The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Saturday, December 20 with a slate of seven games featuring 14 teams. There were major debuts, a clash between star power forwards and a number of intriguing battles.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge overwhelmed Anthony Davis as the Portland Trail Blazers blew out the New Orleans Pelicans 114-88. Aldridge finished with 27 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, three steals and two blocks, while Davis was held to seven points on 3-of-14 shooting.
Portland has won five consecutive games.
2. Aldridge is tied with Zach Randolph and John Wall with a league-best 16 double-doubles.
3. Eric Bledsoe put up 25 points and 10 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns went on the road to defeat the New York Knicks 99-90. Isaiah Thomas had 22 points and Markieff Morris scored 19, while Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 25 points and Jose Calderon had 21.
New York has lost 14 of its past 15 games.
4. Kyle Korver scored 22 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter, as the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Houston Rockets 104-97 on the road. Dwight Howard put up 19 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals and a block for Houston, while Al Horford had 14 points, eight boards, five dimes, three blocks and a steal for Atlanta.
The Hawks have won 12 of 13.
5. James Harden set a career-high with 14 assists for the Rockets.
6. Monta Ellis matched his season-high with 38 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the San Antonio Spurs 99-93. The Spurs were without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Kawhi Leonard and Tony Parker, but still managed to keep the game close until the bitter end.
San Antonio has lost four consecutive games. The last time it did that: April 1, 2011.
7. Rajon Rondo made his Mavericks debut with six points, nine assists, seven rebounds, two steals and four turnovers in 34 minutes. He shot 3-of-11 from the field and 0-for-1 from beyond the arc.
8. Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick combined for 74 points and 19 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 106-102. CP3 finished with 27 points and nine assists, Griffin had 24 points and eight dimes, and Redick tallied 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting. Giannis Antetokounmpo had 12 points, nine rebounds, six assists and two steals for Milwaukee.
The Clippers have won seven consecutive home games. L.A. last lost at Staples Center on November 17.
9. In one of the ugliest games you’ll see all season, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers 76-73. Both teams shot below 37 percent, but Ty Lawson tallied 15 points, 10 assists and three steals to give the Nuggets the minimal offensive firepower which they needed to win.
Lawson has 15 double-doubles in 2014-15. The only guard with more is John Wall.
10. Kemba Walker led a balanced attack as the Charlotte Hornets ran past the Utah Jazz 104-86. Walker scored 20 points, Al Jefferson had 19 points and 10 rebounds, Gerald Henderson tallied 17 points and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with 13 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal.
Charlotte is 4-5 in December. It went a collective 4-13 in October and November.
Bonus Fact: Phoenix joins the Miami Heat as the only two teams in the NBA with a record below .500 at home and above .500 on the road.