Curry and Irving put up triple-doubles
It was a night of personal landmarks in the NBA, with career-highs and first time achievements in a number of games on Friday night.
Stephen Curry had reason to celebrate as his triple-double in just three quarters helped the Golden State Warriors to a 126-103 win over the New York Knicks.
His statline read 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists for the night, as Knicks’ Carmelo Anthony took 23 points and 16 rebounds on the way to a fifth defeat in a row.
Kyrie Irving also claimed a triple-double, a career first, as he led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 99-79 win over the Utah Jazz.
After a shaky first quarter, the Cavs got back on track, but as Jazz crept back up to within five it was across the third and fourth quarters that the home side produced a 17-2 run that was the game changer.
Spencer Hawes and Tristan Thompson also claimed double-doubles, whilst GB’s Luol Deng took ten points in thirty minutes of action.
Kevin Durant’s 37 points helped on the way to Oklahoma City Thunder ending a three-game losing streak with a 113-107 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
OKC led by 19 in the third quarter and by 16 at the start of the fourth, but the Grizzlies’ hot shooting brought them to within three points after James Johnson hit one from deep with 2:29 left.
Durant was called for a technical foul 30 seconds later arguing a call and then scored six points in the next minute while the Grizzlies missed three shots. The Thunder pushed the lead back to seven to seal the W.
Russell Westbrook added 21 points and six assists for the Thunder, but it was Mike Miller off the bench for Memphis who led the scoring for the visitors with 19.
Taj Gibson stepped up off the bench for the Chicago Bulls in their 100-91 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
He made 20 points and 15 rebounds on the night, in a game that was won by the Bulls in the final quarter – Dallas shooting 6-for-23 as Chicago’s defence went on lockdown.
Tim Duncan had 17 points and 16 rebounds as San Antonio Spurs overcame a slow start to beat the Charlotte Bobcats 92-82.
The victory means that the Spurs secured a 17th consecutive winning season now standing with a record of 42-16.
Los Angeles Lakers’ strong second half performance saw them edge out the Sacramento Kings with a 126-122 win – and it may be a victory to savour as they face the top four teams in the Western Conference in six of their next eight games in three weeks.
Finally, the Phoenix Suns got a career-high 40 points from Goran Dragic in a 116-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans – Dragic was a doubt ahead of the game after missing Wednesday’s game.
It could have been a different story as the Suns trailed 91-88 midway through the final quarter. Dragic scored on a drive, then Markieff Morris hit a short banker and a layup to get things going. Dragic capped the run with a 25-footer from up top that accidentally banked in and, moments later, a 17-footer. The Suns suddenly had a 105-92 lead and the game.