NBA schedule and results: Russell Westbrook, Stephen Curry have huge nights

Steph Curry is white hot against the Mavericks. He has 41 points heading into the fourth quarter, thanks in part to nine made three-pointers.

He’s so hot, not even Warriors head coach Steve Kerr can believe what’s happening.

Dallas scored 42 points in the first quarter against the Warriors, but Golden State stormed back in the second quarter. At the end of the second, Tyson Chandler reminded Steve Kerr and Co. that Dallas wasn’t just going to roll over against the West’s best team. That’s a good ole dunk right on one of the better rim protectors around.

The Oklahoma City Thunder entered a Wednesday night game against the Pelicans in 10th place in the Western Conference playoff standings, trailing ninth place New Orleans by two games and No. 8 Phoenix by three games. The Thunder were again without Kevin Durant, who was resting a sore toe.

This was a game the Thunder had to have. Russell Westbrook made sure they got it.

I missed you so much, Ricky:

Ricky Rubio was quick to show off that passing in his return from a multi-month-long injury absence, and he’s back at it Wednesday against the Heat. And that dunk, too! The Wolves are just so much more fun and dynamic when he’s out there slinging assists. Don’t sleep on that post-pass smirk, either:

Hassan Whiteside has been straight up bullying the NBA lately. Minnesota Timberwolves forward Thad Young decided he finally had enough.

In professional wrestling, this move is called the Scorpion Death Drop. Sting used to do it back in the day. How’s Young’s execution?

This is different!

No, really:

It might not be tanking, but the effort for Denver certainly wasn’t there and doesn’t seem like it ever will be as long as Brian Shaw is the coach. Remember, this is a team that is just two years removed from a 57-win season. Now it can’t beat a group of undrafted players. The coach is saying the players aren’t trying and the whole thing seems to be falling apart.

Denver has the league’s ninth-worst offensive rating (101) and eighth-worst defensive rating (105). That’s not exactly a recipe for success and one that will likely cost Shaw his job, and soon. Shaw’s 55-75 record as Nuggets coach is not going to cut it. The team’s changing offense has never really worked and nothing that Shaw has brought with him has. The Nuggets are a mess, and unlike the team they lost to on Tuesday, they weren’t built to be one.