With the NFL stealing headlines, the 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Sunday, December 21. There were nine games featuring 18 teams, with a number of star-caliber players putting up superb performances.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Anderson Varejao and Dion Waiters combined for a stellar performance as the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Memphis Grizzlies 105-91. James had 25 points and 11 assists, Waiters scored 21 points, Varejao tallied 18 points, Irving put up 17 points and 12 dimes, and all four shot above 50 percent from the field.
James has registered at least 10 assists in eight games in 2014-15. He did it seven times in 2013-14.
2. Kyle Lowry posted 22 points, nine assists, four rebounds and three steals to lead the Toronto Raptors past the New York Knicks 118-108. Louis Williams scored 22 points and Greivis Vasquez had 21 to help the Raptors’ scoring attack, while Carmelo Anthony led the Knicks with 28 points.
Toronto has won six straight games and is tied for an NBA-best 22 wins.
3. At 5-25, the Knicks are off to the worst 30-game start in franchise history.
4. Anthony Davis out-dueled Russell Westbrook to help the New Orleans Pelicans defeat the Oklahoma City Thunder 101-99. Davis put up 38 points, 12 rebounds, three blocks and a steal, while Westbrook had 29 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals for OKC.
The Thunder fall to 6-13 in games played without Kevin Durant. They’re 7-2 when he’s active.
5. Darren Collison, DeMarcus Cousins, Rudy Gay and Ben McLemore combined for 95 points on 34-of-65 shooting to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Los Angeles Lakers 108-100. Cousins had 29 points and 14 rebounds, Gay had 24 points, McLemore put up 23 points and eight boards, and Darren Collison finished with 19 points for the Kings.
Sacramento is 10-7 with Cousins and 2-8 without him.
6. Seven players scored in double-figures to lead the Phoenix Suns past the Washington Wizards 104-92. John Wall led the Wizards with 14 points, eight assists, five rebounds and three steals, but it was Phoenix which handed Washington a rare home loss.
Phoenix completes its three-game road trip with wins in every game.
7. Jarrett Jack and Mason Plumlee both had double-doubles to help the Brooklyn Nets get past the Detroit Pistons 110-105. Andre Drummond had 18 points and 20 rebounds for Detroit, but it was Plumlee’s 21 points, 12 rebounds, two blocks and two steals, and Jack’s 15 points and 10 assists which led Brooklyn to victory.
Brooklyn snapped a three-game losing streak with this win.
8. Luol Deng stepped up with 23 points as the short-handed Miami Heat took down the Boston Celtics 100-84. Both Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade were absent, but the Heat still managed to overcome 22 points in 25 minutes from Tyler Zeller.
James Ennis had career-best marks of 16 points and eight rebounds in 26 minutes for the Heat.
9. C.J. Miles led the Indiana Pacers with 28 points in a 100-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Mo Williams put up 24 points and 10 assists, and Shabazz Muhammad tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
Minnesota has lost five consecutive games.
10. Michael Carter-Williams scored 21 points and three players had double-doubles to help the Philadelphia 76ers pick up a surprising win. Victor Oladipo scored 23 points and Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and 17 rebounds, but the Orlando Magic fell 96-88.
Philadelphia has won three games since December 3. It was 0-17 going into December 3.
Bonus Fact: At 19-6, the Washington Wizards are tied for their best 25-game start in franchise history.