drummond posted 19 points and 14 rebounds, and Monroe put up 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Hayward scored 32 points.
The Pistons’ win snapped a five-game losing streak.
8. Tyreke Evans continued his red-hot month with 33 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and three steals to lead the New Orleans Pelicans past the Brooklyn Nets 109-104 in overtime. Anthony Davis added 24 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks, while Paul Pierce scored 24 points and Deron Williams had 23 for Brooklyn.
Evans’ 33-point scoring outburst was a season-high and his most since January 21, 2011.
9. The Phoenix Suns used double-digit scoring outbursts from five separate players to take down the Atlanta Hawks 102-95. Eric Bledsoe scored 20 points and Goran Dragic tallied 19 for the high-powered backcourt, while DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap both scored 19 points for Atlanta.
Phoenix secured its 42nd win of the season, thus earning its first winning record since 2009-10. It went to the Western Conference Finals that season.
10. James Harden posted 31 points on 11-of-19 shooting as the Houston Rockets went on the road to take down the Charlotte Bobcats 100-89. Kemba Walker scored 22 points and Al Jefferson put up 20 and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for the Bobcats to pull out the win.
Houston has won four straight games.
Bonus Facts: Kevin Durant’s streak of 35 consecutive games with at least 25 points is the longest since Michael Jordan did in 40 straight in 1986-87.