The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Friday, March 27 with an incredible slate of games. There were MVP-caliber performances, historic contributions from a rising star and a number of how down-to-the-wire finishes.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Stephen Curry was phenomenal, going off for 38 points, 10 assists, three rebounds, three steals and a block as the Golden State Warriors dismantled the Memphis Grizzlies 107-84. Klay Thompson added 28 points for the Warriors, while both Mike Conley and Jeff Green scored 16 points for the Grizzlies.
Curry was 8-of-12 from beyond the arc. Memphis was 5-of-13 from distance as a team.
2. Playing without All-Star point guard Jeff Teague, the Atlanta Hawks put forth a dominant effort on defense in a 99-86 victory over the Miami Heat. DeMarre Carroll tallied 24 points on 8-of-12 shooting, Al Horford had 21 points and nine rebounds, and Dennis Schroder posted 12 points and 11 assists in the start for Teague.
The Hawks have clinched the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference for the first time since 1993-94.
3. Boris Diaw recorded 19 points in 26 minutes as the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs secured a signature 94-76 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. Four of five starters scored in double-figures for the Spurs, with Tim Duncan posting eight points, 11 rebounds and three blocks as the exception.
Three of San Antonio’s past three games have resulted in wins. In that time, they’ve defeated Atlanta by 19, Dallas by 18 and the Oklahoma City Thunder by 39.
4. Chris Paul and Nerlens Noel were both individually dominant as CP3’s Los Angeles Clippers blew out the rookie’s Philadelphia 76ers 119-98. Paul had 25 points and seven assists on 9-of-15 shooting, while Noel tallied a career-high 30 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and a pair of steals on a mark of 12-of-17 from the field.
With its sixth consecutive victory, Los Angeles secured a spot in the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
5. It took two overtimes, but John Wall found a way to lead the Washington Wizards past the Charlotte Hornets 110-107. Wall finished with 32 points, nine rebounds, six assists and a pair of steals for Washington, while Al Jefferson had 31 points and 10 rebounds, and Mo Williams put up 26 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds, two blocks and two steals for Charlotte.
Washington will finish at .500 or better for the first time since 2006-07 and 2007-08.
6. LaMarcus Aldridge put up 27 points and nine rebounds as the Portland Trail Blazers went on the road to pick up an 87-81 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Marcus Morris had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Suns, but it wasn’t enough to create victory.
This was Portland’s first win in Phoenix since December of 2010.
7. There were moments of doubt, but the Toronto Raptors escaped with an ugly 94-83 win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Jonas Valancinuas scored 19 points, Louis Williams had 18 and James Johnson put up 17 for Portland, while Jeremy Lin led Los Angeles with 18 points, seven rebounds and a steal.
Toronto’s win helped it clinch the Atlantic Division title for the second consecutive season. That’s a franchise first.
8. Joe Johnson had 20 points and nine assists, and Brook Lopez recorded 20 points and nine rebounds to help the Brooklyn Nets stun the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-98. Kyrie Irving scored 26 points and LeBron James put up 24 points, nine assists, five rebounds, five steals and a block.
The loss snaps Cleveland’s four-game winning streak.
9. James Harden posted 33 points, eight assists, four rebounds and five steals as the Houston Rockets escaped with a 120-110 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Andrew Wiggins put up 31 points and Gorgui Dieng had 18 points and 12 rebounds for the T-Wolves, while Dwight Howard had 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting in just 20 minutes for the Magic.
Houston’s won six of its past seven games.
10. Tyreke Evans took over with 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Anthony Davis had 24 points, nine rebounds and six blocks to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 102-88 win. DeMarcus Cousins was dominant for Sacramento with 39 points, 20 rebounds, eight offensive boards, two assists, three blocks and a steal, but Sacramento again found a way to lose..
Cousins is the first player to record at least 35 points and 20 rebounds in multiple games in a single season since Tim Duncan in 2000-01.
Bonus Facts
- Reggie Jackson went off for 26 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists as the Detroit Pistons used his triple-double for a 111-97 victory over the Orlando Magic.
- It was yet another balanced attack as the resurgent Boston Celtics picked apart the New York Knicks 96-92. Brandon Bass had 16 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics.
- Ty Lawson had 18 points and nine assists to get the Denver Nuggets past the Utah Jazz 107-91. This is just the third time since February 6 that Utah’s allowed at least 100 points.