The NBA closed out 2013 with eight games featuring 16 of the NBA’s most competitive teams. There was a clash between two of the best in the West and a career performance by a player who has put together a strong month of basketball.
Here’s everything that you need to know about last night’s action.
1. LaMarcus Aldridge finished with 25 points, 14 rebounds, two assists and two blocks to help the Portland Trail Blazers snap its first losing streak of the season. Damian Lillard added 21 points and 11 assists on 6-of-15 shooting, marking the seventh time this month that he’s shot .400 or worse from the field.
Kevin Durant stepped up with 37 points and a season-high 14 rebounds, but the Oklahoma City Thunder suffered its second home loss of the season by a score of 98-94 against Portland.
2. With the Thunder’s loss, the Indiana Pacers moved into sole control of the best home record in the NBA at 15-1. Behind 21 points from Paul George and five blocks from Roy Hibbert, Indiana defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 91-76.
The Pacers are a league-best 25-5.
3. Brandon Knight scored a career-high 37 points and swiped a season-high four steals to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 94-79 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Knight was 15-of-25 from the field and 3-of-8 from 3-point range with eight rebounds.
Knight has scored at least 20 points in four of his past seven games.
4. Despite receiving just nine points from Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors went on the road and defeated the Orlando Magic 94-81. It’s the first time since November 6 , 2013 that Curry has been held to less than 10 points, and the third time in his past 64 games.
Golden State shot 22.2 percent from 3-point range, which is its worst mark since December 6, 2013.
5. Paul Millsap was absolutely dominant with 34 points, 15 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals as the Atlanta Hawks took down the Boston Celtics 92-91. Those were season-high marks in both scoring and rebounding.
Atlanta improves to 18-14.
Bonus Fact: The Sacramento Kings stormed back to defeat the Houston Rockets on the road by a count of 110-106. Rudy Gay led the charge with 25 points. Isaiah Thomas added 17 points and 10 assists, and DeMarcus Cousins took over with 17 points, 16 rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block.
In the loss, James Harden tallied season-high marks of 38 points and 10 rebounds.
Bonus Fact: The Brooklyn Nets posted yet another dud during a 113-92 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. Each of the Nets’ past four losses have been decided by at least 14 points, and Brooklyn is a stunning 10-21 through 31 games under Jason Kidd.
As for San Antonio, six separate players scored in double-figures.
Results
- Atlanta Hawks 92, Boston Celtics 91
- Cleveland Cavaliers 76, Indiana Pacers 91
- Golden State Warriors 94, Orlando Magic 81
- Sacramento Kings 110, Houston Rockets 106
- Brooklyn Nets 92, San Antonio Spurs 113
- Toronto Raptors 85, Chicago Bulls 79
- Portland Trail Blazers 98, Oklahoma City Thunder 94
- Milwaukee Bucks 94, Los Angeles Lakers 79