The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Tuesday, April 7 with a slate of six critical games. Five of the six outcomes had significant postseason ramifications, while the other went a long way towards determining 2015 NBA Draft positioning.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Filling in for Paul Millsap, Mike Muscala put up 16 points, seven rebounds, four steals and a block on 7-of-8 shooting to help the Atlanta Hawks blow out the Phoenix Suns 96-69. DeMarre Carroll added 16 points on 8-of-9 shooting as Atlanta continued its resurgence.
The Hawks’ 58th win sets a new franchise record.
2. Atlanta has won consecutive games by at least 25 points.
3. Kawhi Leonard was dominant, scoring 26 points in 24 minutes to lead the San Antonio Spurs to a runaway 113-88 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tim Duncan added 12 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in just 23 minutes for the Spurs, while Russell Westbrook led OKC with 17 points and six steals in 26 minutes.
San Antonio has won eight consecutive games. Its average margin of victory: 19.4 points per contest.
4. This was Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker’s 730th career game together. That passes Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish for the most all-time.
5. Anthony Davis had 29 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and two steals to lead the New Orleans Pelicans past the Golden State Warriors 103-100. Stephen Curry had 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds, and Draymond Green put up 24 points and 14 boards, but Golden State ultimately fell in a potential NBA Playoffs preview. The bookmakers consider Curry the MVP favorite right now.
With its win, New Orleans moves into possession of the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference.
6. Blake Griffin and J.J. Redick both scored 27 points as the Los Angeles Clippers escaped with a 105-100 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. Chris Paul was his usual self with 19 points, 10 assists, five rebounds and two steals for the Clippers, while Jordan Clarkson scored a team-high 20 points for the Lakers.
Redick has scored at least 20 points in a career-best 23 games.
7. The Clippers have defeated the Lakers in a franchise-best seven consecutive meetings.
8. Goran Dragic scored 11 of his team-high 28 points in the fourth quarter as the Miami Heat slugged their way past the Charlotte Hornets 105-100. Luol Deng added 21 points and Dwyane Wade scored 19 for the Heat, while Gerald Henderson scored 29 points for the Hornets.
Miami improves to 12-1 when Deng scores at least 20 points.
9. Miami snaps a four-game losing streak with its win over the Hornets.
10. Rudy Gay scored 33 points and Omri Casspi had 31 to lead the Sacramento Kings to a 116-111 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Kevin Martin had 37 points, Andrew Wiggins scored 26 and Zach LaVine posted 21 points and 11 assists for the T-Wolves.
Martin’s 37 points match his season-high.
Bonus Fact: During the Kings’ victory over the Timberwolves, Sim Bhullar became the first Indian player to see minutes in an NBA game.