Beat Golden State despite Stephen Curry’s 30 points, Miami consolidates its leadership in the East, Dallas does well even without Doncic
The 56 points and 10 rebounds of LeBron James make the Lakers return to success after four consecutive defeats: Stephen Curry’s 30 points are useless for Golden State. Miami beats Philadelphia and it is increasingly earlier in the East. Memphis stretches out Orlando and instead rises to second place in the West, while Dallas manages to pass in a sprint against Sacramento even in the absence of Luka Doncic. Charlotte fold Saint Anthony. Minnesota beats Portland.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS-GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS 124-116
The Los Angeles Lakers put an end to the streak of four consecutive knockouts by clinging to a super LeBron James, who plays his best game in terms of scoring in the yellow-purple jersey: against Golden State they arrive 56 points with 19/31 shooting, 6/11 from ‘ arc, 10 rebounds, three assists and +13 plus / minus. A performance like a King that drags all the others: 20 points from Westbrook, 12 with 4 triples for Malik Monk, 14 with 5/8 shooting for Carmelo Anthony during the race in progress. At over 37, LeBron becomes fourth all-time with a 50+ match alongside Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Jamal Crawford. Instead, he continues the bad moment of the Warriors. Stephen Curry scores 30 points with 13/22 shooting and 4/9 from the arc, but fails to give his teammates the right shock.
MIAMI HEAT-PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 99-82
Philadelphia rested James Harden and badly lost the top clash in Miami by never making a basket in a match dominated by the Heat. In fact, the back-to-back advised to rest Barba’s knee. Miami immediately begins to attack the Sixers, keeping the score low (22-14 at 12 ‘), with Butler and Herro (21 points each) hurting. Only in the third period Embiid, author of 22 points and 15 rebounds but with 4/15 from the field (despite a perfect 14/14 with the clock stopped), and Maxey manage to approach the Heat (58-53) and then even better with the zone 2-3 (70-68). Herro and Gabe Vincent (16 points with 6/8 shooting), however, give depth to the advantage of the hosts, who consolidate the first position in the Eastern Conference.
MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES-ORLANDO MAGIC 124-96
It is all extremely easy for Memphis who overwhelms Orlando, literally walking on the Magic and closing a match in the middle of the game never in the slightest discussion. The Grizzlies, in fact, dominate thanks to the break of the second quarter which at the interval already gave 20 points of advantage. Ja Morant scores 25 points, Desmond Bane adds 24 with 10/15 from the field and Memphis wins the ninth race of the last 12: the hosts continue their climb in the standings and thus climb to second place in the West, bypassing the Warriors and approaching the arithmetic qualification for the playoffs. The Magic continue to lose: 19 points with 16 shots for Cole Anthony and little else. Second defeat in the last three games for the last team in the East.
DALLAS MAVERICKS-SACRAMENTO KINGS 114-113
Dorian Finney-Smith allows Dallas to recover 19 points from Sacramento thanks to the triple scored from the right corner with 3.3 seconds remaining. Despite the absence of the injured Luka Doncic, stopped by a problem in his left big toe, the Mavericks thus win the sixth game of the last seven games. Spencer Dinwiddie, first as a starter with the Texan jersey, scores 36 points (maximum this season) with 7 assists and 11/22 shooting, in addition to Jalen Brunson’s 23 and 17 with five triples for Finney-Smith. The Kings’ best scorer is De’Aaron Fox with his 44 points on the scoresheet, 18/31 shooting, three triples and six assists, with Domantas Sabonis giving him a hand under the basket with 15 points, 10 rebounds and six assists.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS-SAN ANTONIO SPURS 123-117
Charlotte overtakes San Antonio led by the baskets of a 24-point LaMelo Ball, with the Hornets showing great coldness with the clock stopped, sending the last 19 team free shots out of 20 attempted. The best among the hosts is Terry Rozier, author of 31 points with 6/8 from the arc, 5 rebounds and 6 assists, while Gordon Hayward remains out once again, struggling with a problem in his left ankle. Charlotte thus wins the third race of the last five disputed, thus partially relaunching the race for the playoffs. Little hope of play-in instead for the Spurs: the 33 points (new career high) of Keldon Johnson, who closes with 14/24 from the field, are useless, while there are 25 points with 10 assists and nine rebounds for Dejounte Murray.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 135-121
Minnesota finds another success that brings the Timberwolves closer to just two games away from sixth place in Denver. The protagonist is Karl-Anthony Towns, who closes with 36 points, 13/17 shooting. The Minnesota All-Star also adds 15 rebounds and five assists with 10/1 to free throws, while a D’Angelo Russell with 14 points and 15 winning passes takes care of his hand. On the other hand, Malik Beasley’s points are 16 in two quarters and a half, before being sent off. Portland clings to an Anfernee Simons who finds his aim from long range, shoots 9/17 from the arc and closes with 38 points on the scoresheet, in addition to 13 Drew Eubanks and little else.
