The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Thursday, January 15 with a strong slate of three games featuring six teams. There was a career-best performance from one of the game’s all-time greats and a clash between a superstar and his former team.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. In a clash between all-time players, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers outlasted Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers for a 109-102 win. James finished with 36 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals for the Cavaliers, with Kyrie Irving adding 22 points of his own.
Cleveland is back at .500 with an even record of 20-20. It’d lost six in a row leading up to this game.
2. On top of his 19 points and six rebounds, Bryant dished out a career-high 17 assists.
3. Bryant is the oldest player to record at least 17 assists since Steve Nash on March 23, 2012.
4. The Oklahoma City Thunder couldn’t overcome a dreadful first quarter as the Houston Rockets ran away with a 112-101 victory. James Harden dominated with 31 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and a steal on 9-of-15 shooting from the field and 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, while Kevin Durant led OKC with 24 points and 10 boards on 8-of-12 shooting.
Harden has a league-best 17 games with at least 30 points.
5. Brandon Knight put up 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and six steals as the Milwaukee Bucks continued to turn heads with a 95-79 victory over the New York Knicks. O.J. Mayo added 22 points on 8-of-14 shooting for the Bucks, while Carmelo Anthony had 25 points in his return for the Knicks.
The Knicks are only the fifth team of the past 25 years to hit the 41-game mark with five or less wins.
Bonus Fact: New York has lost 16 consecutive games.