The Fact: Nothing Stops Utah Jazz
Rudy Gobert’s Utah Jazz continues to impress in this first half of the season. Friday night, the Jazz, which was however playing its second game in 24 hours, crushed the Charlotte Hornets in North Carolina (138-121).
Bojan Bogdanovic (31 points) and Donovan Mitchell (30) led the charge for the Salt Lake City franchise, which set their new all-time record with 26 three-point baskets. 26 was also the maximum difference in this game.
Rudy Gobert made a double-double (12 points, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks) while in the Hornets, LaMelo Ball was to his advantage with 34 points. Utah now has 14 wins in 15 games and will try to finish its three-game road trip in the East undefeated on Sunday at the Indiana Pacers.
The player: Vucevic carries Orlando against Chicago
The Orlando Magic ended their four-game losing streak with a narrow victory over the Chicago Bulls. The Floridians can thank their pivot Nikola Vucevic who set a new career points record with 43 (at 17 of 29 shooting) and the best performance of his season on the rebound: 19 catches. Four assists and a block were added to these huge numbers.
Good contribution from his French teammate Evan Fournier with 20 points, three rebounds and four assists.
The other Frenchies: Maledon (OKC) deprived of a match
Bad surprise for Oklahoma City and its French rookie, Théo Maledon, who was unable to take part in the Thunder’s defeat against the Minnesota Timberwolves (106-103). The former Asvel player has been integrated into the league’s “health protocol”. The latter, and she alone, will decide the date of his return. His team had only eight players to line up on Friday, the limit below which a match is postponed.
The only other Frenchman in action, Sekou Doumbouya scored two points (2 of 4 shooting), took three rebounds and made an interception in eighteen minutes with Detroit, beaten in Phoenix (109-92).
Wins for Milwaukee, Miami and New Orleans
Milwaukee started their six-game road trip sluggishly but victoriously with the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Bucks win 123-105 with 33 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Miami Heat offered themselves a little breath of fresh air with their large victory against the Washington Wizards (122-95), in difficulty with the lack of skill of their star Bradley Beal (1 of 14 shooting).
Finally, the New Orleans Pelicans resisted the return of the Indiana Pacers (114-113) thanks to a decisive Lonzo Ball at the end of the game (4 baskets awarded in the last quarter).
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