NBA – Memphis drops Stephen Curry’s Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks quits Chicago Bulls

The match: First loss for Chicago, beaten by New York

First test for Chicago and first loss. After four consecutive wins, the Bulls were finally beaten by the Knicks Thursday night (103-104). A shock at the top between two ambitious and armed teams in the East. Kemba Walker (21 points) and his teammates therefore had the last word by tightening the screw in defense after returning from the locker room. Their defense allowed them to take a ten-point lead and move towards victory. But Tom Thibodeau’s players got scared. They conceded a 12-0 in the very last minutes, wasting an 11-point lead. The score fell from 91-104 to 103-104 under the leadership of Zach LaVine (25 points). But the Bulls were unable to conclude.

DeMar DeRozan had a chance to win his own on the final possession of the evening. Failed. The Illinois franchise is therefore not far from the decisive comeback. The Knicks were the first to gain the upper hand early in the game (16-6) before suffering the return of Nikola Vucevic (22 points) and company. To finally lead only two points at the break (53-55 for New York). RJ Barrett (20 points) and his teammates were never joined afterwards. The two teams now have the same record with 4 wins in 5 matches.

The player: Ja Morant and the Grizzlies overthrow the Warriors

Silence it grows. And it’s growing very, very fast on the Memphis side. Ja Morant, second choice of the 2019 draft, is already a superstar in this league and he demonstrated it again Thursday night by leading the Grizzlies to a very good victory on the floor of the Warriors (104-101). After extension. With 30 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists from the young man, great architect of the fantastic rise of visitors. They were up to 19 points behind after a supersonic start to the game of the Warriors and Stephen Curry. But Morant’s 18 points in the third quarter allowed the Grizzlies to pick up and finally pass in the last minutes (93-90).

Curry, author of 36 points, has remained silent in these hot times. He hasn’t scored once in the fourth quarter. And this for the third game in a row! But even with a cold MVP, the Warriors were able to snatch overtime thanks to Damion Lee, excellent off the bench (14 points). But insufficient. Because Morant regained control in overtime. A new performance of boss for a player who goes up… and involves all his frankness in his rise.

The performance: Joel Embiid dominates on one leg

Hit in the knee, Joel Embiid feels compelled to play to compensate for the absence of Ben Simmons. Because the Sixers need their All-Star hub. He demonstrated it again against the Pistons by posting 30 points and 18 rebounds to lead his team to victory (110-102). His three-point basket in the last minute put an end to the hopes of the Detroit players, who returned to the wire after being 22 points behind. Hoping for Embiid and for Philadelphia that his body holds up.

Statistics: 67

Like the number of points accumulated last night by former Lakers players who landed at the Wizards in connection with the transfer from Russell Westbrook to Los Angeles. 25 (with 13 rebounds and 5 assists) for Montrezl Harrell and 21 each for Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Kyle Kuzma. Very interesting support for Bradley Beal, author of 27 points in a great victory for Washington against Atlanta (122-111). The Wizards have won 4 of their first 5 games. A team to follow in the East.

Image: Joakim Noah honored by the Bulls

Special night in Chicago. The Bulls paid tribute to their new ambassador, the French Joakim Noah, recently retired. The former All-Star was the driving force and the heart of the franchise for between 2007 and 2016. Before joining the Knicks precisely. But he has never been forgotten in Illinois, where he is still worshiped. The bulls supporters celebrated it throughout the game, including videos as tributes.

The French: Killian Hayes more involved in attack

Do the Pistons finally trust Killian Hayes? The young French leader plays a little more balls in attack, with a direct influence on his statistics: 11 shots attempted Thursday evening. For 4 baskets and 9 points in addition to his 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. It’s good that he can show himself on this side of the field. Even though the Pistons have lost again. Rudy Gobert continued his momentum by accumulating 16 points and 14 rebounds during the fourth consecutive success of the Jazz.

Victory also for Evan Fournier with the Knicks, even if the French rear was clumsy (10 points to 4 out of 14). Frank Ntilikina played 14 minutes for the Mavericks – Spurs winners – to finish with 6 points and 4 rebounds.

The results of the night

Sixers – Pistons : 110-102
Wizards – Hawks : 122-111
Bulls – Knicks : 103-104
Rockets – Jazz : 91-122
Mavericks – Spurs : 104-99
Warriors – Grizzlies : 101-104