Thursday, November 13 was a day of extreme highs and lows. From buzzer-beaters and incredible comebacks to significant injuries and disturbingly lopsided blowouts, the continuation of the 2014-15 NBA regular season had it all.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Pau Gasol erupted for 27 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 100-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Jimmy Butler scored 21 points and held DeMar DeRozan to 3-of-17 shooting in a dominant performance by the rapidly rising off-guard.
Derrick Rose scored 20 points for Chicago, but he left the game with a hamstring injury.
2. Four starters scored at least 17 points, but the Sacramento Kings fell 101-100 to the Memphis Grizzlies on a last-second alley-oop off of an inbound pass. Rudy Gay had 25 points and DeMarcus Cousins posted 22 and 12 rebounds, while Mike Conley had 22 points and 11 assists, and Courtney Lee sank the game-winner.
Memphis stormed back from 26 points down for a franchise-record comeback.
3. Dirk Nowitzki scored 21 points on 7-of-8 shooting as the Dallas Mavericks dismantled the Philadelphia 76ers 123-70. Michael Carter-Williams’ return was spoiled, so much so that his 6-of-19 shooting and six turnovers were overshadowed by his team’s dreadful effort.
The 53-point win was the second-largest in Mavericks history.
4. The 76ers franchise has five losses by 50 points or more. No other team has more than three.
5. Klay Thompson was just 8-of-22 from the field, but he scored 25 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a 107-99 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Draymond Green set the tone with 17 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and one steal, while Jarrett Jack scored 23 points on a perfect 10-of-10 shooting for Brooklyn.
Jack is the first guard to shoot 100.0 percent from the field on at least 10 field goal attempts since Darren Collison on March 27, 2010.
Bonus Fact: Butler has at least 20 points in four of his first seven games. He had five in all of 2013-14.