Five exciting games in the NBA last night produced some close contests with great plays and an impressive performance from this week’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week DeMar DeRozan in the Raptors’ win in New York.
Raptors trample Brooklyn
DeMar DeRozan’s 36-point, 11-rebound double-double helped the Toronto Raptors beat the Nets 119-109 in Brooklyn. Cory Joseph had 33 points, four rebounds and four assists, Terrence Ross had 15 points and four rebounds, while Cameroonian rookie Pascal Siakam finished with four points, two rebounds and three blocks.
Brook Lopez led the Nets with 28 points and eight rebounds, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had 14 points and eight rebounds and Chris LeVert ended the game with 14 points and four assists.
Heat scorch Rockets
The Miami Heat snapped a four-game losing streak to beat the Houston Rockets 109-103. Goran Dragic was two rebounds and two assists short of a triple-double with 21 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Wayne Ellington had 18 points and four rebounds, Dion Waiters had 17 points and five rebounds, and Hassan Whiteside finished with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double.
The Rockets were led by James Harden, who had another 40-point triple-double this season with 12 rebounds and 10 assists, Montrezl Harrell had 13 points, and Patrick Beverly had 12 points and seven rebounds.
Mavs tame Bulls
It was not a happy birthday for Dwyane Wade as he failed to make his jumper in the final seconds of the game and the visiting Dallas Mavericks beat the Chicago Bulls 99-98. Harrison Barnes had 20 points and four rebounds, Seth Curry had 18 points, JJ Barea had 12 points and six assists, and Dirk Nowitzki had a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double.
Jimmy Butler led the Bulls with a 24-point and 12-assist double-double, Robin Lopez had 21 points and five rebounds, while Wade finished the game with 17 points and five rebounds.
Spurs kick Timberwolves
The San Antonio Spurs beat the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 122-114. Kawhi Leonard had 34 points, seven rebounds and five assists, LaMarcus Aldridge had 29 points and four rebounds, and Tony Parker had 14 points and five assists.
The Timberwolves were led by Karl-Anthony Towns’ 27-point, 16-rebound double-double, Ricky Rubio had a 21-point, 14-assist double-double, Zach LaVine had 18 points and four rebounds, and Senegalese center Gorgui Dieng finished with 17 points and six rebounds.
Nuggets strike Lakers
Poor defense let the Los Angeles Lakers down as they lost 127-121 to the Denver Nuggets. Nikola Jokic had a 29-point, 15-rebound double-double, Will Barton had 26 points and four rebounds, Kenneth Faried had 20 points and seven rebounds, while Congolese guard Emmanuel Mudiay finished with 14 points and six assists.
Lou Williams led the Lakers with 24 points, four rebounds and seven assists, Nick Young had 22 points and three steals, Jordan Clarkson had 19 points and three assists, and rookie Brandon Ingram ended the game with 15 points, five rebounds and four assists.
By Kaunda Chama
