National team stars enjoy huge nights in NBA

SALT LAKE CITY (FIBA Basketball World Cup/NBA) - There was one jaw-dropping display after another on Wednesday night in the NBA by national team players from all over the world.

From James Harden of the United States hitting a career-high 51 points to several emerging stars on the international stage having huge games, there were plenty of performances to savor.

Harden, a 2012 Olympic champion with the Americans and one of their best players at the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, has made big scoring performances the norm this season.

Last night was arguably his best.

The 25-year-old, a leading candidate in the Most Valuable Player race in the NBA, has a league-best 33 30-point games and nine 40-point games.

Harden says that every game out, no matter which of his teammates are on the floor, he has the same approach.

"If the attack is there, then I take it," he said.

"If not, I find the assist, find one of my teammates open and I'll pass the ball.

"Similar to every single game I play in."

One of his World Cup teammates, DeMarcus Cousins, grew to appreciate Harden's brilliance last summer.

He was on the opposing team on Thursday night.

James is a tough guy to guard, period. Everybody knows that - Cousins

Though Cousins was on the losing side, he had a triple-double for the Sacramento Kings against Harden's Houston Rockets.

One of the USA's top players at Spain 2014, Cousins finished with 24 points, 21 rebounds and 10 assists.

Making the performance even better was his play on the defensive end.

The 24-year-old blocked six shots and also came up with three steals.

Cousins wasn't the only standout center at FIBA's flagship event last summer.

Rudy Gobert of France also came up with some big plays to help Les Bleus reach the podium.

He has been moving from strength to strength ever since with the Utah Jazz.

In a 98-84 triumph over the Denver Nuggets, the 22-year-old scored 20 points, corralled 12 boards and swatted a couple of shots.

He has been thriving in Utah since moving into the starting line-up following the team's trade of Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Gobert grabbed at least 19 rebounds on four occasions last month.

The 2.15m pivot is helping the Jazz build a winning mentality.

Two of Utah's other Australia internationals who also featured at the World Cup, NBA rookies Dante Exum and Joe Ingles, also had fine performances.

Exum, who at 19 is just scratching the surface of his potential, dished out a career-high 12 assists.

His play this season bodes well for the Boomers, who are shaping up to have one of top backcourts in international basketball.

Australia coach Andrej Lemanis has not only Exum to throw at opponents but also Pat Mills of the San Antonio Spurs and Matthew Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

All three are sure to play big minutes this year at the FIBA Oceania Championship, when the team takes on New Zealand and attempts to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.

As for Ingles, the 27-year-old drilled four three-pointers in five attempts against Denver on Wednesday.

The 2.03m swingman, who this time last year was playing for Maccabi Tel Aviv and on the way to a Turkish Airlines Euroleague title, has become a fan favorite in Utah.

Ingles is one of Australia's most important players but he recently revealed that he would rest this summer instead of joining up with the Boomers and taking on the Tall Blacks.

Lemanis thinks the decision will not prevent the Australians from reaching the Rio de Janeiro Games.

"As an entire team," Lemanis said, "we believe that Joe taking this time off from on court duties with the national team will best position us for the success we seek at the Olympics."

Kanter, meanwhile, seems to have benefitted from the trade that sent him to the Thunder.

The Turkish center had a career-high 30 points and 16 rebounds for Oklahoma City on Wednesday in their 135-131 defeat to the Dallas Mavericks.

While Kanter has not played for his national team since making his senior debut at EuroBasket 2011, there may be a sense of urgency to reincorporate him into this summer's squad for the EuroBasket, where Turkey will attempt to qualify for the Olympics for the first time.

FIBA