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NBA Sunday recap: Clippers bag win in Blake Griffin's return, Rockets win key game over Thunder

Blake Griffin returned in uniform for the Los Angeles Clippers after missing 45 games. 

Los Angeles Clippers 114-109 Washington Wizards

Having served the four game suspension after he recovered from his right hand fracture, Blake Griffin returned to the court for the Los Angeles Clippers for the first time since their Christmas Day game against the Los Angeles Lakers. In his return, Griffin logged 24 minutes on the court registering 6 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists on 4 of 7 shooting.

The Washington Wizards were a team the Clippers could have probably won without Griffin but having him always helps. The more games he gets to feel himself on the court, the better for the Clips. 

With this game, the Wizards completed their five game West Coast road trip finishing with a record of 2-5. John Wall once again starred in this one with 15 points and 13 assists. Washington fought hard till the final buzzer but could never make up the first quarter deficit of 10 points. It’s not official but the loss officially puts Washington out of any realistic contention for a Playoff spot in the East. 

Meanwhile for the Clippers, who have sealed home court advantage in the West with the fourth seed, were led by double doubles by Chris Paul (27 points, 12 assists) and DeAndre Jordan (12 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks). After the near win in Oklahoma City by the team’s bench, their second unit saw a lot more minutes last night and the reserve back court of Jamal Crawford and Austin Rivers stepped up combining for 29 points, 10 assists and 8 rebounds. 

Golden State Warriors 136-111 Portland Trailblazers

Draymond Green registered his 13th triple double for the season with 22 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and Stephen Curry had 39 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds as the Golden State Warriors once again bounced back from a loss to win at home. The win was the Warriors’ 69th of the seaosn, becoming only the fourth team to reach that mark in a season. 

Curry’s knocked down nine three pointers in the game, creating some history while doing so. He dueled with Portland’s point guard Damina Lillard who scored 38 points. In the quarter wise breakdown, the Trailblazers were beaten in the second and fourth quarters, outscored by a combined margin of 26 points. That really did them as the team failed to make a run that would be threatening to the Warriors.

Golden State now has to go at least 4-1 to break the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls record of 72 wins, with two games a piece remaining against the San Antonio Spurs and the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Houston Rockets 118-110 Oklahoma City Thunder

One game out of the eighth seed in the Western Conference Playoff race, the Houston Rockets needed to basically win every remaining game on their schedule. A sunday night matinee game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was the Playoff team remaining on their schedule. All-Star James Harden 41 points, 9 assists, 4 rebounds and 3 steals but it was the young reserve line-up of Clint Capela, Andrew Goudelock, Michael Beasley, K.J. McDaniels along with Harden that sparked Rockets comeback in the third quarter after trailing by 12. 

The comeback win meant for the 13th time this season, the Thunder have lost a game after heading into the fourth quarter with a lead. In this game they had a lead of 2 points but five turnovers and some sloppy defense in the final period cost OKC the game. Given how dominant the OKC have shown themselves to be, the following stat is very disturbing and disappointing:

Russell Westbrook had a near triple double with 23 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists while Kevin Durant had 33 points and 8 rebounds but the All-Star duo could not help their team as no other player other than Enes Kanter (16 points) stepped up. With Dallas winning in Minnesota, the Rockets made no rise in the standings but stayed alive in the Playoff race. Another important note to factor in is the six game losing streak the Memphis Grizzlies are on.

Their streak and the Trailblazers loss in Golden State has now made this a five team race for the last four Playoff spots in the West. 

Cleveland Cavaliers 112-103 Charlotte Hornets

The Playoff version of LeBron James seems to have arrived early as the King has been playing like an absolute beast off late. He recorded 31 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers win over the Charlotte Hornets. Kyrie Irving sat out with a sprained ankle but that didn’t seem to bother the Cavaliers’ play, as the team dished out a season high 34 assists and led all through the 48 minutes of the game.

It wasn’t just James but his supporting cast that also starred in this win. J.R. Smith had 27 points on 10 of 16 shooting, Kevin Love had 25 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists and Matthew Dellavadova who started last night finished with 6 points, 5 rebounds and 9 assists.

Hornets guard Kemba Walker’s stat line of 29 points, 7 assists, 6 rebounds and 4 steals went in vain as the Charlotte fell behind by big early and could never make a legitimate comeback. Forward Marvin Williams continued his good form since the All-Star break putting up 22 points, grabbing 6 rebounds and dishing out 3 assists. 

Despite being a game between two Playoff teams, the game was far from competitive and had no Playoff implications. The Hornets have already clinched their Playoff spot while the Cavaliers have not only clinched the spot but assured themsevles of home court advantage all through the East Playoffs with their comfortable 3.5 lead over the Toronto Raptors.

Orlando Magic 119-107 Memphis Grizzlies

Nikola Vucevic (ORL): 25 pts, 10 rebs, 3 asts, 2 stls

Zach Randolph (MEM): 15 pts, 7 rebs, 7 asts

Utah Jazz 101-86 Phoenix Suns

Tyson Chandler (PHO): 21 pts, 18 rebs

Gordon Hayward (UTA): 22 pts, 5 rebs, 5 asts

Chicago Bulls 102-98 Milwaukee Bucks

Pau Gasol (CHI): 16 pts, 8 rebs, 8 asts

Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL): 34 pts, 9 asts, 5 rebs

Indiana Pacers 92-87 Detroit Pistons

Robin Lopez (NYK): 10 pts, 15 rebs, 6 blks

Paul George (IND): 20 pts, 9 rebs

New Orleans Pelicans 106-87 Brooklyn Nets

Tim Frazier (NOP): 19 pts, 13 asts, 3 stls, 2 rebs

Thomas Robinson (HOU): 11 pts, 15 rebs

Dallas Mavericks 88-78 Minnesota Timberwolves

J.J. Barea (DAL): 21 pts, 6 asts, 3 rebs

Karl Anthony Towns (MIN): 11 pts, 21 rebs, 9 asts

Boston Celtics 107-100 Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe Bryant (LAL): 34 points

Jae Crowder (BOS): 22 pts, 5 rebs, 5 stls, 4 asts

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