The 2014 NBA Playoffs continued on Thursday, May 15 with a pair of elimination games. By the end of the night, two teams advanced and the Conference Finals were set.
The Indiana Pacers will host the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference. Out west, the San Antonio Spurs will have the home court advantage against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. David West took over with 29 points to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 93-80 victory over the Washington Wizards. Lance Stephenson added 17 points, eight assists, five rebounds and one block, which helped Indiana overcome 19 points from Marcin Gortat and 16 from Bradley Beal for the Wizards.
The Pacers are in the Conference Finals in consecutive years for the first time since 2000.
2. West’s 29 points are his most in a playoff game since May 13, 2008, when he was a member of the New Orleans Hornets.
3. In a game of runs, Kevin Durant went off for 39 points, 16 rebounds, five assists and two blocks to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 104-98 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers. Chris Paul posted 25 points and 11 assists, and Blake Griffin tallied 22 points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a postseason career-high eight dimes, but L.A. fell short.
The Thunder will make their third Conference Finals appearance in four years. Including its time as the Seattle SuperSonics, they had three Conference Finals appearances between 1987 and 2010.
4. The past three games in which a player posted at least 35 points, 10 rebounds and five assists: Kevin Durant last night, Kevin Durant on May 7, 2013 and Kevin Durant on May 5, 2013.
5. Durant has nine 30-point games during the 2014 NBA Playoffs. The next-leading player has four.
Bonus Fact: This is the first time since 2004-05 that both the Eastern and Western Conference Finals will feature a battle between the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds.