Nicolas Batum vs. Corey Brewer
Tonight’s matchup features two players who aren’t among the league leaders in scoring. In fact, both players rank fourth in points per game on their own teams. But scoring isn’t the only thing that Nicolas Batum and Corey Brewer provide to their respective squads. Portland’s small forward is now in his sixth NBA season, all with the Trail Blazers. And while his 12.7 points per game place him behind teammates LaMarcus Aldridge, Damian Lillard and Wesley Matthews, he’s among Portland top three players in all of your other major statistical categories: rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots. The assist tally particularly stands out, considering it places the 6-8 Batum just inside the league’s top 20 in a category mostly reserved for guards. Batum and the Trail Blazers know all about what Brewer brings to the basketball floor. When the teams met barely two weeks ago, Feb. 8 in Minnesota, the Timberwolves’ 6-9 small forward led his team with 26 points as Portland came away with the road win, 117-110. It was one of several strong shooting games of late for Brewer, who has shot 52.3 percent from the field in his past 25 games. And like Batum, shooting and scoring only tell part of the story. Brewer currently ranks 14th in the league in steals per game (1.65) and seventh in steals per turnover (1.16).
Nicolas Batum
• Averaging career highs in rebounds (6.4) and assists (5.3) this season
• His five games with 10-plus assists are second most in the NBA this year among non-guards (6, LeBron James)
• Ranks among Portland’s top three players in rebounds (6.4, 3rd), assists (5.3, 2nd), steals (0.96, 1st) and blocks (0.64, 3rd)
Corey Brewer
• Ranks 14th in the NBA in steals (1.65) and seventh in steal-per-turnover ratio (1.16) this year
• Shooting 52.3 percent from the field over his last 25 games
• Led the Timberwolves with 26 points in their loss to the Trail Blazers earlier this month, Feb. 8 in Minnesota