That was an incredible night in the NBA.
The association stepped up with a massive slate of 13 games featuring 26 teams. Elite teams battled, superstars put on sensational performances and some of the best in the world showed why they are where they are along the NBA’s echelon of greatness.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Kevin Durant dominated with 36 points on 14-of-18 shooting and Russell Westbrook recorded 17 points, 17 assists, 15 rebounds and four steals as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Golden State Warriors 127-115. Klay Thompson led the Warriors with 32 points, but Serge Ibaka had 27 points on a mark of 12-of-18 from the field.
Westbrook is the fifth player over the past 30 years to record at least 15 points, 15 assists and 15 rebounds in the same game.
2. Al Horford had 22 points on a perfect 8-of-8 shooting mark as the Atlanta Hawks dismantled the Toronto Raptors 110-89. All five starters scored in double-figures for the Hawks, while DeMar DeRozan recorded 25 points for the Raptors.
Atlanta has won 11 consecutive games.
3. Kyrie Irving, LeBron James and Tristan Thompson combined to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 126-121 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Irving finished with 37 points, James had 32 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals, and Thompson recorded 24 points and 12 boards, while Blake Griffin had 34 points and 10 rebounds, and Chris Paul dished out 14 dimes for L.A.
After all of the commotion about a dreadful season, Cleveland pulls above .500 at the halfway mark.
4. Kawhi Leonard returned in style as the San Antonio Spurs took down the Portland Trail Blazers 110-96 at home. Leonard recorded 20 points in 31 minutes and Tim Duncan tallied 11 points, 12 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and one steal, while LaMarcus Aldridge scored 24 points and Damian Lillard had 23 points for Portland.
San Antonio improves to 16-7 with Leonard and 9-9 without him.
5. Jimmy Butler, Pau Gasol and Derrick Rose all reached 20 points as the Chicago Bulls went on the road to secure a 119-103 victory over the Boston Celtics. Rose had 29 points and 10 assists, Butler scored 20 points and Gasol put up 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Jared Sullinger led Boston with 20 points of his own.
This was Rose’s first game with at least 25 points and 10 assists since March 7, 2012.
6. Dirk Nowitzki stepped up with 25 points and nine rebounds to lead the Dallas Mavericks past the Denver Nuggets 97-89. Tyson Chandler added 11 points and 16 rebounds as the Mavericks won via a 23-to-12 difference in free throws made.
Denver shot just 12-of-25 from the free throw line and snapped its five-game winning streak.
7. Goran Dragic stuffed the stat sheet with 21 points, eight assists and five rebounds on 10-of-17 shooting as the Phoenix Suns took down the Minnesota Timberwolves 110-99. Gerald Green added 19 points in 24 minutes and Alex Len grabbed 12 rebounds in 22 minutes for Phoenix, while Mo Williams had 26 points in his first game since dropping a career-high 52.
Phoenix has won five straight home games.
8. Six different players scored in double-figures, including Jeff Green with 21, as the Memphis Grizzlies worked past the Orlando Magic 106-96. Marc Gasol put forth 12 points, 16 rebounds, eight assists, three steals and two blocks for the Grizzlies, while Nikola Vucevic had 18 points and nine rebounds.
Elfrid Payton posted career-best marks of 22 points and 12 assists.
9. Andre Drummond sank a game-winning tip-in with 0.3 seconds on the clock as the Detroit Pistons defeated the Indiana Pacers 98-96. Detroit continued its massive turnaround with its 10th win in 12 games behind 16 points and 16 rebounds from Drummond.
Brandon Jennings scored a season-high for the Pistons.
10. Jarrett Jack and Brook Lopez both recorded 26 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 102-80 obliteration of the Washington Wizards. John Wall had 13 points and Kris Humphries scored 12, but that was the extent of Washington’s reliable offense.
Brooklyn snaps its seven-game losing streak.
Bonus Facts
- Chris Bosh recorded 30 points and Luol Deng had 25 as the Miami Heat defeated the Sacramento Kings 95-83. DeMarcus Cousins had 17 points, 11 rebounds, five assists and one steal for the Kings.
- Nerlens Noel was dominant, recording 17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks and two steals as the Philadelphia 76ers picked up a 96-81 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Noel’s five blocks match a career-high.
- Gordon Hayward had 31 points on 12-of-18 shooting as the Utah Jazz downed the Los Angeles Lakers 94-85.