The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Saturday, April 4 with a healthy slate of vital games. A first-year head coach set an NBA record, an underrated force matched its highest win total in over 20 years and multiple games came down to the wire.
This is how it all transpired.
1. DeMarre Carroll put up 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a steal on 7-of-9 shooting to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the Brooklyn Nets 131-99. Al Horford scored 20 points and the Hawks’ bench combined for 54 points as Mike Budenholzer’s offense erupted in a blowout victory.
Atlanta’s 57 wins are its most since 1993-94.
2. In a game in which Stephen Curry scored 11 points on 4-of-12 shooting, the Golden State Warriors blew out the Dallas Mavericks 123-110. Klay Thompson shot 7-of-17 from the field for 21 points and both Andre Iguodala and Marreese Speights had 18 points off the bench for the Warriors, while Dirk Nowitzki scored 18 points for the Mavericks.
Golden State has won 12 consecutive games.
3. LaMarcus Aldridge picked up 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a hard-fought 99-90 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Damian Lillard scored 19 points and Chris Kaman put up 16 points and 10 rebounds for Portland, thus overcoming 22 points from Eric Gordon and 21 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and three steals from Tyreke Evans of New Orleans.
Portland reaches win No. 50 with this win.
4. J.J. Redick scored 25 points and Chris Paul had 23 points, nine assists, five rebounds and two steals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers past the Denver Nuggets 107-92. DeAndre Jordan put up 14 points, 22 rebounds and three blocks for Los Angeles, while Wilson Chandler led the Nuggets with 17 points of his own.
The Clippers have won nine of 10.
5. Bradley Beal scored 20 points and John Wall finished with 18 points, 14 assists and six rebounds to help the Washington Wizards pick up a 92-83 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Marc Gasol had 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Grizzlies, while Drew Gooden stepped up to score 16 points for the Wizards.
The Wizards have matched their 2013-14 win total of 44 victories.
6. Gerald Green exploded for 24 points in 22 minutes as the Phoenix Suns escaped with an 89-87 victory over the Utah Jazz. Gordon Hayward scored 21 points for the Jazz, but Utah failed to convert the game-winning attempt.
Phoenix snaps its five-game losing streak.
7. Isaiah Thomas shined with 25 points and Tyler Zeller had 20 points and nine rebounds in 25 minutes to lead the Boston Celtics to a 117-116 overtime victory over the Toronto Raptors. DeMar DeRozan went off for 38 points and Louis Williams had 27 points for the Raptors, but Evan Turner led the charge with 18 points, 10 assists, six rebounds and three steals for the Celtics.
Rookie guard Marcus Smart beat the buzzer to give Boston the win.
8. Reggie Jackson exploded for 29 points and 11 assists to help the Detroit Pistons upset the Miami Heat 99-98. Dwyane Wade scored 24 points and Goran Dragic had 21 for the Heat, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 19 big points for the Pistons.
At 34-42, Miami clinches its first losing season since 2007-08.
9. Tobias Harris put up 23 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and a steal to give the Orlando Magic a 97-90 win over the Milwaukee Bucks. Nikola Vucevic had 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Magic, while Ersan Ilyasova scored 18 points to lead the Bucks.
Orlando has won consecutive road games. It had lost its previous 12 outings away from home.
10. Kemba Walker stepped up with 24 points to lead the Charlotte Hornets to a narrow 92-91 escape of the Philadelphia 76ers. Robert Covington scored 15 points and Jerami Grant had 10 points and six blocks for the Sixers, while Mo Williams had 18 points for the Hornets.
Philadelphia has lost five consecutive games.
Bonus Fact: Steve Kerr has set an NBA record for first-year head coaches with 63 wins.