Big nights for Metu, Oladipo, Achiuwa and Nwora end in losses

The 2022/2023 NBA regular wraps up this weekend with several teams still in contention for a playoff spot.

There were 13 games involving 26 of the 30 teams played in the early hours of Saturday, April 8, 2023.

Several members of Nigeria's senior men's national basketball team known as D'Tigers were in action for their respective sides.

Top players also of Nigerian descent were in good form as the NBA took advantage of squad rotations.

Nigerian-American professional basketball player Jordan Ifeanyi Nwora was in action for the Indiana Pacers as they suffered a 115-122 loss to the Detroit Pistons at home.

Nwora named in the starting line-up produced  13 points, six rebounds and three assists in 25 minutes of action.

He made six of his 13 shots, was one of four from three-point range, and was a plus 15 positive net rating.

Nwora returns to action when the Pacers take on the New York Knicks in their final game of the season.

After several games without game time, American professional basketball player of Nigerian descent Babatunde Victor Oladipo returned to action for the Miami Heat in a loss to the Washington Wizards.

Nigerian-American professional basketball player Gabriel Nnamdi Vincent retained his spot in the starting line and featured for 23 minutes.

Vincent put up six points, two rebounds, one steal, and eight assists. He made just three of his 10 shots and missed all five from three-point range.

Oladipo on the other hand was given a lifeline by Heat Head Coach Erik Spoelstra against the Wizards.

He contributed 30 points, one rebound, four assists, one block, and two steals in 26 minutes of action.

Oladipo made 11 of his 24 shots, including seven of 16 from three-point range but just one of four from the free throw line.

Vincent and Oladipo wrap up their season when the Heat takes on Orlando Magic in the Florida derby.

Nigerian professional basketball player Precious Ezinna Achiuwa was in action for the Toronto Raptors as they suffered a 121-102 loss to the Boston Celtics.

Achiuwa was part of the second unit rotation and featured for just 24 minutes against the Celtics.

He put up 16 points, seven rebounds, and one steal. Achiuwa made six of his 10 shots, including one on three from three-point range, and was a perfect three from the free throw line.

Achiuwa returns to action when the Raptors end the regular season at home against the number one-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.

Nigerian-American professional basketball player Chimezie Chukwudum Metu could not save the Sacramento Kings from a loss to the Golden State Warriors.

The Kings already clinched a playoff spot hence the rest for star players such as Domantas Sabonis and De'Aaron Fox.

Metu came off the bench and contributed 15 points and nine rebounds in 17 minutes of action.

He made five of his eight shots, did not attempt from three-point range, and struggled for five of nine from the free-throw line.

Speaking at the post-game conference, Metu stated that the Kings are not afraid of the defending NBA champions.

He said,  "We're not scared of them, we're not scared of anybody.

“We feel like when we’re at full health, we can go in there and beat them. That’s what we’re going to do.”

Metu returns to action when the Kings wrap up their regular season away against the Denver Nuggets.