Christian Wood, Beal: The 5 outstanding performances of the night

Christian Wood (Houston Rockets)

It is sometimes a little difficult to understand how Houston went from being the worst NBA team to one that is pitched on the longest winning streak in the championship. 15 defeats in a row followed by 6 consecutive wins. The day and the night. Or rather the night then the day. But among the many explanatory factors, it is impossible to rule out the rise of Christian Wood.

Finally, its comeback. A star-in-the-making after her reveal to the Rockets, the Interior started the season shy. But here he is again striking in attack. Another 23 points on Sunday night. It turns 19 pawns and 11 rebounds over the 6 matches won by the Texas franchise. With excellent percentages: 51% on shots and 56% on three-pointers.

23 apiece for Eric Gordon & Christian Wood power the @HoustonRockets to their 6th win in a row!

@TheofficialEG10 x @ Chriswood_5 pic.twitter.com/9Rb5eyJUJ4

– NBA (@NBA) December 6, 2021

For the little comparison, Wood had 14.4 points at 42% on shots and 27% on three-pointers in the Rockets’ 15 straight losses between October and November. The evolution is real.

Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards)

The Wizards are having a good season. They dropped to fifth place after their loss to the Raptors last night but the federal capital franchise had been squatting the podium for a while. And yet, paradoxically, their best player is a bit off the mark. Bradley Beal struggles to find his rhythm.

His 14 points at 4 of 12 on shots were obviously not enough to overcome Toronto. The problem is that it is not a priori just a night without. The All-Star full-back is significantly less prolific than last year, when he was capped at the post by Stephen Curry in the NBA top scorers list.

From 31.3 points to 21.9 points. It can also be explained by the emergence and arrival of other players capable of scoring alongside him. The Spencer Dinwiddie, Kyle Kuzma, Montrezl Harrell, etc. He also makes more passes than last year (6 this season). But Beal is also down on shots with a success that eludes him (42% and 26% behind the arc). Too bad, the Wizards could take on yet another dimension if he started to put in it.

Miles Bridges (Charlotte Hornets)

The Hornets are one of the teams most affected by COVID-19 in this renewed epidemic. Four players in quarantine, including LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier. A big blow for the North Carolina franchise, which is looking to hang on to the top of the table in the East. Fortunately, she can count on Miles Bridges.

The Hornets, a new team decimated by COVID-19

The 23-year-old winger is having a really good season. And without his leader, he was the one who took matters into his own hands against Atlanta last night. 32 points, 11 of 15 on shots, 4 of 6 behind the arc. 4 baskets awarded in the money time for 13 points. A boss’s performance to lead Charlotte to victory and sixth place in the Conference.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lylziT_WEDU

A match in line with the first weeks of competition. He is now running more than 20 points and 7 rebounds on average.

Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (Atlanta Hawks)

The absence of Bogdan Bogdanovic (and Cameron Reddish) is good for the French. He can finally put himself in value under the uniform of the Hawks. Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot played 39 minutes last night. Time to register 12 points. Nothing fancy, of course, but maybe this is a sign that his coach is going to give him a little more playing time in the next matches.

And there, TLC will have to capitalize. Take the chance. Because by multiplying the good performances in the major five, he will perhaps gain minutes off the bench once the Atlanta executives return to the rotation. It’s a sad, dramatic and a bit exaggerated put it like that but it’s his career in the NBA that is played out a little bit every game night.

Darius Garland (Cleveland Cavaliers)

The new boss of the Cavaliers. Darius Garland’s explosion was foreseen even before the start of the season. And the young leader does not disappoint. Still 31 points for him last night, even if he missed the shot for the win. Nothing serious. The main thing is everything around. For example, he has just chained two meetings over 30 points for the first time in his career.

Garland understands the game better and better. And so he finds more easily solutions to go to score baskets or to serve his teammates. 19.7 points average, 47% on shots, 39% on three-pointers and 7.2 assists. Stats Quite simply, all-star worthy. Especially after the Cavaliers’ very good (surprising, it must be said) start to the season.