2014 NBA scores: Stephen Curry beats Mavericks in OT, Nets clinch playoff berth with win over Rockets
Curry buried the Mavs after a questionable no-call, while Joe Johnson helped the Nets clinch a playoff berth and the Blazers smashed the Lakers.
Kevin Jairaj, USA Today Sports
Just moments after a questionable no-call on a potential goaltending violation that would have put the Dallas Mavericks up two, Stephen Curry buried a jumper with 0.1 seconds left to give the Golden State Warriors a 122-120 overtime victory in Dallas.
Late in a back-and-forth overtime period, Dallas had the ball in a tie game after Jermaine O'Neal scored with 28 seconds left. Monta Ellis drove to the bucket and put up a floater that was blocked by O'Neal, only it appeared to be a possible goaltend. But the refs swallowed their whistles, and Curry delivered the dagger on the other end:
The game-winner capped off a 23-point, 10-assist night for Curry. His fellow Splash Brother, Klay Thompson, led the Warriors with 27 points. Golden State shot 57.1 percent overall and made 15-of-31 from three.
The loss spoiled big performances from both Ellis and Dirk Nowitzki. Ellis finished the game with 27 points, while Nowitzki had 33 points on 13-of-21 shooting in addition to 11 rebounds.
The entire game was a roller coaster ride. The Warriors led by nine after one quarter, but then the Mavs put up a 41-point second quarter to take a nine-point lead at halftime. Golden State roared back to take a four-point lead into the fourth quarter, setting up the rousing finish.
Dallas led by three with 1:15 left after Ellis knocked down a jumper, but Thompson tied the game shortly after with one of his four threes on the night. Both teams failed at several opportunities to win the game in regulation.
The defeat moved the Mavs back to the No. 9 spot in the Western Conference playoff race.
Brooklyn Nets 105, Houston Rockets 96
Joe Johnson had 32 points on 13-of-21 shooting as the Nets beat the shorthanded Rockets at the Barclays Center to clinch a playoff berth. Shaun Livingston added 17 points in the win.
Houston played without Dwight Howard (ankle), Patrick Beverley (knee) and Terrence Jones (flu), but they trailed by just four points heading into the final frame. However, the Rockets made just two baskets in nearly six minutes of action at the outset of the fourth quarter, which allowed the Nets to open up an 11-point lead. The margin wouldn't get below seven the rest of the way.
James Harden had 26 points and seven assists to lead Houston, doing most of his damage from the free-throw line. Harden made 16-of-16 from the line to help keep the Rockets in it despite a poor shooting night. Omer Asik had a career-high 23 rebounds starting in place of Howard, but there was this free-throw line mishap:
Shooting free throws is simply not the forte of the Rockets’ centers. Houston has lost two straight after winning five in a row.
Portland Trail Blazers 124, Los Angeles Lakers 112
Damian Lillard had 34 points and eight assists, while LaMarcus Aldridge had 31 points, 15 rebounds and six assists to lead the Blazers to a fourth straight victory.
Although Portland's offense hummed throughout, Los Angeles kept it close for much of the game thanks to Nick Young. The NBA's best Player Hater dropped a season-high 40 points on 15-of-26 shooting, including 21 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the first half.
Kent Bazemore had 17 points and Steve Nash chipped in a double-double, but it wasn't enough to keep up with the prolific Blazers attack. Portland led by two points at halftime before pulling away in the third quarter and cruising to victory.
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