The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued with a bang on Friday, November 21. 24 teams took part in 12 games after Thursday featured just four squads in two outings.
The results were significant, with a number of expected contenders taking part in early-season battles. The results varied, with multiple games ending in blowouts.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. John Wall posted 27 points, seven assists, six rebounds and four steals as the Washington Wizards took down the Cleveland Cavaliers 91-78. LeBron James had 22 points, but shot just 1-of-8 from the field when Paul Pierce defended him.
The Wizards’ 8-3 start is its best since 1974-75. Washington made the NBA Finals that season.
2. Marc Gasol posted 32 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a block to lead the Memphis Grizzlies past the Boston Celtics 117-100. Jon Leuer added 19 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals and a block in 22 minutes, and Zach Randolph tallied 16 points, 16 rebounds and four dimes.
Gasol has two 30-point games in 2014-15. He had zero in 2013-14.
3. Damian Lillard put up 21 points and nine assists on 7-of-9 shooting to set the pace for the Portland Trail Blazers’ 105-87 destruction of the Chicago Bulls. Portland’s starting five shot a collective 62.8 percent from the field, while Chicago’s converted just 29.5 percent of its field goal attempts.
Bulls rookie Nikola Mirotic set career-highs with with 24 points and 11 rebounds in his first double-double.
4. Isaiah Thomas picked up 23 points, eight assists, three rebounds and three steals in 24 minutes to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Philadelphia 76ers 122-96. Markieff Morris added 18 points in 23 minutes as one of eight Suns who scored in double-figures.
Philadelphia drops to 0-12 with an 0-6 record at home and on the road.
5. Monta Ellis posted 20 points and 10 assists to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 140-106 decimation of the Los Angeles Lakers. Jeremy Lin posted 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting for the Lakers, but Dallas received at least 20 points from Ellis, Dirk Nowitzki and Chandler Parsons.
Dallas’ 140 points are the most of any team this season.
6. Six Golden State Warriors players scored in double-figures and Stephen Curry dished out 10 assists to lead the team to a 101-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. Andre Iguodala led Golden State with 17 points on 7-of-8 shooting, while Enes Kanter had 18 points on 8-of-10 shooting for Utah.
The Warriors have won four consecutive games.
7. Tony Parker scored 28 points in 25 minutes to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a 121-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Danny Green added 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting for San Antonio and Gorgui Dieng had nine points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and a steal for Minnesota.
Anthony Bennett scored a career-high 20 points for the Timberwolves.
8. Arron Afflalo and Kenneth Faried both scored 19 points to lead the Denver Nuggets past the New Orleans Pelicans 117-97. Anthony Davis put up 18 points, nine rebounds, two blocks and a steal, but Denver’s balanced attack was too much with Wilson Chandler scoring 18 points and Danilo Gallinari finishing with a season-high 17.
Since opening the season at 2-7, Denver has won three consecutive games.
9. Two of the hottest teams in the Eastern Conference met, but the result wasn’t as close as many projected. Kyle Lowry posted 20 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and Jonas Valanciunas tallied 18 points, 12 rebounds and one steal as the Toronto Raptors dismantled the Milwaukee Bucks 124-83.
At 10-2, Toronto has the best record in the Eastern Conference. It’s off to the best start in franchise history.
10. Evan Fournier put up 21 points and Tobias Harris had 17 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and a steal as the Orlando Magic went on the road for a 105-100 victory against the Charlotte Hornets. Al Jefferson posted 24 points and 11 rebounds, and Kemba Walker had 15 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists, but it wasn’t enough for Charlotte to get the win.
Orlando is 4-5 on the road in 2014-15. It was 4-37 away from home in 2013-14.
Bonus Facts
- Jarrett Jack scored 23 points and Brook Lopez posted 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a narrow 84-82 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
- Jeff Teague posted a season-high 28 points as the Atlanta Hawks took down the Detroit Pistons 99-89.
- This is the first time that a LeBron James team is below .500 after 10 games since 2007-2008.