Another day, another incredible feat for one of the game’s most decorated legends. And then another one after him.
The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Friday, November 14 with a number of historic achievements. Two future Hall of Famers improved their standing on the all-time spectrum, with one doing so in superb fashion.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Five players scored in double-figures to lead the San Antonio Spurs past the Los Angeles Lakers 93-80. Carlos Boozer scored 19 points for the Lakers, but Kobe Bryant was a career-worst 1-of-14 from the field.
Tim Duncan became the 19th player in NBA history to score at least 25,000 points.
2. LeBron James erupted for a season-high 41 points, seven assists, four rebounds and a block to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Boston Celtics 122-121. Kyrie Irving scored 27 points and James sank the game-winning free throw, while Rajon Rondo dished out 16 assists for Boston.
LeBron passed Celtics great Robert Parish for No. 24 on the all-time scoring list.
3. Carmelo Anthony scored a season-high 46 points, but it was Gordon Hayward who led the Utah Jazz past the New York Knicks 102-100 at Madison Square Garden. Hayward posted 33 points, six assists, three rebounds and four steals to help the Jazz pull out the road win.
New York has lost seven consecutive games since starting at 2-1.
4. Jrue Holiday scored 24 points on 9-of-10 shooting and Anthony Davis had 22 points to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 139-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Austin Rivers added 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting and Tyreke Evans tallied 16 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals for New Orleans.
Andrew Wiggins scored a career-high 20 for the Timberwolves.
The Pelicans set franchise records for points scored in a single game and margin of victory.
5. Eight separate players scored at least 10 points as the Atlanta Hawks took home a 114-103 victory over the Miami Heat. Mario Chalmers posted 23 points and 11 assists for the Heat, but the Hawks’ balanced attack was too much to overcome.
This was Chalmers’ first career game with at least 20 and 10, and just his second double-double since the beginning of the 2009-10 season.
6. James Harden scored 35 points and Dwight Howard posted 21 points, 16 rebounds, seven blocks and two steals to lead the Houston Rockets to a narrow 88-87 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Harden hit the game-winning layup with nine seconds on the clock, thus overcoming another strong performance by Tony Wroten.
Philadelphia has lost nine consecutive games.
7. Brandon Jennings erupted for 29 points to help the Detroit Pistons survive the Oklahoma City Thunder 96-89 in overtime. OKC received three double-doubles with 24 points and 10 rebounds from Jeremy Lamb, 20 points and 12 assists from Reggie Jackson and 19 points and 10 rebounds from Serge Ibaka.
Jackson has two double-doubles in 2014-15. He had two in his first three seasons combined.
8. In a game with seven Denver Nuggets in double-figures, Arron Afflalo scored a team-high 17 points to lead a 108-87 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Indiana shot just 11-of-22 from the free throw line and 40.5 percent from the field.
The win snaps Denver’s six-game losing streak.
9. Five players scored in double-figures to help the Charlotte Hornets get past the Phoenix Suns 103-95. Kemba Walker led the charge with 19 points for the Hornets, while Eric Bledsoe tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds for the Suns.
After starting the season at 0-4 away from home, this was Charlotte’s first road win.
10. Tobias Harris posted 26 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Orlando Magic past the Milwaukee Bucks 101-85. Brandon Knight scored 24 points and Giannis Antetokounmpo had 19 for the Bucks, while Nikola Vucevic tallied 18 points for the Magic.
Harris has at least 20 and 10 in two of his past three games. He had three in all of 2013-14.
Bonus Fact: Boston blew a 17-point lead after the third quarter, marking the team’s worst fourth quarter collapse since March 25, 1988.