Wednesday, May 7 was a night of redemption in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Two higher-seeds bounced back from series-opening losses with impressive victories over their respective counterparts.
One game came down to the wire, while the other ended in somewhat lopsided fashion. In the process, two embattled players quieted their critics with phenomenal performances in those wins.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. Roy Hibbert erupted for 28 points, nine rebounds and two blocks to lead the Indiana Pacers to an 86-82 victory over the Washington Wizards. It was a redemption game for Hibbert, who shot 10-of-13 from the field and a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe after struggling so mightily throughout the playoffs.
Hibbert’s 28 points come after he scored a grand total of 29 in his previous seven games.
2. Indiana improves to 4-0 following a loss during the 2014 Playoffs.
3. This was Washington’s first road defeat of the postseason after starting at 4-0.
4. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook dominated the Los Angeles Clippers en route to a 112-101 Oklahoma City Thunder victory. Durant posted 32 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists and a pair of steals, while Westbrook tallied 31 points, 10 boards, 10 dimes and three steals.
This was Westbrook’s fourth career postseason triple-double and his third of this year’s playoffs alone.
5. Westbrook is the fifth player in the past 25 seasons to record at least three triple-doubles in one postseason. The others are LeBron James, Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd and Rajon Rondo.
Rondo has done it on two separate occasions.
Bonus Fact: Westbrook has more triple-doubles during the 2014 NBA Playoffs, three, than he did the entire 2013-14 regular season, two.