The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Tuesday, April 14 with a slate of three games. Five of the six teams are currently slated to make the playoffs, with two securing a specific seed via their respective victories.
This is how it all transpired.
1. Chris Paul scored 22 points and sank six 3-point field goals to lead the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-101 victory over the Phoenix Suns. Blake Griffin had 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals, and DeAndre Jordan tallied 13 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks on 6-of-7 shooting for the Clippers, while Archie Goodwin scored 18 points for the Suns.
Doc Rivers’ crew closes out the 2014-15 season on a seven-game winning streak.
2. The Clippers will finish no lower than the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference. If both the Houston Rockets and San Antonio Spurs lose, L.A. would grab the No. 2 spot.
3. Jae Crowder sank the game-winner with 0.8 seconds on the clock as the Boston Celtics pulled out a 95-93 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Evan Turner led Boston with 14 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, one block and a steal.
The Celtics have won five consecutive games. They clinched the No. 7 seed with this win.
4. George Hill tallied 24 points, 10 assists, nine rebounds and a steal as the Indiana Pacers pulled out a 99-95 win against the Washington Wizards in double-overtime. C.J. Miles had 25 points and eight rebounds for the Pacers, while Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat both scored 19 for the Wizards.
The Pacers extend their winning streak to six in a row.
5. With the Pacers’ win, the Miami Heat have been eliminated from the playoffs. Miami is the eighth team in NBA history to miss the playoffs after reaching the Finals in the previous season.
Bonus Fact: All three victors from April 14 have won at least five consecutive games.