Tuesday was another three-game night in the NBA but the excitement was still high with Cameroonian-French Guard Nicolas Batum leading the Hornets to a win, James Harden getting his 35th 20-point, 10-rebound double-double of the season and CJ McCollum winning it for Portland in the final seconds.
Blazers burn Mavericks
Portland guard CJ McCollum’s final drive down the stretch with three seconds left in the fourth was all the Trail Blazers needed to beat the Dallas Mavericks 114-113. He had 32 points, Damian Lillard had 29 points, five rebounds and six assists, Mason Plumlee had a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double, while Nigerian forward Al-Farouq Aminu also finished on a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds.
The Mavericks were led by Harrison Barnes with 26 points and five rebounds, Dirk Nowitzki had 25 points and five rebounds, and Wesley Matthews ended the game with 23 points and five assists.
Hornets sting Nets
Cameroonian-French guard Nicolas Batum’s 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four steals led the Charlotte Hornets past the Brooklyn Nets 111-107. Kemba Walker had 17 points and five assists and Jeremy Lamb finished with 16 points and seven rebounds.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 22 points and five rebounds, Brook Lopez had 20 points, five rebounds and four blocks, and Trevor Booker had a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double.
The Houston Rockets beat the Orlando Magic 128-104 on the back of James Harden’s 25-point, 13-assist double-double, Trevor Ariza had 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists, and Eric Gordon finished with 18 points.
Congolese forward Serge Ibaka led the Magic with 28 points and eight rebounds, Algerian-French guard Evan Fournier had 21 points and Nicola Vucevic ended the game with a 14-point, 19-rebound double-double. DRC-born center Bismack Biyombo had four points and four rebounds.
By Kaunda Chama
