A play-off atmosphere seized Cleveland and its Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse, in turmoil on Monday evening, when its Cavaliers managed, after a final ride, to take the best of Brooklyn (114-107), after a mano a exciting mano.
A prestigious victory – the fifth in a row for the Cavs – which establishes their status as outsiders in the Eastern Conference this season (4th, 27 wins – 18 losses), just behind the trio Chicago (27-14), Miami and the Nets (27-16). And to celebrate Kyrie Irving’s return to countries where he won the NBA title in 2016 with LeBron James, what could be better than a victory, and a performance of choice for the one who now occupies his playing position with the Cavaliers ?
Already named player of the past week in the NBA, Darius Garland (1.85 m, 21 years old), one of the revelations of the season (19.7 points, 7.8 assists), justified his new status by taking the initiative, wisely, in money-time, author of 8 of his 22 points in the last period, including 6 at the turn of the match. Brooklyn in command (97-93), the Cavs went 8-0 and never fell behind.
In the prolonged absence of their leader Kevin Durant (four to six weeks, injured in the knee), the Nets rested on Kyrie Irving (27 points, 12/23 shooting, 9 assists for his fourth game only this season), defended very well by Isaac Okoro (15 points), and James Harden (22 points, 5/12, 7 rebounds, 10 assists, 10/15 in free throws), whose technical mastery and art of causing faults allowed his own to pick up the score (105-105).
But a few stumbles – two lay-ups missed by LaMarcus Aldridge on his own – and a ball lost by Harden under pressure sealed the fate of a meeting where six Cleveland players exceeded 10 points (14 for Jarrett Allen, Kevin Love and Lauri Markkanen, 12 for Evan Mobley).
Morant and Bane tame the Bulls
Another supposed summit of Martin Luther King Day, the opposition between Memphis and Chicago has petered out. The Bulls, diminished (without Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso) and awkward (2/13 for Nikola Vucevic), unscrewed on the floor of Memphis (106-119). They retain, despite a fourth defeat in a row, the head of the East, with a breath.
At halftime (58-45 for the Grizzlies), the suspense was already stale. The locals, astonishing 4th in the West (30-15), far ahead of Dallas (24-19), winners of twelve of their last thirteen matches, had released their claws, carried by their tandem Ja Morant – Desmond Bane (25 points each, 19/34 cumulative shooting). They counted up to 23 lengths in advance and were never worried. Memphis will cross swords in forty-eight hours with NBA champion Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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