The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Saturday, December 27 with a strong slate of 10 games. There was a career performance from a rising star, a duel between star players and one of the most efficient performances in NBA history.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Nikola Vucevic ripped off 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Orlando Magic defeated the Charlotte Hornets 102-92. Tobias Harris added 21 points for the Magic, but the star of the show played for Charlotte.
Kemba Walker scored a career-high 42 points, including 35 in the second half.
2. Jimmy Butler scored 33 points on 12-of-18 shooting to lead the Chicago Bulls past the New Orleans Pelicans 107-100. Anthony Davis had 29 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks, and Tyreke Evans finished with 26 points, but New Orleans ultimately fell short.
The Bulls have won six consecutive games.
3. Stephen Curry picked up 25 points and Klay Thompson added 21 to help the Golden State Warriors defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-97. Thaddeus Young scored a team-high 17 points for the Timberwolves, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Golden State from improving to 24-5.
T-Wolves rookie Zach LaVine dished out a career-high 14 assists in defeat.
4. Mike Conley posted 24 points and Marc Gasol had 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two blocks as the Memphis Grizzlies snapped an extended losing streak with a 103-95 victory over the Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade tallied 25 points, seven assists, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks for Miami, but it wasn’t enough to achieve victory.
Memphis had lost four in a row before this win.
5. Jeff Teague tallied 25 points as the Atlanta Hawks avenged a blowout loss to the Milwaukee Bucks with a 90-85 win. Four separate Hawks had at least eight rebounds, including Al Horford with 20 points and nine rebounds, while Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 21 points.
Atlanta has won 15 of its past 17 games.
6. DeMarcus Cousins and Carmelo Anthony dueled as the Sacramento Kings outlasted the New York Knicks 135-129 in overtime. Cousins went off for a season-high 39 points, 11 rebounds, four assists and two blocks, while Anthony had 36 points, 11 boards, six dimes and one steal.
Darren Collison had 27 points and 10 assists on 9-of-10 shooting from the field to become the first player with at least 25 points and 10 assists on 90 percent shooting or better since Jason Terry on November 25, 2009.
7. Paul Pierce scored 17 points in 19 minutes as the Washington Wizards worked past the Boston Celtics 101-88. Jeff Green led the Celtics with 23 points, while Kris Humphries had 18 points and nine rebounds for Washington.
The Celtics have lost four straight games.
8. Kyle Lowry put up 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas tallied 22 points and 11 rebounds as the Toronto Raptors got past the Los Angeles Clippers 110-98. J.J. Redick led the Clippers with 23 points and DeAndre Jordan grabbed 20 rebounds, but the Clippers fell apart in the fourth quarter.
Toronto has won seven of its past eight games.
9. Rodney Stuckey scored 20 points, eight assists, six rebounds and four steals to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 110-85 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Jarrett Jack had 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting for Brooklyn, while C.J. Watson and David West both scored 17 points for Indiana.
10. Derrick Favors went off for 17 points, 15 rebounds, three assists, five blocks and three steals as the Utah Jazz defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 88-71. Robert Covington posted 17 points, nine rebounds and two blocks for the 76ers, but Philadelphia ultimately fell short.
Michael Carter-Williams finished with eight points on 2-of-20 shooting. Of the six players to make two or fewer field goals on 20 or more attempts since 1985-86, three were playing for the Sixers.
Bonus Fact: The Knicks have lost seven consecutive games.