Western Conference

Blazers regain form Western Conference

The Portland Trailblazers (41-18) have found themselves out of the mini-slump they were in, and currently hold a five-game winning streak.

This streak included an absolute demolition of the Brooklyn Nets at home. The bench was key to the game, scoring 68 of the Blazers’ 124 points to Brooklyn’s 80. Mo Williams was the top scorer with 21 points.

The OKC Thunder (44-15) remain at the top of the conference. Kevin Durant was his usual magnificent self on Friday night, as he scored 30 of his 37 points in the second half, as the Thunder staved off a strong Memphis Grizzlies performance to win 113-108.

On the same night, the Golden State Warriors (36-23), spurred on by the ever-impressive Steph Curry’s triple-double, blew out the New York Knicks 126-103. Curry, repeating the form he displayed in his career game almost a year ago at the Madison Square Gardens, scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and 11 assists.

Meanwhile, two of the West’s top performers, the Houston Rockets (40-19) and the LA Clippers (41-20) met in a clash of young explosive teams on Thursday. The Clippers came out triumphant, on the back of Blake Griffin’s 23 points and 16 rebounds, as well as Deandre Jordan’s 13 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. They beat the Rockets 101-93.

Eastern Conference 

Triple OT Thriller in Toronto

NBA fans were treated to quite a spectacle on Thursday night as the Washington Wizards (31-28) and the Toronto Raptors (32-26) needed all of three overtimes to find an advantage for one of the teams.

John Wall and Martin Gortat ended with 31 points each, with Wall dishing nine assists, and Gortat grabbing 12 boards. Both men each scored four points in the second overtime as the Wizards led by two in the final seconds, only to have Demar DeRozan drive baseline and tie the game. However they held out in the third, winning 134-129.

Meanwhile, the Miami Heat (42-14) have pulled themselves to within two games of the Indiana Pacers (45-13) with a seven-game winning streak. That is not to say, however, that the Pacers have been poor, as they themselves hold a four-game winning streak. Miami ended the week with a comfortable 112-98 win over the Orlando Magic. Dwyane Wade had 24 points, supported by LeBron James who scored 20 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and making seven assists – all with a broken nose.

On the same night, Indiana beat the Boston Celtics 102-97 with Paul George scoring 25 points, to go along with eight rebounds and three steals.