[The Undefeated] Nene is the perfect complement to James Harden as Rockets push Thunder to brink

didn't see this posted . . . nice article

https://theundefeated.com/features/nene-james-harden-rockets-thunder/

Nene is the perfect complement to James Harden as Rockets push Thunder to brink: Veteran center shoots 12-for-12 from field to propel Houston to 3-1 series lead

By Marc J. Spears @MarcJSpearsESPN
April 24, 2017


James Harden sat outside the visiting locker room in street clothes after the Houston Rockets’ playoff win when the team’s media relations manager apologized for the delay. The NBA MVP candidate was patiently waiting on teammate Nene to get dressed so they could take part in the postgame news conference.

“Nene can take as long as he needs, the way he played,” Harden responded.

Nene scored 28 points on perfect 12-of-12 shooting from the field as the Rockets beat the host Oklahoma City Thunder 113-109 on Sunday to take a 3-1 lead in their first-round series.

The Brazilian also grabbed 10 rebounds, made four free throws and earned a 3-point play late in the Game 4 win. Nene’s perfect shooting on 12 attempts tied a playoff mark set by Kansas City/Omaha Kings forward Larry McNeill on April 13, 1975, against the Chicago Bulls. The Rockets can win the series Tuesday in Houston.

“I went 11-for-11 one time in Denver,” the 34-year-old Nene said. “I don’t keep track. I just try to do my best. I don’t think it’s the best game I’ve ever played, but it was a great game.”

The bruising and athletic big man is known simply as “Nene,” which means baby in Portuguese. His birth name is Maybyner Rodney Hilario. After a successful three-year stint playing in Brazil for Vasco da Gama and with the Brazilian national team, he was invited to the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago in 2002. The 6-foot-11, 250-pounder intrigued then-Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe when he worked out for the franchise in Denver before the draft.
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