The power has shifted in the 2014 NBA Playoffs.
Friday, May 9 was a critical day in the Conference Semifinals, as two separate series moved to the lower-seed’s respective venues. In both of those games, the higher-seeded squad came up with a critical victory to reclaim the home court advantage.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. The Indiana Pacers defeated the Washington Wizards 85-63 in what was one of the ugliest games of the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Paul George scored 23 points and Roy Hibbert posted 14, but this one was all about the Wizards’ inability to do anything positive on offense.
The Wizards’ 63 points are the fourth-lowest mark in a playoff game since the shot clock was introduced in 1954.
2. Washington’s 63-point debacle was the lowest scoring output in a playoff game since the New Orleans Hornets had 63 on April 27, 2009.
3. Hibbert has 42 points in his past two games. He had 37 total points during his first eight playoff outings of 2014.
4. Kevin Durant lit up the Los Angeles Clippers for 36 points and Russell Westbrook stuffed the stat sheet as the Oklahoma City Thunder secured a 118-112 win. Westbrook put up 23 points, 13 assists and eight rebounds for OKC, while Blake Griffin scored 34 points for L.A. and Chris Paul tallied 21 points, 16 assists, three steals and zero turnovers.
Prior to this loss, the Clippers were 35-0 when entering the fourth quarter with a lead. They’re now 35-1.
5. Since 1986, five players have recorded at least 15 assists and zero turnovers in a playoff game: Magic Johnson, Jason Kidd, Chris Paul, Robert Reid and Rajon Rondo. CP3 is the only player to do it twice.
Bonus Fact: Durant has seven 30-point performances during the 2014 NBA Playoffs. No other player has more than four.