Lakers increasingly in crisis despite LeBron James, Durant drags Brooklyn, Antetokounmpo still standing while the blue forfeits due to an ankle injury
Derby night in Nba. The New York derby ends up in the hands of the Brooklyn Nets that pass on the Knicks, that of Los Angeles sees the triumph of the Clippers against the Lakers yet another knockout despite LeBron. Missing the stars Antetokounmpo and Banker but still smile the Bucks in Oklahoma City and the Magic with Dallas, Utah conquers Atlanta and is always in command in the West. Ok also Boston, Denver, Phoenix and Portland, Chicago and Cleveland fall.
ORLANDO MAGIC-DALLAS MAVERICKS 94-87
First absence in the NBA for Paolo Banchero, injured his left ankle in the match against Houston and then forced to miss the game with Dallas. Distortion for the blue, but the Magic find the victory (the third of the season) thanks to 22 points from Wagner. Dinwiddie’s 29 and Doncic’s 24 are useless for the Mavericks with their first knockout after four wins in a row. Beautiful comeback from -10 for Orlando with the decisive acceleration in the final thanks to a super partial of 16 to 6.
CHARLOTTE HORNETS-PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 95-105
Lillard and Simmons drag Portland into the away win over Charlotte and the Trail Blazers remain steadfast in the playoff zone, while the Hornets are in crisis with their fifth knockout in a row. The hosts run away up to +12 in the third quarter but suffer the peremptory guest comeback.
INDIANA PACERS-DENVER NUGGETS 119-122
Mathurin wins the personal challenge with Jokic for 30 points to 24 but at the end of the match Denver still triumphs with a super recovery from -8 in the last quarter. Nuggets win fourth in a row while Pacers remain in mid-table.
ATLANTA HAWKS-UTAH JAZZ 119-125
First knockout after three games for Atlanta as Utah continues to fly to the top of the rankings in the West with a fourth win of the last four. It is the usual Finnish Markkanen who leads the Jazz with his 32 points and 8 rebounds. Utah got off to a better start but Atlanta recovered up to +10 in the third quarter, but in the final came the counter-overtaking of the Jazz.
BOSTON CELTICS-DETROIT PISTONS 128-112
Tatum-Brown-Hauser is the magical trio that brings Boston to its fourth consecutive victory while Detroit is last in the standings in the East. Celtics always in control right from the start with the advantage that increases fourth by fourth up to the maximum of +24 in the last. fraction. Match without history.
BROOKLYN NETS-NEW YORK KNICKS 112-85
Brooklyn tarmac New York in the Big Apple derby thanks to a super Durant author of 29 points, Randle makes 24 for the Knicks. Third win in the last four for Brooklyn, NY falls for the third time in the last five. Hosts on the run from the first minutes up to +27 at the start of the third quarter, just enough to manage and keep opponents at a distance with the advantage that even reaches +35 in the final.
TORONTO RAPTORS-HOUSTON ROCKETS 116-109
Van Vleet and Anunoby lead Toronto to victory against Houston increasingly last in the West, for the Raptors playoff area in the East. The Rockets try to escape at +12 at the start but in the final 91 all comes the comeback of the Canadians.
CHICAGO BULLS-NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 111-115
Nice away victory for New Orleans in Chicago, which is not enough for De Rozan’s 33 points. Bulls third knockout in their last four games as New Orleans bounces back after two defeats. It all seems easy for Chicago when it reaches +11 in the second quarter, but the final seconds from 109 all are in favor of the Pelicans with a partial of 6 points to 2.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-PHOENIX SUNS 117-129
Booker and Bridges with 32 and 31 points knock out Minnesota and the Suns remain in second place in the West, while the Timberwolves are in crisis with their fourth defeat in their last five games. Match closed already in the third quarter when Phoenix creates an unbridgeable gap of 27 points.
OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-MILWAUKEE BUCKS 132-136
Still without Antetokounmpo stopped due to injury, extra time is needed and Carter (36 points and 12 assists) in Milwaukee to conquer Oklahoma City, driven by a super Gilgeous-Alexander with 39 points. Bucks in the tenth victory in 11 games and first place in the West, Tunder in the tunnel in the fourth defeat in a row despite a good comeback from -12 in the last quarter, but in the extra fraction the guests do not disunite and regain control.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS-MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 122-124
Overtime also for the victory of Memphis in San Antonio, the fourth in the last five while for the Spurs it is black crisis for the fifth consecutive knockout. 32 points each for Bane and Morant among the Grizzlies, first naive to be recovered from +14, then good at not breaking down in the final seconds.
LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-LOS ANGELES LAKERS 114-101
The Los Angeles derby goes to the Clippers and for the Lakers, with their fourth defeat in a row and ninth knockout in 11 games, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. The only positive note are the 30 points of LeBron James, the Clippers respond with 29 George and put the fourth success in the last five games. Lakers who manage to recover from -17 in the second quarter, but the second accelerated by the Clippers with +14 in the last quarter is the decisive one.
SACRAMENTO KINGS-CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 127-120
Second consecutive defeat for Cleveland which opens a small crisis after a start to the season of seven wins and only one knockout. Mitchell’s stratospheric test with 38 points is not enough for the Cavaliers, the Kings recover from -6 in the last minutes and mock the guests.
