'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The last night's NBA action was filled with three exciting games. In San Antonio, it was the return of Kawhi Leonard, who led the team to NBA championship in 2014. The Raptors were outperformed by the Spurs for the entire 48 minutes as they lost 125-107.
We go to Sacramento and the Nuggets defeated the Kings, on the back of 36-point performance by Jamal Murray. The last game involved two of the Western Conference powerhouses, Warriors and Rockets go at it.
The regulation period was not sufficient and the Rockets eventually walked out of Oracle with a 135-134 exciting win. Let us take a look at the top three performers from last night's action.
#1 James Harden at Golden State Warriors
Trending
Stat line: 44 points. 10 rebounds, 15 assists, 1 steal and 2 blocks on 40.6 % shooting
James Harden has been on a tear since last 2-3 weeks and has been pouring in points effortlessly. He has single-handedly changed saved the season for Houston Rockets and lifted them to the 4th place from 14th place in West.
Even though he has been receiving a lot of hate from NBA fans as the guard is known for his ability to draw fouls heavily, one cannot deny the fact that he is one of the best offensive basketball players ever to step his foot on the court.
After dropping 43 points at Memphis Grizzlies in what was the last game of Rockets in 2018, Harden once again erupted for 44 points, this time in Golden State against the Warriors to lift the Rockets over the Warriors in an absolute cracker of a game.
James, en route to his fifth straight game with 40 or more points, hit an incredible game-winning three-pointer in overtime, with Draymond Green contesting it and shocked the entire Oracle Arena. This has to be his best performance this season and it came off against the two-time defending champs.
#2 Clint Capela at Golden State Warriors
Stat line: 29 points, 21 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals and a block on 63.1 % shooting
Clint Capela is one of the best Centers in the league today and it is remarkable how he has gotten there in such a small period of time. The center has signed a five-year, $90 million contract extension with the Rockets in the offseason.
This season, he is averaging career-high numbers to go along with a double-double. Capela, who is one of the best shot-blockers in the game has been causing a lot of trouble to the opposition team offense in the paint.
Capela was huge against the Warriors and took care of business in the paint as he used his body to register several dunks. Draymond had a tough time going up against Capela and this was the 24-year-old's second straight double-double.
#3 DeMar DeRozan vs Toronto Raptors
Stat line: 21 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists, and 2 steals on 46.6 % shooting
On a night when Kawhi Leonard returned to San Antonio after getting traded to the Toronto Raptors, it was DeMar DeRozan who stole the spotlight and led the Spurs to an 18-point victory over the Raptors.
At 7:53 mark in the first quarter, DeRozan slammed one home off an inbound pass by White to send a statement. He closed out the second quarter with a tough layup for an and-1 and the Spurs went into halftime with a comfortable 67-51 lead.
DeRozan who had 19 points in the first half only had 2 points in the second half but made an impact by dishing out assists and collecting rebounds. With 21 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists, DeRozan posted his first career triple-double in the NBA.
