The Wizards and Pacers played games a couple thousand miles apart on Monday, against different teams, at different times, with totally different expectations. One similarity tied them together, though: both were taken captive by a player who is having a season that defies all reasonable expectations.
Four days after notching his first career 50-point game, James Harden scored 44 in 43 minutes in a 110-100 win against the Pacers. He shot 22 free throws, missing just one. When the Pacers drew within eight in the fourth quarter, Harden chuckled at their moxie and scored 19 in the final 10 minutes.
On the opposite coast, the Wizards battled the league's best team to a virtual draw -- down just three -- at halftime. That's impressive in its own right, especially in Golden State, where the Warriors' homecourt advantage is a bit more pronounced than other stadiums around the NBA.
And then the third quarter happened. A third quarter where the Wizards didn't score a field goal until 1:01 was left, but also a quarter where Stephen Curry put the finishing touches on another masterpiece: namely, his trio of three-pointers within two minutes of each other that turned a 15-point lead into a total rout.
Curry only ended with 24 points on 8-of-14 shooting, plus five three-pointers and six assists. He didn't play in the fourth for the 16th time this season because there was no need for him to do so. The game was long over at that point.
This is what the MVP race consists of every night. The dog days of March, when many eyes are diverted to an amateur tournament, is when things usually crystallize for this award. The person we thought was the favorite all along is still on top, while any other contenders fall behind.
Instead, these candidates have only got better, making you regret every second your eyes aren't glued to the screen when they're on the court. Russell Westbrook posted his ninth triple-double on Friday and missed out on his 10th on Sunday by a single rebound. LeBron James posted a line not seen since Jan. 25, 2000. Anthony Davis returned from a two-game hiatus to post 26 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, two blocks and two steals -- a performance that somehow dropped him in this race for the NBA's most transcendent star.
Four weeks are still left and things may become more clear. Then again, maybe they won't, and that's OK. This is less about who is actually left standing when dust settles from this season's whirlwind finish and more about the process it has taken to get there. Having five players reaching these levels of absurdity on a nightly basis is something the NBA hasn't seen in a decade.
Maybe it's because this is a once-in-a-decade phenomenon. If so, you best make sure to experience as much of it as you can.
SB Nation presents: How the Morris twins pushed each other to achieve greatness
3 other things we learned
Jimmy Butler returns for Chicago, but it's the Nikola Mirotic Show again. Butler played 40 minutes after missing 11 games with an elbow injury, but once again, Mirotic dominated the headlines. He scored 28 points on 10-of-19 shooting along with eight rebounds, including 14 points in the final quarter to pull away from Charlotte in a 98-86 win. The Hornets played him well, but with the shots he was making there was nothing they could really do. Really, how do you defend this shot?
Zach LaVine and Andrew Wiggins are our favorite tag team. Down 94-90 with 20 seconds to play, LaVine buried a three-pointer. After Utah made two free throws, he hit another one with seconds to go, tying the game at 96 and forcing overtime. When Minnesota outplayed the Jazz on the final possession and won 106-104, it was all about the two rookies. Wiggins finished with 22 points on 10-of-19 shooting as well as seven rebounds, while LaVine had 27 points, three rebounds, four assists and five three-pointers -- including those must-have two at the end of the game. The Wolves haven't been too good but they have been way fun this season. One out of two ain't bad.
The Wizards really let that chance get away from them, though. Stephen Curry deserves all the accolades, but on Monday, Washington looked like it really had a chance to prove something. Even if they didn't leave Oracle Arena with a win, the Wizards could walk out with some dignity. Instead, they missed 15 STRAIGHT field goals to open the second half. Some of their struggles can be chalked up to Golden State's defense, but only some. A chance for a feel-good game turned into a miserable laugher.
Play of the Night
More Mirotic. This time, he abandoned finesse in favor of absolute animosity toward the rim and poor Jason Maxiell, who happened to be standing in his way.
4 fun things
Lou Amundson didn't deserve this.
Jae Crowder goes that way. Alan Anderson goes this way.
Can you have a made shot be taken away by a jump ball call? Yes, apparently you can.
This is the best way for a ref to call a travel.
Final scores
Rockets 110, Pacers 100 (The Dream Shake recap | Indy Cornrows recap)
Celtics 110, Nets 91 (Celtics Blog recap | Nets Daily recap)
Grizzlies 103, Knicks 82 (Grizzly Bear Blues recap | Posting and Toasting recap)
Bulls 98, Hornets 86 (Blog A Bull recap | At the Hive recap)
Timberwolves 106, Jazz 104 (Canis Hoopus recap | SLC Dunk recap)
Warriors 107, Wizards 76 (Golden State of Mind recap | Bullets Forever recap)