The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Monday, February 2 in a major way. A powerhouse fell for the first time this calendar year, a recent acquisition hit a game-winner and a number of teams continued their respective winning streaks.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Anthony Davis went off for 29 points, 13 rebounds, three assists, two blocks and a steal to lead the New Orleans Pelicans past the Atlanta Hawks 115-100. Eric Gordon added 20 points and Tyreke Evans had 15 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and two steals to help the Pelicans pull out the upset.
The loss snaps Atlanta’s 19-game winning streak.
2. The Hawks had won 12 consecutive road games and 12 straight against Western Conference foes leading up to this game.
3. The last time Atlanta lost before the game against New Orleans: December 26, 2014.
4. Jeff Green converted the game-winning three-point play to help the Memphis Grizzlies outlast the Phoenix Suns 102-101. Mike Conley led the Grizzlies with 23 points, while Isaiah Thomas scored 24 points in 24 minutes and Eric Bledsoe recorded 21 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, four steals and two blocks.
Memphis has won seven straight meetings with the Suns.
5. Kyrie Irving scored 24 points and LeBron James tallied 18 points and 11 assists to give the Cleveland Cavaliers a 97-84 win over the Philadelphia 76ers. Robert Covington had 18 points and seven steals, and Jerami Grant put up a career-high 18 points for the Sixers.
Cleveland has won 11 consecutive games.
6. Monta Ellis tallied 23 points and Chandler Parsons finished with 18 points, six rebounds and four steals as the Dallas Mavericks escaped with a 100-94 victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Martin scored 19 points for the Timberwolves, but it wasn’t enough for Minnesota to pull out the win.
Ricky Rubio returned with 10 points, four assists and three steals in 21 minutes. He hadn’t played since November 7.
7. Russell Westbrook and Dion Waiters were marvelous as the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Orlando Magic 104-97. Westbrook recorded 25 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds, four steals and a block, and Waiters posted 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, while Victor Oladipo had 22 points for Orlando.
Orlando has lost nine consecutive games.
8. Khris Middleton took over with 25 points, nine rebounds and three steals as the Milwaukee Bucks continued their surprising season with an 82-75 victory over the Toronto Raptors. DeMar DeRozan led Toronto with 16 points, while Jerryd Bayless tallied eight points, nine assists and seven rebounds for Milwaukee.
Middleton’s 25 points set a season-high.
9. DeAndre Jordan put up 22 points and 20 rebounds on 10-of-13 shooting, but it was the Brooklyn Nets which pulled out the 102-100 win over the Los Angeles Clippers. Brook Lopez scored 24 points off the bench and Joe Johnson had 22 on 8-of-13 shooting for Brooklyn, while Chris Paul finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and three steals for Los Angeles.
The win snaps Brooklyn’s four-game losing streak.
10. Al Jefferson and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist out-dueled Bradley Beal and John Wall as the Charlotte Hornets downed the Washington Wizards 92-88. Jefferson had 18 points and 12 rebounds, and MKG tallied 13 points and 13 boards, while Beal posted 18 points and rebounds, and Wall had 16 points and 10 assists.
Washington’s dropped three straight home games for the first time this season.
Bonus Fact: Atlanta was 17-0 in January. It’s 0-1 in February.