Whiteside Shows Out, Cousins Dominates, Portland First to 30 Wins

The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Sunday, January 11 with a slate of five games. There were career-best performances, extended periods of dominance, clashes between elite players and a number of tantalizing finishes.

Here’s how it all transpired.

1. Kyle Korver scored 19 points and drained five 3-point field goals to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the Washington Wizards 120-89. Atlanta outscored Washington 65-39 in the second half as the Hawks sank 16 3-point field goals to five by the Wizards.

Atlanta has won a league-best eight consecutive games.

2. DeMarcus Cousins went off for 26 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, four steals and three blocks to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 103-84 thrashing of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Kevin Love put up 25 points and 10 rebounds for the Cavaliers, while Rudy Gay tallied 23 points on 9-of-14 shooting.

Cleveland has lost five in a row and seven of eight since LeBron James went down with an injury.

3. Zach Randolph took over with 27 points, 17 rebounds, four assists and two blocks on 11-of-16 shooting as the Memphis Grizzlies got by the Phoenix Suns 122-110 in double-overtime. Mike Conley finished with 25 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and one steal for Memphis, while Isaiah Thomas had 20 points for the Suns.

Alex Len put up 14 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for Phoenix.

4. Chris Bosh, Dwyane Wade and Hassan Whiteside collaborated to help the Miami Heat get past the Los Angeles Clippers 104-90. Bosh scored 34 points, Wade dished out 10 assists and Whiteside had a surprising 23 points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and two steals.

Whiteside set a new career-high in points and rebounds, all the while matching his career-best mark in steals.

5. Damian Lillard put up 34 points and seven assists to guide the Portland Trail Blazers to a 106-94 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Wesley Johnson scored 17 points for the Lakers, but it was Portland which extended its winning streak to four consecutive games.

Portland is the first NBA team to reach 30 wins.