What a night. On the second-to-last evening of the NBA regular season, the league delivered one of the most memorable few hours in years.
First of all, two legends played the final home games of their career, and each scored 30 points. Honored with tribute videos and speeches, Dwyane Wade in Miami and Dirk Nowitzki in Dallas went out in style. But the rest of the league couldn't let those two have the night for themselves.
Off the court, Lakers president Magic Johnson abruptly announced he was stepping down from his role with the Lakers, surprising pretty much everyone, as he revealed during the press conference that he hadn't even told general manager Rob Pelinka or owner Jeanie Buss he was doing so.
On the court, Jamal Crawford became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points, when he dropped 51 on Dirk and the Mavericks. And if that wasn't enough, there were multiple game-winning shots in the final seconds. First, Paul George capped the Thunder's incredible comeback to beat the Rockets, and later on Moe Harkless sank a buzzer-beater to lift the Trail Blazers over the Lakers.
Here's everything you need to know about Tuesday's NBA action.
NBA scores for Tuesday, April 9
- Charlotte Hornets 124, Cleveland Cavaliers 97 (Box Score)
- Boston Celtics 116, Washington Wizards 110 (Box Score)
- Detroit Pistons 100 , Memphis Grizzlies 93 (Box Score)
- Miami Heat 122, Philadelphia 76ers 99 (Box Score)
- Toronto Raptors 120, Minnesota Timberwolves 100 (Box Score)
- New York Knicks 96, Chicago Bulls 86 (Box Score)
- Golden State Warriors 112, New Orleans Pelicans 103 (Box Score)
- Dallas Mavericks 120, Phoenix Suns 109 (Box Score)
- Utah Jazz 118, Denver Nuggets 108 (Box Score)
- Oklahoma City Thunder 112, Houston Rockets 111 (Box Score)
- Portland Trail Blazers 104, Los Angeles Lakers 101 (Box Score)
NBA schedule for Wednesday, April 10
*All times Eastern
- Indiana Pacers at Atlanta Hawks, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Miami Heat at Brooklyn Nets, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Oklahoma City Thunder at Milwaukee Bucks, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Orlando Magic at Charlotte Hornets, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: ESPN
- Golden State Warriors at Memphis Grizzlies, 8 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers, 10:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Sacramento Kings at Portland Trail Blazers, 10:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- Watch on fuboTV with NBA League Pass extension
- Minnesota Timberwolves at Denver Nuggets, 10:30 p.m. (GameTracker) -- TV: ESPN
Wade gets honored, drops 30 in last home game
Dwyane Wade played his last game -- at least in the regular season -- in Miami on Tuesday, and the Heat had an incredible ceremony for him before the game. Then, once the ball went up, he showed out. Wade finished with 30 points on the night to lead the Heat to a 23-point win over the 76ers. Unfortunately for them, they were eliminated from the playoffs due to wins by the Hornets and Pistons.
"Act 3 is where that hero becomes a legend..."@DwyaneWade #L3GACY #OneLastDance pic.twitter.com/KMeelsEaq5
— NBA (@NBA) April 9, 2019
Nowitzki officially announces retirement
It wasn't all that surprising, given how fans and even his own team have been treating him all season long, but Dirk Nowitzki officially announced on Wednesday night that he is retiring. The legend went out with 30 points and a win in his final home game, before being honored with a heartwarming ceremony on the court afterwards.
"This is my last home game..."@swish41 addresses the crowd post-game in Dallas.
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2019
41.21.1 x #Dirk x #MFFL pic.twitter.com/xFWPOhEDIb
George's late 3 stuns Rockets
The Thunder were getting crushed by the Rockets on Tuesday night, but came roaring back in the fourth quarter to steal the game thanks to Paul George's last-second 3-pointer from the corner. George finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and four steals, as the Thunder won their fourth straight game and held on to the No. 6 seed in the West -- at least for now.
CLUTCH FROM PG TO PUT THE @OKCTHUNDER AHEAD!#ThunderUp 112#Rockets 111
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2019
1.8 to play on @NBAonTNT. HOU ball. pic.twitter.com/smj7KDHC3w
Harkless beats the buzzer for Trail Blazers
Regular season shots don't get much bigger than the one Moe Harkless hit on Tuesday night. The swingman knocked down a corner 3 as time expired at the Staples Center to give Trail Blazers a victory over the Lakers. But more importantly, it clinched the team home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. It also kept their hopes for the No. 3 seed alive. If the Blazers win on Wednesday, they'll steal the third seed from the Rockets due to the fact that they've won the season series between the teams.
MOE HARKLESS NAILS THE #TISSOTBUZZERBEATER FROM THE CORNER FOR THE @TRAILBLAZERS WIN! #THISISYOURTIME #RIPCITY pic.twitter.com/bP9dODhTyD
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2019
Crawford makes history with 51 points
Jamal Crawford can still get buckets. The veteran went off on the Mavericks, stealing the show in Dirk Nowitzki's final home game. Finishing with 51 points, Crawford became the oldest player in NBA history to score 50 points, as well as the first player to score 50 points for four different franchises.
🙌 @JCrossover goes off for 51 PTS, becoming the oldest player in @NBAHistory (39 years & 20 days) to score 50-plus! #TimeToRise pic.twitter.com/qr5evTCT13
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2019
Drummond has big night in Pistons' crucial win
The Pistons have been playing like they were trying to miss the playoffs, and continued to do so through much of Tuesday night's game versus the Grizzlies. In the fourth quarter, however, they turned things around to secure a crucial win. Andre Drummond was a key factor, finishing with 20 points, 17 rebounds, five steals and three blocks.
Find the big man.#PistonsNow powered by @RocketFiber pic.twitter.com/9eNyJ5YVzY
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 9, 2019
Dre with the defense.#PistonsNow x @RocketFiber pic.twitter.com/5hwpyGddE8
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) April 10, 2019
Walker helps Hornets keep playoff hopes alive
The Hornets needed a win to keep their playoff hopes alive, and they got one without too much trouble, cruising past the Cavaliers by 27 points. Leading the way, as always, was their star man Kemba Walker. The point guard finished with 23 points and seven assists.
Doncic's deep heave goes down, but doesn't count
Luka Doncic showed off his array of skills with a heave from his own free throw line. Unfortunately for him, it didn't count.
Doesn’t count but... Luka Doncic from 3/4 court! #MFFL pic.twitter.com/EQlUlMOojN
— NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2019
The Timelord says no
Robert Williams hasn't gotten much playing time for the Celtics this season, but with Boston resting pretty much everyone on Tuesday night, he got the start. It didn't take him long to take advantage of the extra minutes, swatting a shot way out to halfcourt.
TIME LORD STRIKES AGAIN pic.twitter.com/1rVZ5jmSrU
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) April 10, 2019