Western Conference

Westbrook, Thunder end Warriors streak

A monster game from Russell Westbrook for the Oklahoma City Thunder (19-20), with support from Kevin Durant’s 36 points, put an end to Golden State Warriors’ (32-6) 15-game home win streak.

Westbrook had 17 points, 15 rebounds and a career-high 17 assists as OKC triumphed 127-115.

Despite missing out on the opportunity to blank the Thunder in their four-game series the Warriors rebounded strongly in their next game, defeating fourth-ranked Houston Rockets (28-13) 131-106.

Once conference toppers, the Memphis Grizzlies (29-11) are now trying to catch up to both the Warriors and Portland Trailblazers (30-11).

They might soon surpass the Blazers, who have lost three tilts in a row, while the Grizzlies have won four.

Facing the Blazers on Saturday the Grizzlies eclipsed star performances by LaMarcus Aldridge (32 points) and Damian Lillard (25 points) with an efficient 102-98 outing.

Fifth-ranked Dallas Mavericks (28-13), uncharacteristically continue to lead their Texan rivals, the San Antonio Spurs (25-16) though the two are separated by LA Clippers (27-14).

Facing Denver Nuggets (18-22) on Wednesday Dirk Nowitzki returned from a mini-siesta to notch 25 points and lead the Mavs to a 97-89 victory.

Rajon Rondo was a low scorer though he contributed with eight assists and nine rebounds.

The Phoenix Suns hang one-and-a-half games back from the Spurs.

Eastern Conference

Hawks hot on Warriors’ trail

A 12-game winning streak sees the Atlanta Hawks (33-8) a half-game behind the Warriors for the best record in the NBA.

Sharpshooter Kyle Korver netted a season-high seven three-pointers as the Hawks added Chicago Bulls (27-15) to their list of top teams defeated.

Jeff Teague also contributed 17 points and 11 assists to the 107-99 win.

The fourth-ranked Bulls were coming off a 119-103 win at the Boston Celtics (13-25) in which Derrick Rose had arguably his best game of the season, amassing 29 points and 10 assists to go with Pau Gasol’s 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Former conference-toppers the Toronto Raptors (26-13) have won only four of their last 10, consequently being eclipsed into third by John Wall’s Washington Wizards.

Coming up against the Hawks on Wednesday, the Raptors put in a horrid performance at home allowing Atlanta to bully the inside, all the way to a 110-89 win.

Meanwhile LeBron ‘the King’ James has returned from injury for the Cleveland Cavaliers (21-20, and highlighted just how much they have missed him.

James has averaged 33.7 points in the three games since his return, including a 32-point, 11-rebound performance to lead his team to a 126-121 triumph over the Clippers.

On the same night he became the youngest player to 24,000 points, beating Kobe Bryant by over a year.

The Lance Stephenson-led Charlotte Hornets (16-25) are starting to give the Brooklyn Nets (17-24) a challenge for eighth place, that final playoff spot.

The fact that they have not been playing all that well in order to do so, is just another sad indictment on the quality of the East.

In a shockingly low-scoring game considering it went to overtime, they most recently defeated the poor Indiana Pacers (15-27) 80-71, led by Gerald Henderson’s 20 points.