NBA players who claim Australia as home turf have been turning in solid performances of late, unlike some of their compatriots in the NFL, who saw their last shot at the Super Bowl evaporate when the Pittsburgh Steelers and their Melbourne-born punter Brad Wing were rudely dismissed by the New England Patriots in the recent AFC Championship game.
Specifically, it was Patty Mills, thrust into a larger role for the San Antonio Spurs, who rose to the occasion to turn in one of his best performances of the season, albeit it was the lowly Brooklyn Nets against which he was inserted.
Mills scored 20 points to take leading scorer honours for the game, a 112 – 86-road win in Brooklyn, needing only 20 minutes of court time to notch the achievement. He was deadly from beyond the three-point arc; making four of his six attempts. He also pulled down three rebounds and handed out two assists.
Mills has been having a solid season in a sixth-man capacity, having hit the 20-point mark for the third time this season.
Cleveland Cavaliers castoff Matthew Dellavedova has been making the Cavs rue the decision to pack him off, as Delly has been a steadying influence on a young Milwaukee Bucks team, with the latest example being a 16-point, seven assist showing in a 127 – 114 win by the Bucks over the Houston Rockets.
