There are eight games of the NBA night. The best Ja Morant of the season (41 points) leads the Memphis Grizzlies to victory over the Los Angeles Lakers by 104-99. Third consecutive success for the team of coach Taylor Jenkins, which is confirmed as the fourth force of the Western Conference. A comeback victory with a last quarter from 26-16, where the Grizzlies showed all their excellent defensive ability. For the Lakers another knockout, the fourth in the last five matches, despite a LeBron James with 37 points and 13 rebounds and yet another triple double of Russell Westbrook’s career (16 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds).
Instead, the first of the class in the West win. The Phoenix Suns are waiting for the last quarter (30-16 run) to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 115-97 and return to victory after two consecutive defeats. The star of the evening was a 38-point Devin Booker, while for OKC the best was Tj Jerome with 24 points.
Success also for the Utah Jazz, despite the absence of Donovan Mitchell for the second consecutive match. Rudy Gobert (22 points and 14 rebounds) and Rudy Gay (21 points) take care of the victory over Portland 120-105, despite the 32 points of Damian Lillard and Norman Powell.
Passando alla Eastern Conference the excellent season of the Chicago Bulls continues, on their fifth straight win after clearing the Atlanta Hawks 131-117. A match that was decided in the second quarter with a partial 36-17 in favor of Chicago. Zach LaVine scores 25 points, then there are double doubles from Nikola Vucevic (16 points and 20 rebounds) and Coby White (17 points and 10 assists). Atlanta still without Gallinari and a Trae Young with 26 points and 11 assists is not enough.
As for the Hawks, the negative moment also continues for the Boston Celitcs, who are on the third consecutive knockout, the seventh in the last ten matches. This time it is the Los Angeles Clippers who have been killed (in the last few days Paul George’s injury has also arrived) to win 91-82 thanks above all to the double double of Marcus Morris Sr. (23 points and 10 rebounds). In Boston, Jaylen Brown’s 30 points were not enough.
A 35-point Terry Rozier drags the Charlotte Hornets to his third consecutive success, this time beating the Indiana Pacers 116-108. Same positive streak also for the New York Knicks, who beat the Detroit Pistons 94-85 thanks above all to a 34-point Alec Burks.
We close with the success of the Sacramento Kings over the Dallas Mavericks for 95-94. To decide the match was a triple by Chimezie Metu right on the final siren.
2021-2022 NBA RESULTS (DECEMBER 30)
Detroit Pistons – New York Knicks 85-94
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Hornets 108-116
Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Clippers 82-91
Chicago Bulls – Atlanta Hawks 131-117
Memphis Grizzlies – Los Angeles Lakers 104-99
Phoenix Suns – Oklahoma City Thunder 115-97
Portland Trail Blazers – Utah Jazz 105-120
Sacramento Kings – Dallas Mavericks 95-94
Photo: LaPresse
