With just one week remaining in the 2013-14 NBA regular season, the push for the postseason is heating up. Four spots remain un-clinched in the playoffs, and a number of different teams are mathematically involved in this hunt for glory.
On Wednesday, April 9, 12 games featuring 24 teams created no shortage of headlines. There were clashes between championship contenders, a change at the top of the Eastern Conference stamdomgs and two separate triple-doubles by All-Stars.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 107-101 win over Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the Los Angeles Clippers. Westbrook took over with 30 points and 11 rebounds, and Durant added 27 as OKC overcame 30 points and 12 boards from Griffin and 25 points from CP3.
Westbrook has consecutive games with at least 30 points for the first time this season.
2. Despite resting all five starters, the Indiana Pacers went on the road to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks 104-102. Luis Scola scored a season-high 24 points, Evan Turner added 23 and Chris Copeland had a season-high 18 points as the short-handed Pacers sent a message to their resting starters: step it up.
For all of the flack that Frank Vogel has wrongly received, the Pacers have re-gained the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
3. LeBron James erupted for 37 points, but the Memphis Grizzlies found a way to escape a scare against the Miami Heat with a 107-102 victory. Mike Conley scored 26 points, Zach Randolph tallied 25 and 11 rebounds, and Marc Gasol dropped 20 points and 14 rebounds in a balanced Memphis attack.
At 53-25, the Heat have suffered their most losses in one season during the Big 3 Era.
4. Joakim Noah recorded 15 points, 13 rebounds, 10 assists, two blocks and a steal to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Minnesota Timberwolves 102-87 at the Target Center. D.J. Augustin added 21 points on 4-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc, while Kevin Love tallied 17 points and 10 rebounds for the T-Wolves.
Noah, a center, is tied for the league-lead with four triple-doubles.
5. Jonas Valanciunas went off for a career-high 26 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks as the Toronto Raptors outlasted the Philadelphia 76ers 125-114. Kyle Lowry put up 29 points and eight assists for the Raptors, while Michael Carter-Williams tallied 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Sixers.
Toronto has won four straight games and is one victory away from matching its franchise-record for single-season wins.
6. Al Jefferson went off for 20 points and 18 rebounds, and Kemba Walker tallied 17 points and 12 assists as the Charlotte Bobcats pulled out a 104-98 overtime win over the Washington Wizards. Marcin Gortat countered with 27 points and 14 rebounds, and John Wall tallied 14 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists for his third career triple-double.
The Bobcats have secured their first 40-win season since 2009-10 and the second in franchise history.
7. Dion Waiters scored 22 points and Matthew Dellavedova dropped 14 points and 12 rebounds as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Detroit Pistons 122-100. Tyler Zeller ended up with 18 points on 9-of-11 shooting for the Cavs, while Andre Drummond put up 11 points and 14 rebounds for Detroit.
Detroit suffered its 50th loss for the fourth time in five seasons. The Pistons lost at least 50 games just four times in the previous 29 campaigns.
8. Joe Johnson scored 31 points, but the short-handed Brooklyn Nets fell 115-111 to the Orlando Magic. Arron Afflalo continued his quietly brilliant season with 25 points, five assists and four rebounds for Orlando, while the steadily returning Kevin Garnett had five points, eight rebounds and six assists in 17 minutes for Brooklyn.
Magic guard E’Twaun Moore matched a season-high with 17 points on perfect 6-of-6 shooting.
9. Gerald Green scored 21 points and Goran Dragic tallied 20 to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 94-88 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. It was a critical victory for the Suns, which maintained a 1.0-game lead over the Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference standings.
Rookie center Jeff Withey scored a career-high 17 points for the Pelicans in the loss.
10. Randy Foye ripped off 30 points and 15 assists to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 123-116 upset of the Houston Rockets. Foye scored 24 points in the second half alone, while Jeremy Lin put up a game-high 18 points for the Rockets.
For the D-League and VCU Rams fans of the world, NBA rookie Troy Daniels scored a career-high 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc for the Rockets.
Bonus Facts
- Rajon Rondo had 19 points and 12 assists, but the Boston Celtics fell 105-97 to the Atlanta Hawks.
- Dorell Wright sank a game-winner with 7.9 seconds left on the clock as the Portland Trail Blazers picked up a 100-99 win over the Sacramento Kings.
- Brandon Knight registered his career-best fourth double-double of the season.