The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued in style on Friday, January 23. Some of the league’s elite teams and players were in action, including a number of the athletes who were recently named All-Stars.
An All-Star snub reminded the voters of how unforgivable his omission was with a buzzer-beater. An All-Star hopeful made a powerful case by scoring in excess of 50 points.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Klay Thompson dropped a career-high 52 points to lead the Golden State Warriors to a dominant 126-101 victory over the Sacramento Kings. DeMarcus Cousins dropped 28 points, 11 rebounds and three steals for the Kings, but the story of the game was Thompson, who shot 11-of-15 from beyond the arc.
Thompson set an NBA record for points in a single quarter with 37 on 13-of-13 shooting in the third.
2. Al Horford, Paul Millsap and Jeff Teague combined to lead the Atlanta Hawks past Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder 103-93. Millsap tallied 22 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and two steals, Horford had 14 points, 12 boards, three dimes, three swats and a steal, and Teague put up 17 points and nine assists.
Atlanta has won a franchise record 15 consecutive games and 29 of 31.
3. James Harden drilled the game-winner at the buzzer to lead the Houston Rockets to a 113-111 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Harden finished with 33 points, 10 assists, six rebounds, three steals and a block for Houston, while Eric Bledsoe took over with 25 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and a block for Phoenix.
This was the NBA-worst third time that Phoenix has lost on a field goal made with three seconds or less on the clock.
4. Two of the league’s elite clashed as the Chicago Bulls outlasted the Dallas Mavericks 102-98. Jimmy Butler led the charge with 20 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals for the Bulls, while Dirk Nowitzki scored a game-high 24 points for the Mavericks.
Chicago improves to 16-6 on the road. It’s 13-3 at home.
5. Al Jefferson had his best game since returning from injury, but the Cleveland Cavaliers obliterated the Charlotte Hornets 129-90. Jefferson finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks in just 24 minutes for Charlotte, while LeBron James led Cleveland with 25 points, nine assists, six rebounds, four steals and one block.
Charlotte had held each of its previous 10 opponents to less than 100 points.
6. Tony Parker and Kawhi Leonard were methodical as the San Antonio Spurs picked the Los Angeles Lakers apart for a 99-85 win. Parker finished with 17 points in just 23 minutes and Leonard tallied 15 points and 14 rebounds for San Antonio. Nick Young led Los Angeles with 17 points, but he recorded zeroes in rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
Leonard has eight double-doubles in 2014-15. He tallied seven in 2013-14.
7. Recently announced All-Star Kyle Lowry scored 21 points to help the Toronto Raptors pick up a 91-86 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. Nerlens Noel stepped up with 12 points and 14 rebounds for Philadelphia, but it was Toronto which held on for the close win.
The 14 rebounds set a new career-high for Noel.
8. Luol Deng scored 23 points on 9-of-13 shooting as the Miami Heat won a rematch of the 2013 and 2014 Eastern Conference Finals 89-87 over the Indiana Pacers. Luis Scola provided Indiana with 14 points and seven rebounds in 15 minutes, while Miami star Chris Bosh scored 19 points on 8-of-16 shooting.
On January 23 of 2014, the Heat and Pacers were a combined 64-20. On January 23 of 2015, the Heat and Pacers are a combined 34-54.
9. Carmelo Anthony scored 25 points as the New York Knicks stayed hot with a 113-106 victory over the Orlando Magic. Nikola Vucevic was dominant, recording 34 points and 18 rebounds on 16-of-22 shooting, but the Magic ultimately fell short.
The Knicks have won a season-high three straight games.
Bonus Fact: This is the first season in NBA history in which two separate teams, Atlanta currently and Golden State, have recorded 15-game winning streaks before the All-Star Game.