The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Friday, April 10 with a slate of monumentally important games. Multiple teams fought for postseason positioning, including a number of squads which are currently pursuing a playoff spot.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Mike Muscala continued to perform well in Paul Millsap’s absence with 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting to lead the Atlanta Hawks past the Charlotte Hornets 104-80. Al Horford had 15 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a steal, and Dennis Schroder added 14 points and five assists in 19 minutes for the Hawks, while Troy Daniels had 15 points for the Hornets.
Atlanta has won 60 games for the first time in franchise history.
2. Tim Duncan blocked James Harden’s game-winning attempt as the San Antonio Spurs pulled out a 104-103 victory over the Houston Rockets. Duncan finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks on 12-of-15 shooting for the Spurs, while Trevor Ariza had 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting for the Rockets.
The Spurs extend their winning streak to 10 games.
3. The Dallas Mavericks survived a career-high 47 points from Danilo Gallinari to defeat the Denver Nuggets 144-143 in double-overtime. Dirk Nowitzki scored 25 points, Richard Jefferson had 24 and Devin Harris tallied 21 points and nine assists on 7-of-9 shooting for the Mavericks.
Gallinari has scored at least 40 points in two of his past seven games. He’d never done it in his career before this stretch.
4. Marc Gasol recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, six assists and a block to lead the Memphis Grizzlies to an 89-88 escape of the Utah Jazz. Beno Udrih scored 20 points on 9-of-13 shooting for the Grizzlies, while Gordon Hayward scored 27 points and Rudy Gobert tallied 14 points, 14 rebounds and three blocks for the Jazz.
Hayward was fouled on a 3-point field goal with 0.1 seconds on the clock, but after sinking his first two free throws, he missed the game-tying attempt.
5. Anthony Davis scored 19 points and Omer Asik pulled down 18 rebounds to help the New Orleans Pelicans secure a vital 90-75 win over the Phoenix Suns. Eric Bledsoe led Phoenix with 19 points, while Eric Gordon scored 15 points and Tyreke Evans had 14 for New Orleans.
Phoenix has lost eight of its past nine games.
6. Russell Westbrook had 27 points and 10 assists, and Enes Kanter scored 25 points as the Oklahoma City Thunder downed the Sacramento Kings 116-103. Dion Waiters added 22 points and Anthony Morrow had 19 for the Thunder, while Ben McLemore scored 20 points and Ray McCallum had 17 on 8-of-11 shooting for the Kings.
OKC snaps a four-game losing streak.
7. DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points and Louis Williams stepped up in the clutch to help the Toronto Raptors secure a 101-99 victory over the Orlando Magic. Victor Oladipo scored 19 points and Evan Fournier had 18 in 26 minutes for the Magic, which suffered yet another defeat.
The Raptors have won 11 consecutive games against the Magic.
8. Giannis Antetokounmpo stepped up with 23 points and nine rebounds to help the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the New York Knicks 99-91 at Madison Square Garden. Khris Middleton added 22 points, seven rebounds and six steals for the Bucks; Langston Galloway scored 20 for the Knicks.
Milwaukee’s 39 wins are its most since 2009-10.
9. Brook Lopez had 26 points and nine rebounds, and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 22 points on 6-of-6 shooting from 3-point range to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 117-80 thrashing of the Washington Wizards. Deron Williams had nine points, nine assists and seven rebounds, and Joe Johnson dished out nine assists for the Nets.
Brooklyn has won six of seven at home.
10. Marcus Smart had 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting as the Boston Celtics stunned the Cleveland Cavaliers in a 99-90 road upset. Kevin Love led the Cavaliers with 19 points of his own, but the Celtics’ defense was too much to overcome.
Boston has won five of its past six games.
Bonus Facts
- Both C.J. Miles and Rodney Stuckey scored 24 points, and Paul George had 10 in 14 minutes to lead the Indiana Pacers to a 107-103 road upset of the Detroit Pistons.
- Ryan Kelly scored 21 points, Jabari Brown had 20 and seven assists, Jordan Clarkson scored 18 points and Tarik Black tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 106-98 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.