Nine NBA games were played on Saturday night, with yet another great performance by Cameroonian sensation Joel Embiid.
Sixers sink Suns
Embiid had 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 120-105 win over the Phoenix Suns. Nik Stauskas had 21 points and two rebounds, while Hollis Thompson had 14 points and four rebounds.
Eric Bledsoe led the Suns with 27 points, five rebounds and six assists. Alan Williams had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds, while Brandon Knight had 12 points, two rebounds and two assists.
Warriors hold off Bucks
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Bucks 124-121 in Milwaukee. Kevin Durant had a 33-point game with six rebounds and five assists, Klay Thompson had 29 points, three rebounds and two assists, while his ‘Splash Brother’ Stephen Curry finished with 20 points, five rebounds and five assists.
The Bucks were led by Greek-Nigerian Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 30 points, four rebounds and six assists. Jabari Parker had 28 points, five rebounds and five assists, while Matthew Dellavedova had 10 points, three rebounds and five assists.
Grizzlies maul Timberwolves
The Grizzlies held down Memphis, beating the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves 93-71. JaMychal Green had 19 points and eight rebounds, Zach Randolph had 18 points and seven rebounds, while Mike Conley and Andrew Harrison combined for 26 with 13 apiece.
The Timberwolves were led by Zach LaVine with 22 points, Karl-Anthony Towns had 17 points and three rebounds, while Senegalese centre Gorgui Dieng ended the game with nine points and 11 rebounds.
African stars drive Magic to victory
In Orlando, the Magic beat the Dallas Mavericks 95-87. Congolese big man Serge Ibaka was one rebound short of a double-double with 15 points and nine boards, DRC-born centre Bismack Biyombo had a 13-point 10-rebound double-double, Nikola Vucevic had a 12-point 12-rebound double-double, while DJ Augustin finished with 18 points.
The Mavs were led by Jonathan Gibson with 26 points, Wesley Matthews and Seth Curry combined for 26 points with 13 apiece, while Harrison Barnes finished with 11 points and six rebounds.
Pelicans take down Hornets
The New Orleans Pelicans beat the Charlotte Hornets 121-116 on the back of a monster 38-point, 16 rebound double-double from Anthony Davis. Langston Galloway had 23 points and seven rebounds, while Jrue Holiday ended the game with 22 points and nine assists.
Kemba Walker led the Hornets with 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists, Marco Belinelli had a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, another came by way of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s 10 points and 13 rebounds. French-Cameroonian Nicolas Batum finished with 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Rockets drown out Jazz
The Houston Rockets beat the Utah Jazz 111-102. James Harden had 31 points and 10 rebounds, Swiss-Congolese Clint Capela had 20 points, eight rebounds and five assists, while Eric Gordon finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists.
Rodney Hood led the Jazz with 25 points, Trey Lyles had 21 points, Rudy Gobert had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. French-Senegalese Boris Diaw did not play.
Clippers trample Bulls
The LA Clippers beat the Chicago Bulls 102-95. Blake Griffin led the Clippers with a 26-point 13 rebound double-double, Chris Paul had 19 points, four rebounds and eight assists, Marreese Speights had 16 points, while Cameroonian Luc Mbah a Moute finished with eight points and two rebounds.
Dwyane Wade led the Bulls with 28 points and eight rebounds, Jimmy Butler had 22 points and six rebounds, while Taj Gibson ended the game with 11 points, four rebounds and two assists.
The rest
In the night’s other games, the Boston Celtics beat the Detroit Pistons 94-92 and the Miami Heat beat the Washington Wizards 114-111.
By Kaunda Chama
