There were five very exciting matchups in the NBA on Sunday night, including one which saw the Cleveland Cavaliers match the 8-1 record start to the season they set last year.
Cavaliers smite Hornets
The Hornets were beaten 100-93 by the Cavaliers in a game which the Hornets led for most of the first half and were up by as much as 12 points at one stage.
The reigning champions proved to be just too much for the Hornets and took control of the game from the third quarter. Kevin Love had a good night with a 17-point and 11-rebound double-double. LeBron James had 19 points and eight rebounds, Kyrie Irving finished with 19 points and three rebounds while Channing Frye and Iman Shumpert combined for 35. Tristan Thompson was a major defensive force for the Cavs ending the game with 12 rebounds.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 21 points, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist had the other double-double of the game with 11 points and 10 rebounds, while French-Cameroonian Nicolas Batum finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and seven assists. Marvin Williams, who had a good night, ended it with 16 points and six rebounds.
Ibaka’s Magic silence Thunder
In the close matchup between the Orlando Magic and OKC, which the Magic won 119-117, Congolese forward Serge Ibaka had a season-high and career-best 31 points coupled with nine rebounds. Elfrid Payton had 23 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, Evan Fournier had 21 points and five assists, while DRC’s Bismack Biyombo finished with five points and eight rebounds.
Russell Westbrook led the game with a monster triple-double with 41 points, 12 rebounds and 16 assists. Steven Adams had a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds while American-Nigerian guard Victor Oladipo put up 12 points, one rebounds and two assists.
Wiggins helps Wolves tear Lakers apart
The LA Lakers were handed a 26-point game in Minnesota, losing 126-99 to the Timberwolves off the back of Andrew Wiggins’ career-high 47 points. Karl-Anthony Towns had a 22-point 12-rebound double-double, while Ricky Rubio also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 assists. Senegalese big man Gorgui Dieng finished with nine rebounds, two points and two assists.
Lou Williams led the Lakers with 17 points, five rebounds and four assists. Julius Randle had 14 points and six rebounds while South Sudanese Luol Deng ended with 13 points and three rebounds.
Scorching Blazers melt Nuggets
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Denver Nuggets on their home court 112-105. Damian Lillard had 32 points, eight rebounds and six assists. CJ McCollum had 21 points, while Maurice Harkless ended with 17 points and six rebounds.
Kenneth Faried had an 18-point 14-rebound double-double, Danilo Gallinari and Jamal Murray combined for 38 while Congolese guard Emmanuel Mudiay had eight points and two rebounds.
Warriors score big against the Suns
The Golden State Warriors beat the Phoenix Suns 133-120. The Splash Brothers combined for 60 with Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson both scoring 30 points apiece while, Draymond Green had a 14-point, 11-assist double-double and Kevin Durant finished with 29.
Eric Bledsoe and TJ Warren combined for 40 for the Suns scoring 20 points each, while Devin Booker continues to impress and finished the game with 19 points, four rebounds and four assists.
By Kaunda Chama
