The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Monday, April 13 with a full slate of games.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Klay Thompson erupted for 42 points, including 26 in the second quarter, as the Golden State Warriors held on for a 111-107 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Stephen Curry was the only other Warriors player in double-figures with 15 points, while Jordan Adams stepped up with 19 for the Grizzlies.
The Warriors are the 14th team in NBA history to reach 66 wins.
2. DeAndre Jordan had 20 points, 21 rebounds and four blocks as the Los Angeles Clippers came back for a 110-103 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Wilson Chandler scored a game-high 32 points and Kenneth Faried tallied 19 points and 17 rebounds for the Nuggets, while Blake Griffin had 22 points, nine rebounds, eight assists and two blocks, J.J. Redick scored 20 points and Chris Paul tallied 17 points, nine assists, seven rebounds and two steals.
The Clippers have won six in a row.
3. Anthony Davis put up 24 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, six blocks and two steals to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a vital 100-88 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both Tyreke Evans and Eric Gordon scored 22 points for the Pelicans, while Zach LaVine had 24 points for the T-Wolves.
The victory snaps the Pelicans’ three-game road losing streak.
4. With LaMarcus Aldridge and Arron Afflalo sidelined, the Oklahoma City Thunder earned a 101-90 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Russell Westbrook scored 36 points and Enes Kanter had 23 points and 10 rebounds for the Thunder.
If OKC wins and New Orleans loses on April 15, the Thunder will make the playoffs. If both teams win or if Oklahoma City loses, the Pelicans will make it.
5. Michael Carter-Williams torched his former team for 30 points as the Milwaukee Bucks went on the road to beat the Philadelphia 76ers 107-97. Robert Covington had 25 points and Hollis Thompson scored 19, but Milwaukee pulled out another win.
At 41-40, Milwaukee clinches its first season at .500 or better since 2009-10.
6. J.R. Smith stepped up with 28 points and LeBron James had a quiet triple-double with 21 points, 11 assists, 10 rebounds, two steals and a block to get the Cleveland Cavaliers past the Detroit Pistons 109-97. Andre Drummond posted 20 points and nine rebounds, but Detroit found a way to lose.
This was James’ second triple-double of 2014-15. He had one in all of 2013-14.
7. Nikola Mirotic scored 26 points and Pau Gasol had yet another double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 113-86 decimation of the Brooklyn Nets. Jimmy Butler added 17 points on 7-of-10 shooting for the Bulls, while Bojan Bogdanovic had 17 points for the Nets.
The Bulls clinch home court advantage in the first round of the 2015 NBA Playoffs.
8. James Harden did what he normally does, tallying 29 points, six rebounds and six steals in a 100-90 Houston Rockets victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Brian Roberts had 23 points for Charlotte, but it was Houston which pulled out the victory.
This is Houston’s first 55-win season since 2007-08.
9. Rudy Gobert was dominant, recording 20 points, 17 rebounds, three blocks and a steal as the short-handed Utah Jazz upset the Dallas Mavericks 109-92. Utah played without Trey Burke, Derrick Favors and Gordon Hayward, but that didn’t seem to matter.
Since the All-Star Break, Utah is 19-9. It was 19-34 before the All-Star Break.
10. Langston Galloway scored 26 points as the New York Knicks upset the Atlanta Hawks 112-108. Jeff Teague had 19 points and nine assists, and Kyle Korver had 19 points for the Hawks, while Tim Hardaway Jr. added 23 points and Jason Smith had 20 for the Knicks.
Atlanta set a franchise record for attendance during this game.
Bonus Facts
- Hassan Whiteside was dominant, recording 24 points, 13 rebounds and five blocks to lead the Miami Heat past Victor Oladipo, 30 points, and the Orlando Magic 100-93.
- Omri Casspi had another big scoring performance with 26 points to lead the Sacramento Kings past the Los Angeles Lakers 102-92. Rookie Jordan Clarkson had 23 points, six assists, five rebounds, five steals and a block for Los Angeles.