The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Wednesday, December 10, and the action did not disappoint. Five games were decided by single-digits, a legend turned back the clocks and a number of the league’s elite players stepped up with outstanding performances.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. LeBron James came through with 35 points and Kyrie Irving dished out 10 assists as the Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Toronto Raptors 105-101. The clash between Eastern Conference contenders was tight throughout, with Terrence Ross scoring 18 points and Jonas Valanciunas posting 18 points and 14 rebounds for Toronto.
With its comeback victory, Cleveland has won eight consecutive games.
2. Toronto’s loss snapped a 39-game winning streak when it entered the fourth quarter with the lead.
3. Marc Gasol posted 30 points, six assists and five rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies worked past the Dallas Mavericks 114-105. Chandler Parsons led Dallas with 30 points of his own, but Mike Conley tallied 22 points on 9-of-13 shooting to round out a superb offensive effort from the Grizzlies.
Gasol has four games with at least 30 points in 2014-15. He had one in his entire career before this season.
4. Chris Bosh took over with a season-high 34 points, nine rebounds and four steals to help the Miami Heat pick up a 103-97 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Marcus Morris posted 25 points on 10-of-13 shooting from the field and 5-of-6 from beyond the arc, but Phoenix lost its third consecutive game by six points or less.
Miami’s win snapped a four-game losing streak.
5. Greg Monroe tallied 22 points and 10 rebounds, but the Detroit Pistons’ woeful season continued with a 98-86 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. LaMarcus Aldridge posted 23 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks, and Wesley Matthews scored 19 of his own as Portland pulled away for the road win.
The Trail Blazers have won five consecutive games.
6. The Pistons are on a league-worst 13-game losing streak.
7. Amar’e Stoudemire scored a season-high 26 points, but the New York Knicks ultimately fell 104-93 to the New Orleans Pelicans. Tyreke Evans led the Pelicans with 27 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals on 11-of-15 shooting, Omer Asik added 16 points and 14 rebounds, and Anthony Davis rounded out the effort with 18 points, eight rebounds and three blocks.
New York has lost nine in a row and are off to the worst start in franchise history at 4-19.
8. Kobe Bryant put up 32 points as the Los Angeles Lakers picked up a 98-95 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Darren Collison scored 26 points and Rudy Gay had 23 for the Kings, but Sacramento committed 16 turnovers to just five by Los Angeles.
The Lakers are 3-3 in their past six games. They were 3-13 in their first 16.
9. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant and Reggie Jackson took over as the Oklahoma City Thunder outgunned the Milwaukee Bucks 114-101. Westbrook posted 27 points, Durant tallied 23 points, nine rebounds, seven assists, one block and a steal, and Jackson had 18 points coming off the bench.
OKC has won three consecutive games for the first time this season.
10. Tim Duncan turned back the clocks for the San Antonio Spurs, but it was Derrick Favors who led the Utah Jazz to a 100-96 victory. Favors finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while Duncan posted 23 points, 14 rebounds, two assists, four blocks and three steals.
At 38, Duncan is the oldest player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three steals in the same game.
Bonus Facts
- Chris Bosh had two 30-point games in 2013-14. He has three in 2014-15.
- Utah ended its nine-game losing streak with its win over the Spurs.