The 2014-15 NBA regular season continued on Thursday, December 11 with two high-profile games. Both were decided by single-digits, including one that went to overtime and another between All-Star casts of players.
Here’s how it all transpired.
1. Russell Westbrook put up 26 points, eight assists, seven rebounds and a steal as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers 103-94. Kevin Durant added 19 points, six rebounds, five assists, two blocks and a pair of steals, while Kyrie Irving scored 20 points on 7-of-21 shooting for Cleveland.
OKC is 4-1 since Durant returned. It was 5-12 without him.
2. Cleveland’s loss snaps an eight-game winning streak.
3. The Cavaliers are 1-6 when they fail to reach 100 points and 12-2 when they do.
4. James Harden erupted for 44 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals and a block as the Houston Rockets escaped with a 113-109 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Harden hit the game-tying 3-pointer with 20 seconds on the clock and scored 10 points in overtime alone.
Harden’s 44 points set a new season-high.
5. Over the past two seasons, Harden is 7-of-11 on game-tying and go-ahead field goals with 24 seconds or less on the clock in the fourth quarter or overtime. That’s the best percentage in the league.
Bonus Fact: With 15 points and 10 rebounds, Patrick Beverley recorded his first career double-double.