The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Sunday, January 25 with a healthy slate of 11 games featuring 22 teams.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Paul Millsap posted 20 points, six assists, five rebounds and four steals as the Atlanta Hawks worked past the Minnesota Timberwolves 112-100. Thaddeus Young put up 26 points, seven assists, six rebounds and a steal for Minnesota, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Atlanta from pulling out yet another win.
Atlanta is 30-2 in its past 32 games and has won a franchise record 16 consecutive games.
2. Klay Thompson scored 31 points and Stephen Curry tallied 22 points and 11 assists to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Boston Celtics 114-111. Jared Sullinger put up 26 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics, but Thompson hit two late game-clinching free throws to give the Warriors the win.
Golden State extends its franchise record home winning streak to 19 consecutive games.
3. LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers out-dueled Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder for a 108-98 victory. James finished with 34 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a steal, while Durant had 32 points, nine assists, six rebounds and two blocks.
Cleveland has won six consecutive games.
4. Anthony Davis put up 28 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, five steals and one block as the New Orleans Pelicans picked up a 109-106 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Tyreke Evans added 24 points and 12 assists for New Orleans, while Monta Ellis scored 36 points and Rajon Rondo tallied 17 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and two steals for Dallas.
Despite being above .500 at 23-21, this is the Pelicans’ first three-game winning streak of the season.
5. Chris Paul was dominant as the Los Angeles Clippers took down the Phoenix Suns 120-100. CP3 finished with 23 points, 12 assists, eight rebounds and two steals on 7-of-11 shooting and Blake Griffin had 23 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and a steal as the Clippers overcame Isaiah Thomas’ 25 points for the win.
L.A. has won four in a row.
6. John Wall and Ty Lawson had a duel to remember as the Washington Wizards escaped with a 117-115 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets. Wall finished with 19 points, 16 assists, three rebounds and a steal, while Lawson tallied 31 points, 12 assists, three rebounds and three steals.
Denver has lost six consecutive games.
7. DeMar DeRozan scored 25 points and Jonas Valanciunas picked up 20 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to help the Toronto Raptors get past the Detroit Pistons 114-110. Greg Monroe led Detroit with 21 points and 16 rebounds, but it was Toronto which prevailed.
D.J. Augustin scored a career-high 35 points in his first start in place of the injured Brandon Jennings.
8. Tim Duncan continued to turn back the clocks with 20 points, 11 rebounds, three blocks and a steal as the San Antonio Spurs took down the Milwaukee Bucks 101-95. Kawhi Leonard picked up 19 points, 14 rebounds, three steals and a block for the Spurs, while Khris Middleton led Milwaukee with 21 points.
After going 8-10 in December, San Antonio is 9-3 in January.
9. James Harden erupted for 37 points to lead the Houston Rockets to a 99-87 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Carlos Boozer led Los Angeles with 18 points and 11 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Harden’s phenomenal performance.
Los Angeles has lost eight straight games.
10. Hassan Whiteside dominated the interior with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 12 blocks as the Miami Heat took down the Chicago Bulls 96-84. Pau Gasol had 13 points, 17 rebounds and four blocks for the Bulls, while Dwyane Wade scored 26 points and Chris Bosh had 20 for the Heat.
Whiteside is the first player with 12 blocks in 25 minutes or less since Manute Bol on March 21, 1989.
Bonus Facts
- Rookie Damjan Rudez scored a career-high 18 points and David West tallied 20 as the Indiana Pacers took down the Orlando Magic 106-99.
- Whiteside is the first player with at least 12 points, 12 rebounds and 12 blocks in a game since Shawn Bradley on April 7, 1998.
- Whiteside had the fewest minutes of any player in NBA history to record a triple-double with at least 10 blocks.