Nba, Knicks- Clippers 115-129, Denver-Utah 128-117

New York Knicks-Los Angeles Clippers 115-129

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The Los Angeles Clippers (16-5) won 129-115 at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks (9-12) led by Kawhi Leonard in a splendid team performance at an offensive level. An extremely entertaining game, balanced in the various question and answer but dominated exclusively by the attacks. In short, those who expected a defensive show, considering the players on the court and the organizations of the two teams, were disappointed. The Clippers have expressed all their offensive potential and put to the test the very valid defense of the Knicks, one of the best in the whole NBA. The individualities available to coach Tyronn Lue have centralized and conditioned most of the possessions, favoring the 1 vs 1 over a more orchestrated conception of the attack. Clips can take just a few steps to find effective solutions, especially when the shooting percentages are so positive: 44/81 overall (54.3%), 17/38 from the bow (44.7%) and 24/28 from the line (85.7%) . Majestic Leonard with 28 points, 8/15 shooting and a very precious 11/11 for free. Paul George was less flashy and level of accomplishment but still incisive. A proven all-around player: 17 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists in 33 ‘. Great contribution from the supporting cast, with Reggie Jackson (18 points) in a state of grace. The entire starting quintet of the Clips went into double figures. New York played well overall in attack but was not as determined as usual in their own half. Also thanks to the talent of the opponents, difficult to contain. Julius Randle (27 points, 12 rebounds and 5 assists) has shown that he has reached an All Star maturity. Its impact on racing is always on a higher level. Very positive also the performances of the young RJ Barrett (23 points, 9/14), always positively controlled in the plays, and especially Immanuel Quickley, devastating with his floater running. A remarkable technical mastery for this boy, who deserves a place in the quintet. For him 25 points (9/16 shooting) in 27 ‘. The Knicks have lost but have shown that they can always compete at a good level against everyone.

THE MATCH

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First half well played by both teams, especially in the offensive half (both above 50% shooting). The Clippers 66-65 close ahead with a super Patrick Patterson from 13 points and 5/5 from the field. Los Angeles scores 35 points in the third period and stretches in double figures but New York remains in the wake, thanks to the rookie of wonders Quickley. Coach Thibodeau’s team arrives at -2 (105-103) at 7:44 from the siren but it is not enough to stop the superiority of the Clippers, sure to take off again by restoring a reassuring advantage.

New York: Randle 27 (9/18, 4/5 da tre, 5/6 tl), Quickley 25, Barrett 23. Rimbalzi: Randle 12. Assist: Randle 5.

The Angels: Leonard 28 (8/15, 1/3 from three, 11/11 tl), Jackson 18, George 17. Rebounds: George 8. Assist: George 5.

Denver Nuggets- Utah Jazz 128-117

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The Denver Nuggets (12-8) of a legendary Nikola Jokic beat the Utah Jazz (15-5) 128-117 at the Ball Arena and end their streak of 11 consecutive victories that began on January 9th in the away game against the Milwaukee Bucks. A race never in question, which saw the hosts dominate in every single aspect of the game since the first quarter, which ended with a devastating 43-29.

Perfect

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The Denver Nuggets’ performance was almost perfect, with the exception of the third period, which was a little too staid and less incisive. Jokic’s inspired hand painted the canvas freely and his companions followed that creative flow, moving aggressively without the ball and seeking each other without personalities. The defense, historically the Nuggets’ weak point, also lived up to the situation. Remarkable the energy lavished on the passing lines and in the individual markings. Utah was surprised by this determined and hungry attitude of Coach Malone’s men. A few numbers to underline the Denver test: 54% shooting (47/87), 64% from three (18/28), 28 team assists and 8 steals. Great performance by Facundo Campazzo, protagonist of 11 points and 5 assists in 19 minutes on the parquet.

The Joker

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The words to describe Nikola Jokic are now inexorably running out. Watching him play is like living a wonderful lucid dream. Against the Jazz there was no way to stop him, starting with the first quarter in which the Serbian center was able to score 22 of the team’s 43 points. The numbers of his game are an absolute champion: 47 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and 1 block in 37 ‘. Despite the extreme relevance of these individual statistics, confining Jokic’s class and impact to a cold scoreboard, however, paradoxically diminishes the overall scope. The Nuggets star this season is giving the whole basketball world something magnificent and unique, thanks to an impressive continuity. A performance from Mvp.

Utah

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The Jazz have failed to tame the Nuggets’ competitive fire and slow the momentum of their basketball. Limiting a team in total confidence, determined and fully in rhythm from the tap-off was almost impossible for the boys coached by coach Quin Snyder. Utah was mistreated in the painting, suffering the beauty of 48 points, and was literally overwhelmed by events without ever being able to react with conviction. Donovan Mitchell did not shine (13 points, 3/12 shooting and 5 turnovers), returned after two absences, and in general the whole attack of the Jazz with the exception of Bojan Bogdanovic, author of 29 points in 33 ‘ . The 7 double-digit players are, therefore, slightly misleading with respect to the progress of the race. After 11 consecutive victories, a predictable setback that does not in the least affect the extraordinary work done by Utah in this beginning of the season.

The match

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In Denver he succeeds in everything in the first half, attack and defense. An absolute domination for Coach Malone’s guys. The Nuggets score 43 in the first quarter (16/20 shooting and 8/8 from three) and 36 in the second. A spectacular Jokic already at 33 at half-time (13/17, 4/4 from the arc). Denver closes the first half of the game at 79-54. The Jazz proved to be a real team in the third quarter, won 37-24, and returned emotionally to the game (103-91). In the last 12 minutes, however, the hosts fully regain control of the operations and easily conclude the match.
Denver: Jokic 47 (17/26, 4/4 of three, 9/10 tl), Barton 18, Murray 16. Rebounds: Jokic 12. Assists: Barton 6.
Utah: Bogdanovic 29 (8/13, 5/10 from three, 8/10 tl), Mitchell 13, Clarkson 13. Bounces: Gobert 8. Assist: Conley 8.