NBA scores 2015: Rondo on fire in return to Boston, and 3 other things we learned Friday

Rajon Rondo put up 29 points in an emotional return to Boston to help the Mavericks handle the Celtics, plus three other things we learned Friday night.

by Liam Boylan-Pett

Jan 3, 2015, 1:00 PM UTC

Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports

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Before playing in Boston for the first time since being traded to the Dallas Mavericks, Rajon Rondo told reporters he hadn't "played defense in a couple of years." Though he was busy on the defensive end of the court against the Celtics Friday night, Rondo put his offensive arsenal on full display, scoring 29 points in a lopsided 119-101 win over his former team.

It was a welcome return for Rondo, who was greeted with a thunderous ovation from the Boston faithful. He responded by scoring the Mavericks’ first 10 points. Then he was treated to an emotional video tribute from the Celtics organization between the first and second quarter. Rondo was moved by the video, and almost teared up.

The honor was well earned for the player who was instrumental in the Celtics’ title run in 2008 and was a staple for the franchise until he was traded in December. But while it was a flowery return on the surface, it had to have been bittersweet for Celtics fans -- Rondo played his most prolific scoring game of the season.

Rondo was brilliant on the offensive end of the court, shooting 63.2 percent from the floor while netting a season-high 29 points. After making only eight three-point shots in his 22 games with the Celtics, he made five for the Mavericks while missing only two. He also had six rebounds and five assists in a dominating win with his new team.

He has only been with Dallas for seven games, but Rondo is turning into a franchise player for the Mavericks. Dallas is now 5-2 with him on the roster, and has won four straight. The point guard is averaging 15.4 points, 7.4 assists and 5.4 rebounds in his seven games with Dallas, and has season averages of 10.0 points, 10.0 assists and 7.0 rebounds. And, as mentioned above, he's playing defense. In the past week, he held Russell Westbrook and John Wall at bay in two wins over the Thunder and Wizards.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are 2-5 without their former point guard. Trading Rondo away made certain this would be a rebuilding year for the young team. But in the East, they’re still in the hunt for a playoff spot, just 1.5 games out of eighth place.

Dallas has an NBA title on its mind. With Rondo at the helm, those hopes are not misplaced. The Mavericks are currently in fourth place in the West, and have the parts of a contender. A win at Boston may not mean much for a Western Conference power, but it did prove that Rondo is capable of taking over a game.

No matter how Rondo impacts the game, Dallas is just happy he’s not a Celtic.

3 other things we learned

In the game to prove the best of East vs. West, the Warriors won -- by a lot. Draymond Green continued his fantastic season with a triple-double of 16 points, 13 assists and 11 rebounds, and the Golden State Warriors overwhelmed the Toronto Raptors, 126-105. Stephen Curry had 32 points and 12 assists, outplaying Kyle Lowry, who had 22 points and eight assists while trying to keep his team in the game. The game was a showcase of the top team in the West against the top team in the East, the Warriors outplayed the Raptors the entire night. The game had close stretches, like when the Raptors were within nine points with five minutes to play, then Golden State went on a 14-0 run to seal the victory thanks to Curry's hot shooting and Green's omnipresence. In a week when the East seemed to be inching closer to the West (and other dynasties like the SEC died), the Warriors sent a message that the West is still on top.

Kevin Durant isn't letting an injury stop him from being one of the best scorers in the NBA. In just his second game back after missing six games due to a right ankle sprain, Durant put up 34 points and grabbed eight rebounds to lead the Thunder over the Wizards, 109-102. He scored 44 points in his first game back two days prior.

In a game featuring two of the top point guards, Westbrook and the Thunder came out on top against John Wall and the Wizards. The Wizards were down by three with 30 seconds to go when Wall made an errant pass that was stolen by Westbrook to ice the game. The Thunder moved to 17-17, just 1.5 games out of the eighth playoff spot in the West with the win.

The Josh Smith affect is real. The Detroit Pistons are 4-0 since waiving Josh Smith. With Smith, the Houston Rockets are 2-3 (1-3 with him in the starting lineup). In 14 minutes against the Pelicans, Smith went 4-for-11 from the field, and 0-for-2 from three-point range with eight points and two rebounds. The Rockets were run off the court by the Pelicans, 111-83, and that was without Anthony Davis having a big night. The Pistons, meanwhile, won their fourth straight by defeating the Knicks in New York, 97-81. Somehow, the Pistons are not out of the playoff mix in the East. At 9-23, they're just 4.5 games out of the playoffs.