We’re only one week in.
Sunday, April 27 differed from the norm with a pair of relatively lopsided victories and home teams winning three of four affairs. Nevertheless, the 2014 NBA Playoffs managed to sneak in another road team victory and what can only be described as an unforgettable affair between No. 4 and No.5 seeds.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Trevor Ariza posted 30 points to lead the Washington Wizards to a 98-89 victory over the Chicago Bulls. Taj Gibson scored 32 points on 13-of-16 shooting, but the rest of the Bulls combined to convert just 35.5 percent of their field goal attempts as they fell into a 3-1 hole.
The 30 points were a postseason career-high for Ariza. The 32 set a career-high, both regular season and playoffs included, for Gibson.
2. Stephen Curry came to life with 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists as the Golden State Warriors blew out the Los Angeles Clippers 118-97. Prior to the game, the Clippers turned their warm-up shirts inside-out in protest of owner Donald Sterling’s alleged racist comments.
As for Curry, after making six total 3-point field goals in the first three games of the series, he made seven in Game 4.
3. DeMar DeRozan scored 24 points and Kyle Lowry posted 22 to lead the Toronto Raptors to an 87-79 road victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Paul Pierce tallied 22 points, his most in the series, but the Nets shot 41.2 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from beyond the arc and 65.5 percent from the charity stripe.
The win snaps Toronto’s 13-game road playoff losing streak.
4. DeRozan joins Chris Bosh and Vince Carter as the only players in franchise history to record at least 20 points in three straight playoff games.
5. What. A. Series.
In the continuation of what has been one of the most incredible series in recent memory, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Houston Rockets 123-120 in overtime. Four separate players exceeded 20 points for Portland, including LaMarcus Aldridge with 29, while Dwight Howard posted 25 points and 14 rebounds for Houston in an instant classic.
Unlikely hero Troy Daniels shined with 17 points for Houston, but it wasn’t enough. Daniels had more points in Game 4, 17, than he has total days on an NBA roster, 13, as of April 27.
Bonus Fact: Three playoff series in NBA history have featured at least three overtime games. Two of them are from this postseason.