Go to gamenatin.com/24208 for PBA and Crispa oldtimer Tito Varela’s account of the legend of super import Billy Ray Bates. #billyraybates #titovarela #classicpba #pba50 #pbasolid #PBA50LID #pbaat50 #philippinebasketball #philippinesbasketball

Playing in his sixth game since a trade brought him to #Portland from the #NewJerseyNets for #MauriceLucas, Natt scored a career-high 39 points. He connected on 11-of-16 FGA and set a team record with 22 FTA. Natt made 16 of his FTA, the same number the #Pistons attempted as a team. In addition, Natt made the only 3-PT FG in the game for either team.

Playing in his 53rd game, Paxson scored 18 points off the bench, hitting 7-of-11 FGA and passed for a game-high, and at the time, a career-best 7 assists. Playing in his 59th game, Jeelani also came off the bench to score 17 points before leaving in the fourth quarter due to a bruised knee.

Making his Blazers, and @NBA , debut, Bates played 3 minutes. He made 1-of-2 FGA and grabbed 2 rebounds. There was speculation by an @Oregonian sports columnist whether Bates would be able to fit into, and contribute, to #JackRamsay's system this late in the season.

February 23 1980 - @trailblazers.bsky.social rookies #CalvinNatt, #AbdulJeelani, and #JimPaxson took over to guide the #Blazers past the #DetroitPistons. Even #BillyRayBates made his debut in the win.

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December 30, 1980 - #BillyRayBates connects on the game winner as time expires, giving the @trailblazers.bsky.social the win vs the @sixersnba.bsky.social

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www.youtube.com/watch?v=8meM...