Former Cyclones combine for 66 points in Monday’s NBA action

Aug 10, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Matt Thomas #21 of the Toronto Raptors goes up for a shot against Eric Bledsoe #6 of the Milwaukee Bucks during the third quarter at The Field House at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 10, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

If there has ever been a better day for former Cyclones in the NBA than yesterday, it is not in recent memory.

Five Iowa Staters combined to scored 66 points across four different games as the league began the final week of its bubble restart regular season prior to the start of the playoffs next week.

The leading former Cyclone scorer was Matt Thomas, who poured in 22 points on 9-of-17 shooting from the floor and 4-of-8 shooting from 3-point range, as the No. 2 in the East Toronto Raptors beat the East’s top-seeded Milwaukee 114-106.

Abdel Nader scored 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and snagged two steals while getting the start in the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 128-101 loss to the red-hot Phoenix Suns, who are still vying for the eight-spot in the Western Conference. Additionally for the Thunder, Deonte Burton added two points and three rebounds off the bench.

Monte Morris’ Denver Nuggets came up just short against the Los Angeles Lakers, losing 124-121, but Morris scored 14 points on 5-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-4 from deep, and dished out four assists with only one turnover in 23 minutes off the bench.

Rounding out the Cyclone scorers was the Cyclones’ second-leading scorer in program history, Georges Niang, who went 4-of-4 from 3-point range and scored 13 points in the Utah Jazz’s 120-114 loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

Thomas, Nader, Burton and Morris’ squads will all be back in action on Wednesday while Niang will return to the court on

Jared Stansbury

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Jared a native of Clarinda, Iowa, started as the Cyclone Fanatic intern in August 2013, primarily working as a videographer until starting on the women’s basketball beat prior to the 2014-15 season. Upon earning his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Iowa State in May 2016, Jared was hired as the site’s full-time staff writer, taking over as the primary day-to-day reporter on football and men’s basketball. He was elevated to the position of managing editor in January 2020. He is a regular contributor on 1460 KXNO in Des Moines and makes regular guest appearances on radio stations across the Midwest. Jared resides in Ankeny with his four-year-old puggle, Lolo.

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