The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Wednesday, February 11 with a healthy slate of games. 24 teams were in action in 12 high-octane outings, with a number of stars putting on signature performances.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. DeAndre Jordan recorded 24 points, 20 rebounds, three steals and two blocks, and J.J. Redick dominated his matchup with James Harden as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Houston Rockets 110-95. Redick put up 20 points and 9-of-16 shooting for the Clippers, while Harden went 3-of-12 for nine points and Josh Smith tallied 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Rockets.
Jordan is the first player with back-to-back games of at least 20 points and 20 rebounds since Nikola Vucevic did it on April 7 and April 10 of 2013.
2. O.J. Mayo scored 21 points and Brandon Knight finished with 20 as the Milwaukee Bucks picked up a 111-103 victory over the Sacramento Kings. DeMarcus Cousins led the Kings with 28 points, 19 rebounds, five assists and four blocks.
After going 15-67 in 2013-14, Milwaukee is 30-23 in 2014-15. It’s the first team in NBA history to double its previous win total before the All-Star Break.
3. Stephen Curry scored 25 points and the second unit stepped up big as the Golden State Warriors avoided an upset with a 94-91 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Martin scored 21 points, Ricky Rubio had 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, and Nikola Pekovic put up 17 points and 13 rebounds for Minnesota
The Warriors clinched a winning record with win No. 42.
4. Timofey Mozgov and Tristan Thompson dominated the interior to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 113-93 demolition of the Miami Heat. Mozgov had 20 points and seven rebounds on 9-of-11 shooting, Thompson recorded 17 points and nine rebounds on a mark of 7-of-8 from the field, and LeBron James put up 18 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists against his former team.
Hassan Whiteside posted 17 points and 14 rebounds for the Heat, but Miami lost for the fourth time in five games.
5. Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook took over to lead the Oklahoma City Thunder past the Memphis Grizzlies 105-89. Durant posted 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists, three blocks and a steal on 9-of-15 shooting, while Westbrook overcame a 4-of-15 shooting performance to post 24 points, nine rebounds, nine assists and one steal.
Nick Collison recorded season-high marks of 15 points and nine rebounds to lead the Thunder’s second unit.
6. Eastern Conference contenders clashed as the Toronto Raptors outlasted the Washington Wizards 95-93. Louis Williams scored 27 points and DeMar DeRozan added 23 for the Raptors, while John Wall posted 21 points and eight assists, and Paul Pierce finished with an efficient 17 points for the Wizards.
Toronto’s won three in a row and nine of 11.
7. Jared Sullinger put up 17 points and 15 rebounds as the Boston Celtics stunned the Atlanta Hawks 89-88. Al Horford led all scorers with 22 points and 12 rebounds on 11-of-15 shooting from the field, but the Hawks’ normally efficient offense fell apart at TD Garden.
Evan Turner sank the game-winning floater with 0.2 seconds on the clock.
8. Wesley Matthews scored 20 points as the Portland Trail Blazers picked up a balanced 102-86 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. Five players scored in double-figures for Portland, which doesn’t include Nicolas Batum’s seven points, eight rebounds and six assists.
The Lakers have lost a franchise record 11 consecutive road games.
9. The San Antonio Spurs used a dominant first quarter to set the pace for a 104-87 road destruction of the Detroit Pistons. Danny Green had 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks and two steals, and Tony Parker scored 17 points for the victorious Spurs, while D.J. Augustin finished with 22 points and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 20 for the Pistons.
The Spurs are 10-3 since Kawhi Leonard returned from injury.
10. J.J. Barea finished with a 22 points as the Dallas Mavericks picked up a close 87-82 win over the Utah Jazz. Trey Burke led the Jazz with 16 points, while Dirk Nowitzki stepped up for Dallas with 15 points and 14 rebounds on 5-of-14 shooting.
Barea’s 22 points set a new season-high.
Bonus Facts
- Nikola Vucevic took over with 28 points and 18 rebounds as the Orlando Magic defeated the New York Knicks 89-83. Jason Smith led New York with a season-high 25 points and seven rebounds, while Victor Oladipo made 11-of-11 free throws to reach a mark of 23-of-23 during the month of February.
- George Hill had 17 points and nine assists, and David West put up 17 points and seven dimes to lead the Indiana Pacers past the New Orleans Pelicans 106-93. New Orleans was without Ryan Anderson, Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday.