The NCAA Tournament has been placed on hold, but March Madness is alive and well with the NBA. There was a marvelous showdown between two of the game’s most prolific scorers, a nearly completed 19-point comeback and the continuation of a legendary feat.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks out-dueled Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 128-119 overtime win. Dirk tallied 32 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and four steals—the first time in his illustrious career that he’s simultaneously hit those marks—and Durant put up 43 on 15-of-27 shooting.
This was Dirk’s first game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and five assists since March 19, 2012.
2. Durant’s 43 points marked his 36th consecutive game with at least 25 points scored. He’s the first player to hit that single-season mark since Michael Jordan did it in 40 consecutive games during the 1986-87 season.
Only three players in NBA history have longer single-season streaks than Durant: Jordan, Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson.
3. Tobias Harris and Nikola Vucevic combined for 47 points and 21 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic past the Portland Trail Blazers 95-85. Robin Lopez posted 20 points, 13 rebounds and two blocks, but the Blazers shot just 37.2 percent from the floor and 26.9 percent on 26 3-point field goal attempts.
Portland has lost three in a row and eight of its past 11 games.
4. The Cleveland Cavaliers nearly blew a 19-point lead, but managed to hold off the Toronto Raptors 102-100. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Cavs, including a 24-point eruption from Dion Waiters, while Kyle Lowry posted 22 points, 10 assists and three steals for the Raptors.
The Cavaliers’ past 12 games have been identically streaky: four straight losses, two straight wins, four straight losses and their current two straight wins.
5. The Los Angeles Lakers received a sensational 82 points from their second unit en route to a 127-96 win over the New York Knicks. Xavier Henry led the charge with 22 points, Nick Young added 20 and Kent Bazemore tallied 18 for L.A.’s bench mob.
The key to the blowout was the third quarter, where the Lakers scored a franchise record 51 points.
Bonus Fact: Home teams were a perfect 4-0.