Published on : 19/01/2022 – 07:46Modified : 19/01/2022 – 07:44
Los Angeles (AFP) – Golden State, guided by its “Splash Brothers” Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, in success, won without forcing (102-86) against Detroit, while Minnesota succeeded in forceps and finish (112-110) at New York, Tuesday in the NBA.
For his 5th game after two and a half years of absence due to two serious injuries (ruptures of the anterior cruciate ligament of the left knee then of the right Achilles tendon), Thompson scored 21 points (3 assists, 3 rebounds), his best total for the season.
Taking advantage of the extra attention that Warriors opponents now have to pay to his teammate, Curry gains freedom on the floor. What he took advantage of without forcing with 18 points (8 assists) in the bag, without playing the last quarter.
Relying on 31 points accumulated by their duo after the first two quarters, the Warriors led 66-38 at the break. Suffice to say that the match was folded, even if the relaxation of the Californians, in economy mode in the second act, prevented Detroit from leaving with a spanking.
In the absence of Draymond Green, in difficulty with a calf, Andrew Wiggins perfectly played his role as third man (19 pts) for Golden State, which consolidates its 2nd place in the West, behind Phoenix.
On the Pistons side, the replacement Rodney McGruder stood out (29 pts), unlike the N.1 of the last draft, the rookie Cade Cunningham (8 pts), and the Frenchman Killian Hayes, who gave a clean sheet in nine minutes on the floor.
Decisive Towns
In New York, the Timberwolves had the last word at the expense of the Knicks, thanks in particular to Karl-Anthony Towns (20 pts), who restored the advantage to his team 29.3 seconds from the end on a basket plus the fault (111- 109).
It was the 14th and last time in this close match that we changed leaders, since NY failed to win on a last attempt behind the arc missed by Alec Burks, just after Evan Fournier was countered on penetration.
Too bad for the French, who was sparkling during the first three quarters, during which he scored 26 of his 27 points in total (4 assists, 4 rebounds), showing formidable skill (7/10 ).
In the money-time, it was Kemba Walker, back after missing nine games due to a left knee injury, who carried the Knicks with 10 points scored (19 in total).
But Minnesota had resources, with Anthony Edwards (21 pts) and D’Angelo Russell (17 pts), to snatch this sixth victory in eight games and climb to 7th place in the West, with a record identical to that of the Lakers. (8th), back to equilibrium (22-22).
For its part, New York remains 11th in the East (22-23).
© 2022 AFP
