Splash Brothers Lead Warriors in MSG
The Golden State Warriors need to turn back time to when they were running through the league without Kevin Durant, and they may have done so on Sunday afternoon. Back then, it was the "Splash Brothers" who were leading the way offensively, and that was the case against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Steph Curry finished with 31 points, while Klay Thompson added 29, as the Warriors held off the Knicks, 112-105. The win snaps a rare drought featuring consecutive losses for Golden State, who fell to the Bulls and Wizards on the road. Curry had himself a big day, moving into the top 10 on the NBA's all-time three-point shooting list. The game had a different feel in the first half, which drew mixed reviews from the players, as the stadium had no entertainment or music for the entire half. The goal of this change was to get the fans to enjoy the game in its "purest form." Well, once the music came back on, Curry went off for 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter. Derrick Rose had 28 points, while Kristaps Porzingis finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort for New York.
Westbrook Struggles in Thunder's Loss to Mavs
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stated before Sunday night's game that he believed Russell Westbrook was not even in the MVP conversation, despite him averaging a triple-double for the year. Unfortunately for the Thunder star, he didn't play like an MVP candidate on Sunday, as he scored 29 points, but had just five assists and six rebounds in the Thunder's 104-89 loss to the Mavericks. Westbrook was also given a flagrant one foul and a technical late in the game as frustration rose in the loss. For Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, who just announced that he will return for a 20th season, had 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Seth Curry had a Steph-like performance with 22 points. The Mavs have now won 10 of 12 at home, and 12 of 19 overall, as they sit just two games out of the final playoff spot in the West at 26-36. Both the flagrant and tech came in the third quarter for Westbrook, as Dallas took advantage to pull away with a 21-4 run. The Thunder still sit comfortably in seventh place in the West, despite their 12-20 road record.
Pelicans Record First Win With Cousins
It was suppose to be a trade that drove the New Orleans Pelicans up the standings and into the playoff picture. Instead, it took the team two weeks to pick up their first win since acquiring DeMarcus Cousins, as they got past the Los Angeles Lakers on the road Sunday night, 95-87. Cousins had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and has been performing well with Anthony Davis, but the issues have come on the defensive side of the ball. They took advantage of a favorable game against the lowly Lakers, improving to 1-4 with him in the lineup. They did defeat the Pistons while Cousins served a one-game suspension last week. Davis led the scoring with 31 points, as the Pelicans now sit 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot. The Lakers fell to 0-7 since the All-Star break, and have lost five in a row at home. Nick Young led the way in the loss for the purple and gold with 19 points.
The Golden State Warriors need to turn back time to when they were running through the league without Kevin Durant, and they may have done so on Sunday afternoon. Back then, it was the "Splash Brothers" who were leading the way offensively, and that was the case against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Steph Curry finished with 31 points, while Klay Thompson added 29, as the Warriors held off the Knicks, 112-105. The win snaps a rare drought featuring consecutive losses for Golden State, who fell to the Bulls and Wizards on the road. Curry had himself a big day, moving into the top 10 on the NBA's all-time three-point shooting list. The game had a different feel in the first half, which drew mixed reviews from the players, as the stadium had no entertainment or music for the entire half. The goal of this change was to get the fans to enjoy the game in its "purest form." Well, once the music came back on, Curry went off for 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third quarter. Derrick Rose had 28 points, while Kristaps Porzingis finished with 24 points and 15 rebounds in a losing effort for New York.
Westbrook Struggles in Thunder's Loss to Mavs
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban stated before Sunday night's game that he believed Russell Westbrook was not even in the MVP conversation, despite him averaging a triple-double for the year. Unfortunately for the Thunder star, he didn't play like an MVP candidate on Sunday, as he scored 29 points, but had just five assists and six rebounds in the Thunder's 104-89 loss to the Mavericks. Westbrook was also given a flagrant one foul and a technical late in the game as frustration rose in the loss. For Dallas, Dirk Nowitzki, who just announced that he will return for a 20th season, had 18 points and 12 rebounds, while Seth Curry had a Steph-like performance with 22 points. The Mavs have now won 10 of 12 at home, and 12 of 19 overall, as they sit just two games out of the final playoff spot in the West at 26-36. Both the flagrant and tech came in the third quarter for Westbrook, as Dallas took advantage to pull away with a 21-4 run. The Thunder still sit comfortably in seventh place in the West, despite their 12-20 road record.
Pelicans Record First Win With Cousins
It was suppose to be a trade that drove the New Orleans Pelicans up the standings and into the playoff picture. Instead, it took the team two weeks to pick up their first win since acquiring DeMarcus Cousins, as they got past the Los Angeles Lakers on the road Sunday night, 95-87. Cousins had 26 points and 15 rebounds, and has been performing well with Anthony Davis, but the issues have come on the defensive side of the ball. They took advantage of a favorable game against the lowly Lakers, improving to 1-4 with him in the lineup. They did defeat the Pistons while Cousins served a one-game suspension last week. Davis led the scoring with 31 points, as the Pelicans now sit 3.5 games out of the final playoff spot. The Lakers fell to 0-7 since the All-Star break, and have lost five in a row at home. Nick Young led the way in the loss for the purple and gold with 19 points.
