The LA Lakers, collectively impressive, and Dallas, still carried by the amazing Luka Doncic, garnered a fourth straight win on Wednesday in the NBA, where Kevin Durant also distinguished himself with Brooklyn while waiting to form a “Big 3” expected with James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
The Lakers are walking
And four wins in a row for the defending champion, who again made Oklahoma City (128-99) the demonstration of his current great collective strength around LeBron James, author of a complete game (26 points, 6 rebounds , 7 passes).
Anthony Davis (18 points, 7 rebounds) and Montrezl Harrell (21 points, 6 rebounds off the bench) also had an important contribution.
This seventh consecutive success out of its bases constitutes a record for the Californian franchise: it had never started a season with such a series. What to consolidate its domination in the West (10 victories – 3 losses).
Behind points the other franchise of Los Angeles, the Clippers, who have overcome New Orleans (111-106), thanks to their star duo Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. The first scored 28 points (9 assists, 6 rebounds), the second 27 (6 assists, 6 rebounds) and both were decisive late in the game with shots from behind the arc.
“KD”, who had shone the day before, being decisive late in the game to beat Denver (122-116), had less to work (26 points, 6 assists) for his first back-to-back since his return to competition after a year and a half of absence (rupture of an Achilles tendon).
At his side, Joe Harris and Bruce Brown, 15 points each, as well as the French Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (13 points) made up for the absences of Caris LeVert, Jarrett Allen and Taurean Prince, who left in the exchange with Harden.
For the Knicks, where only Julius Randle (30 points) has survived, the series of backhand lengthens (4).
The Mavs continue
This time, he did not manage the triple-double, but Luka Doncic, named best player of the past week in the West, confirmed his sparkling form during Dallas’ victory at Charlotte (104-93).
Luka Doncic is still the locomotive of the Dallas Mavericks. (JC Tilton / AFP)
The 21-year-old Slovenian prodigy has compiled 34 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists, adding 4 blocks, his personal best, which testify to a change of mind: he no longer just wants to shine offensively, he also wants better defend, aware of this need to make the Mavericks a competitive team.
The evening was all the more successful for the Texans as their Latvian pivot Kristaps Porzingis (16 points), who had surgery on his right knee in October, made a safe comeback. And that their coach Rick Carlisle took the opportunity to pass the 800 victory mark.
Charlotte Hornets side (7th in the East), more than the good series of four victories stopped, it is the exit on injury of Gordon Hayward (16 points), touched in the left hip, which worried afterwards.
Like Dallas, Portland won its fourth straight victory at the expense of Sacramento (132-126), thanks in particular to the 40 points (and 13 rebounds) of its star Damian Lillard.
The Bucks are walking around
The matches follow one another and are similar between the Bucks and the Pistons: for the third time, Milwaukee won (110-101) without being worried, Giannis Antetokounmpo taking the opportunity to achieve the 20th triple-double of his career (22 points , 10 rebounds, 10 assists).
The two-time reigning MVP was not alone, with Jrue Holiday adding 21 points for the Bucks who started strong by scoring seven long-distance baskets in their first 11 attempts to finish with a very decent total (19/43).
Thanks to this third consecutive victory, the franchise of Wisconsin joined Philadelphia in second place in the East, while Detroit remains the red lantern.
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