Stephen Curry is on track to clinch his third MVP title. The Warriors scorer enjoyed the Magic (31 pts, 8 assists), with a 7/12 at long distance – including one at the buzzer from the center line – now bringing him closer to 15 units from the historical record for three shots. successful points held by Ray Allen (2.973), which could be cleared by the weekend.
Without batting an eyelid therefore, with Andrew Wiggins even more skilful than Curry in this exercise (8/10, 28 pts), the Warriors have reached the milestone of 20 wins (4 losses), just like the Suns.
Phoenix, deprived of Devin Booker (hamstring), struggled. He relied on Chris Paul to overcome Spurs. The veteran leader scored 10 of his 21 points (10 assists) in the last quarter and managed a crucial counter 1:25 from the term on Dejounte Murray (17 pts, 14 assists).
In the East, the Bulls consolidated their second position by beating (109-97) the Nuggets (8th in the West) still inconstant, except Nikola Jokic in triple-double mode (17 pts, 15 assists, 12 rebs).
Even without DeMar DeRozan (Covid-19 protocol), Chicago has the means to beat the best. Monday, the trio Zach LaVine (32 pts, 8 assists), Lonzo Ball and Nikola Vucevic, 20 points and 10 rebounds was sovereign. With this 4th success in a row, the Illinois franchise is right behind Brooklyn and ahead of Milwaukee, who is the defender of Cleveland (112-104). The defending champions were able to count on Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek got it right on his 27th birthday, with 27 points in 27 minutes (12 rebs), supported by his two lieutenants, Khris Middleton (21 pts, 8 assists) and Jrue Holiday (20 pts, 8 assists) .
In 4th place remains Miami, despite its loss (90-105) at home against Memphis, which consolidates its 4th place in the West in front of the Clippers winners in Portland (90-102). The Grizzlies, unaffected by the absence for five games (all won) of Ja Morant (knee), shone collectively, with five holders between 14 and 21 units each. Blow all the harder for the Heat, Jimmy Butler (10 pts) barely recovered from a contusion to the coccyx, his injury worsened after a heavy fall.
In Indiana, Bradley Beal, less bleeding offensively this season, woke up (34 pts at 12/19), but, slightly hit in a shoulder, he could not prevent Washington’s third consecutive defeat (116-110) against the Pacers (13th) guided by the Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (30 pts, 10 rebs, 6 assists).
The Wizards remain 5th, because Charlotte (8th) gave in (124-127) on his floor against Philadelphia, carried by a huge Joel Embiid (43 pts, at 15/20, 15 rebs, 7 assists), who delivered a tasty duel with Kelly Oubre Jr (35 pts). The Cameroonian scored six of the Sixers’ eight points (7th) in extra time, before giving the assist to Tobias Harris (21 pts, 11 rebs).
At the 10th place points Atlanta winner in Minnesota (110-121). Trae Young (29 pts, 11 assists, 7 rebs) showed the way and the Frenchman Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot, still titular and excellent (23 pts, 7/14 behind the arc), followed her just like the revenant Italian Danilo Gallinari (20 pts at 7/10 shooting) and the Swiss Clint Capela (16 rebounds including 5 offensive, 4 assists).
