Disaster Lakers. Despite the returns of Lebron James and Anthony Davis, the yellow-violet (31-46) lose in front of their fans 111-114 against New Orleans and now seriously risk seeing access to the play-in fade. Pelicans (34-43) dragged by CJ McCollum’s 32 points and Brandon Ingram’s 29, without forgetting the double double of 17 points and 12 rebounds by Valanciunas. In double digits also Jones who makes 12. Returning to the Californians, James’s 38 points are not enough, but he failed the last triple of the possible draw, to avoid the fifth consecutive defeat.
Memphis ferma Phoenix
For the Lakers, the specter of a failed season is just around the corner. The tenth place in the West gets further and further away after the success of Saint Anthony (32-45) who overcomes Portland 130-111 (27-50), it will not be easy for the yellow-violet to overtake the Spurs. Meanwhile, in the West, the winning streak of Phoenix who loses after nine games. The Suns (62-15) surrender 122-114 in Memphis which, despite the absence of Morant, obtains the sixth success in a row. For the Grizzlies (55-23) the wild Brooks scores 30 points, for the guests the 41 of Booker are not enough. Nice external success of Minnesota (44-34) who passes 136-130 in Denver approaching the sixth place of the Nuggets (46-32), who are still very close to direct access to the playoffs.
Collapse of Milwaukee, ok Boston and Toronto
After the success at home of the Nets, Milwaukee (48-29) takes a “vacation” evening. Coach Budenholzer leaves the stars to rest and a disastrous game comes out at the Fiserv Forum where the LA Clippers (38-40) take advantage of it by winning 153-119. Of note are the career highs for Covington and Coffey, respectively 43 and 32 points. The Brown-Tatum couple (63 points in two) drag Boston (48-30) to the success 128-123 against Indiana (25-53), who remains in the game until the siren. Clear victory of Washington (34-43) dominating 135-103 against Dallas: excellent performance by Caldwell-Pope with 35 on the scoresheet, for the Mavericks (48-30) Doncic scores 36, but the defense is too ballerina. Continue the great moment of Toronto (45-32) who gets the fifth win in a row passing 102-89 to Orlando (20-58) in a match dominated from start to finish. External successes also for Detroit (22-56) who wins 110-101 at home in Oklahoma (22-55) with 26 points each by Hayes and Jackson and for Sacramento (29-49) who beat Houston 122-117 (20-58), always last in the Western Conference.
