The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Monday, March 9.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Four different players scored at least 18 points to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 130-105 decimation of the Sacramento Kings. DeMarre Carroll and Kyle Korver both had 20 points, Al Horford put up 18 points and Jeff Teague recorded 18 points, 13 assists, five rebounds and two steals.
Atlanta is the first team to win 50 games and the first to reach 30 home victories.
2. Atlanta sank a franchise record 20 3-point field goals and dished out 42 team assists—the most by any team this season. The Hawks are just the second team to dish out at least 42 dimes since 2008.
Each of the past five teams to do it won by at least 15 points.
3. Stephen Curry went off for 36 points, six rebounds, five assists, four steals and seven 3-point field goals made as the Golden State Warriors ran past the Phoenix Suns 98-80 on the road. Klay Thompson added 25 points on 8-of-19 shooting for the Warriors, while Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix with 19 points of his own.
Mere hours after the Hawks did it, Golden State secured win No. 50.
4. Anthony Davis matched a career-high with 43 points and added 10 rebounds, six assists, two blocks and a steal on 17-of-23 shooting to lead the New Orleans Pelicans past the Milwaukee Bucks 114-103. Giannis Antetokounmpo responded with 29 points, five rebounds, four assists, three blocks and three steals, and Michael Carter-Williams had 25 points and seven assists for the Bucks.
At 35-29, New Orleans has exceeded its win total from a 34-48 2013-14 campaign. Its 35 wins are its most 2010-11.
5. Three of Liga ACB’s greatest exports clashed as Marc Gasol led the Memphis Grizzlies past Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic and the Chicago Bulls 101-91. Marc Gasol finished with 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead the Grizzlies, while Mirotic had 18 points and 12 rebounds in 29 minutes and Pau Gasol had 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls.
Memphis has won eight consecutive games against Eastern Conference foes.
6. DeAndre Jordan went off for 20 points and 17 rebounds on 10-of-11 shooting from the field and Chris Paul dished out 15 assists as the Los Angeles Clippers were able to grind out an 89-76 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Adreian Payne responded with career-highs of 16 points and 15 rebounds for the Timberwolves, but it wasn’t enough.
At 41-23, the Clippers secure a record of .500 or better for the fourth consecutive season. That’s a franchise record.
7. Marcin Gortat scored 20 points on 9-of-11 shooting and John Wall posted 15 points, nine assists, five rebounds and three steals to lead the Washington Wizards to a 95-69 blowout of the Charlotte Hornets. Mo Williams had 19 points and seven assists, but converted just 6-of-18 attempts from the field and 1-of-10 from 3-point range.
The win snaps Washington’s nine-game road losing streak.
8. Charlotte had won five straight games before this implosion.
9. Isaiah Thomas scored 25 points and Brandon Bass had 14 points, nine rebounds, four assists and three steals to lead the Boston Celtics to a 100-90 victory over the Miami Heat. Dwyane Wade went off for 34 points on 13-of-23 shooting, but it wasn’t enough for Miami to secure the W.
If the season ended today, Miami wouldn’t make the playoffs. It’s made four consecutive NBA Finals appearances.
10. Kenneth Faried recorded 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Denver Nuggets blew out the New York Knicks in a game that lost its competitive edge shortly after halftime. Wilson Chandler scored 17 points in 23 minutes and Will Barton added 17 off the bench, while Alexey Shved scored a team-high 19 points for the Knicks.
The Knicks have lost 50 games for the first time since 2009-10.
Bonus Fact: This is the first time in franchise history that the Warriors have won 50 or more games in consecutive seasons.