Published on :
Los Angeles (AFP) – The Knicks, in which Evan Fournier finally in verve with his shoot showed the way, offered themselves a success of esteem (106-100) against the Lakers, admittedly deprived of LeBron James suspended, Tuesday in the NBA.
Skillful at long distance (6/9) and author of 26 points, the French back showed a different face than that of the last two weeks, during which he appeared well inside after a successful debut in the “Big Apple”.
At his side, Julius Randle was very active (20 pts, 16 rebounds, 5 assists) to allow New York (10-8) to move up to 6 place in the East, four rows behind Miami, which was able to erase nine points behind at the start of the 4th quarter to win in Detroit (100-92).
In the wake of their two best scorers, in the absence of Derrick Rose (ankle), the Knicks started with a bang to count up to 25 units ahead (54-29) in the middle of the second quarter. Before LA managed to catch up near the end of the third, when Carmelo Anthony (12 pts), the former local glory ovationed by Madison Square Garden, equalized on a dunk (79-79).
But in the final half, New York substitute Immanuel Quickley caught fire as he landed four straight shots from behind the arc in less than five minutes, 12 of his 14 total points, to make dreams vanish. hold-up of the Californians, worn by Russell Westbrook in triple-double mode (31 pts, 13 rebounds, 10 assists) looking like a leader.
Doncic is coming back, Dallas is going back
Because James was serving the game of suspension that was inflicted on him by the NBA, after his blow given Sunday to the face of the player of Detroit Isaiah Stewart. The latter, bloodied above the eye, then wanted to take revenge several times on the floor and was fined two matches for that.
Without their “King”, who had just recovered from an abdominal injury having pushed him off the field for eight games, the Lakers have shown fighting spirit to make their “comeback” a success, but they lacked a second wind, like Anthony Davis (20 pts) lessened, because subject to flu-like illness unrelated to Covid-19, assured his team, stuck in 9th place in the West.
Just in front of them are the Nuggets, heavily defeated in Portland (119-100), also lamenting the detrimental absence of their leader, MVP Nikola Jokic, hit on a wrist.
Under these conditions, the Blazers enjoyed themselves, like CJ McCollum (32 pts) and Damian Lillard (25 pts), authors of ten of the fifteen award-winning shots of their team, which confirms its new positive momentum in 6th place , with the same record (10-8) but just behind the Clippers, beaten at home by Dallas (112-104) after extra time.
Back after three missed matches due to a sprained ankle, Luka Doncic (26 pts, 9 assists, 9 rebounds) did good to the Mavs who had lost each time in his absence and come back to 4th position. Kristaps Porzingis was also present (30 pts), especially in the “overtime” with six pawns planted on the nine of his team.
On the Clippers side, the shoot behind the arc, equalizer with the buzzer, by Paul George (26 pts, 9 rebounds, 6 assists) will not have served any purpose.
© 2021 AFP
