NBA highlights of the night - 19th November 2015

The Rockets, new head coach and all, were led by Harden’s 45 points to their first win in 5 gamesThe 2015-16 NBA season is in full flow and with all it’s top superstars having picked up steam, electrifying moments that leave the ever-loyal fans screaming for more have not gone begging. Circus shots, rainbow shots, ankle-breakers and filthy dunks are part of the reason this incredible league has such a large and passionate worldwide following. With the influx of talent with each new season and the continuous evolution of the incumbent, not just every season, but every night is packed with spectacular plays that render witnesses incoherent.Here are our picks from all the games from the 19th of November 2015(18th in the USA)

#1 James Harden\'s 45 points, Corey Brewer\'s rainbow three

The exit of Hall of Famer Kevin Mchale and the entrance of JB Bickerstaff proved talismanic for the floundering Rockets, who broke the spell to notch up their first win after four straight losses.

Big man Dwight Howard collected 19 boards but the star of the night, not surprisingly, was “The Beard”, James Harden, who had 45 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists. Numbers aside, props must be laid down before Corey Brewer, without whose nonchalant, rainbow three-pointer the game wouldn’t have been forced into overtime and the Rockets wouldn’t have been able to break their streak.

Here’s a video of the game’s highlights. The game-changing moment comes a little after the 7^th minute:

#2 Russell Westbrook\'s 43 points in the absence of KD

Westbrook stole the show once more, almost chalking up another triple double

Russell Westbrook is one of the quintessential clutch players in the NBA. Last season’s memory of his sole steering of the Thunder in Kevin Durant’s absence is still fresh in fan’s minds. The 2014-15 All-Star Game MVP put on another marvelous performance in his partner-in-crime, Kevin Durant’s absence.

Durant is on the bench with a hamstring strain and is expected to miss at least another game. Westbrook’s probably thinking, “Well, more points for me!”. This video of the game’s highlights exhibits why Westbrook is one of the best players in the league.

He just fell short of a triple-double with 43 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Watch out for the steal and thunderous dunk that followed:

#3 Paul George\'s 34 points, Okafor\'s slick fake and hook

If the NBA had a “bad nicknames” contest, we would monikerize him “the baby-faced assassin”. PG-13 doesn’t bring as much pageantry into his gameplay, but he is one of the most effective and efficient players on the hardwood.

Las night, he notched up 34 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in a winning effort against the 76ers. The latter had a flash-in-the-pan, when ROTY frontrunner Jahlil Okafor faked a spin and followed up with a slick hook.

#4 Jimmy Butler\'s 32 points in D-Rose\'s absence

Jimmy Butler seized the opportunity and shone in Rose’s absence

Jimmy Butler isn’t the first player in the Chicago Bull’s history whose talents have been eclipsed by another‘s. But the 2014-15 Most Improved Player rose up to and above the occasion in Derrick Rose’s absence. The latter is on the sidelines with an ankle sprain, but the Bulls didn‘t slow down one bit as they were powered by Butler’s 32 points, 6 rebounds and 2 assists in a 103-97 win over the Phoenix Suns.

#5 Kawhi Leonard

Leonard has made himself indispensable to the Spurs

Kawhi Leonard’s star is on the rise and being in one of the most cohesively effective teams played no small part in it. The 2013-14 Finals MVP’s numbers may not rival the others on this list, but that’s the essence of the Spurs – they embody teamwork like no other unit can.

He may not have been the night’s top scorer for the Spurs(that was Tony Parker), but the 2014-15 Defensive Player of the Year was instrumental in the team’s win. Watch out for his alley off Duncan’s rainbow pass:

Edited by Staff Editor