Who needs March Madness when the NBA is putting forth action like this?
Wednesday, March 26 played host to a slew of games that featured a number of noteworthy results. Championship contenders clashed in a memorable bout, a Western Conference power continued to reign supreme and the postseason picture took further shape.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Paul George and Roy Hibbert out-dueled LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to lead the Indiana Pacers to an 84-83 victory over the Miami Heat. LeBron poured in 38 points and D-Wade tallied 15 for Miami, while George scored 23 and Hibbert dropped 21 for Indiana.
With its win, the Pacers secured the Central Division title.
2. Tim Duncan stuffed the stat sheet with 29 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a pair of steals as the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Denver Nuggets 108-103. In typical fashion, five Spurs scored in double-figures and nine put up at least seven points.
The Spurs have won a league-best 15 consecutive games.
3. Al Jefferson erupted for 35 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Charlotte Bobcats to a 116-111 overtime win over the Brooklyn Nets. Deron Williams scored 29 points, but the Nets couldn’t prevent Kemba Walker from posting 20 points and 12 assists to help Charlotte win a nail-biter.
Jefferson has three games with at least 35 points and 15 rebounds. That’s tied with Kevin Love for the best mark in the NBA.
4. Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe helped the Phoenix Suns hold off John Wall, Marcin Gortat and the Washington Wizards 99-93. Dragic scored 25 points and Bledsoe tallied 23, while Wall poured in 29 and Gortat tallied 17 on 8-of-11 shooting.
Bledsoe has scored at least 20 points in a career-best four straight games.
5. Matthew Dellavedova scored a career-high 21 points and Dion Waiters sank a game-winning buzzer-beater as the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Detroit Pistons 97-96. Dellavedova was a sensationally efficient 7-of-9 from the field and 5-of-7 from beyond the arc.
Waiters is the first Cavaliers player to sink a buzzer-beater since Mo Williams on November 24, 2010.
6. Terrence Ross scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry put up 23 as the Toronto Raptors took down the Boston Celtics 99-90. Jared Sullinger scored 26 points and Rajon Rondo dished out 15 assists, but the Celtics again fell short of victory.
The Raptors secured their first 40-win season since 2009-10.
7. Anthony Morrow scored a season-high 27 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 98-96 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Blake Griffin scored 21 points and Chris Paul dished out 12 assists, but CP3 was 0-for-12 on field goal attempts.
It’s the first time since April 10, 2011 that Paul failed to convert a single field goal attempt.
8. Gorgui Dieng was brilliant again as the Minnesota Timberwolves blew out the Atlanta Hawks 107-83. Dieng posted 15 points and 15 rebounds, while Kevin Love tallied 14 points and 12 boards as the T-Wolves earned a home victory.
Dieng has 84 rebounds over his past six games. He had 81 boards during his first 42.
9. Carmelo Anthony scored 36 points and J.R. Smith tallied 29 as the New York Knicks took down the Sacramento Kings 107-99. DeMarcus Cousins lit the Knicks up for 32 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks and a pair of steals, but the Knicks drained 15 3-point field goals.
Smith hit a franchise-record nine 3-pointers individually.
10. Zach Randolph posted 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies stormed back to defeat the Utah Jazz 91-87. Memphis trailed by as many as 16 points in the second half, but Z-Bo scored 10 fourth quarter points and Mike Miller put up nine in the final period to lead the comeback.
Memphis has won three straight games and is 30-11 since January 1.
Bonus Fact: Jamal Crawford scored 31 points on 7-of-15 shooting from beyond the arc. In the process, he broke his own Clippers franchise record with 151 3-point field goals made this season.