This shock at the top against the Pelicans, who still recently occupied the head of the Western Conference, quickly turned to the advantage of the Bucks who took control from the 8th minute and kept them until the end.
The New Orleans franchise, however, offered good resistance, even returning to three points (117-114) less than 2 minutes from the end.
But the duel between Zion Williamson and Giannis Antetokounmpo clearly tilted in favor of the Greek. Hit in a knee and absent during the success of the Bucks against Utah Jazz (123-97), the double MVP of the regular season (2019, 2020) flew over the meeting with 42 points and 10 rebounds, far from Williamson’s 18 points , muzzled by Milwaukee’s defensive organization.
“Overall, there were a lot of really good defensive efforts,” said Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, whose plan was to disrupt Williamson, a “really unique and special” player.
In addition to Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez (30 pts) and Jrue Holiday (18) also contributed to the victory of the Bucks, while it was finally Jonas Valanciunas (37 points) who proved to be the most dangerous side Pelicans who chained a fourth straight loss and slip to fourth place in the West.
Donovan Mitchell did not miss his reunion with his former club Utah. The former Jazz star scored 23 points with Cleveland, his new team, which won 122-99 and consolidates its third place.
Lillard, record but defeat
Damian Lillard became the Blazers’ all-time leading scorer, but his performance didn’t prevent Portland from losing to Oklahoma City (123-121). Lillard, playing in his 11th season with the Oregon franchise, scored 28 points with the Blazers in that game and has 18,048 points in that jersey, surpassing legend Clyde Drexler’s 18,040 points.
But Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the game’s leading scorer (35 points), ruined the party for Lillard and Portland by giving the Thunder victory on the wire.
Chris Paul scored a season-best 28 points to lead the Phoenix Suns to a 130-104 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. Already deprived of Anthony Davis due to a right foot injury, the Lakers also had to do without LeBron James, Russell Westbrook and Austin Reaves.
Philadelphia was pushed into overtime by Toronto (104-101 ap). The Sixers, however, had a 14-point lead at the start of the third quarter.
Joel Embiid, author of 28 points and 11 rebounds, and Tobias Harris, 21 points, allowed Philadelphia to resist the rise of the Raptors. The Sixers continue their good series with a fifth success in a row. In Toronto, the dynamic is completely reversed with six losses in a row.
Minnesota beat Dallas, 116-106, in a game marked by the expulsion of Mavs star Luka Doncic for two technical fouls and then coach Jason Kidd, who entered the field to express his displeasure.
The Texas derby returned to San Antonio, winner of Houston, 124-105, thanks in particular to 26 points from Devin Vassell.
After a nightmarish start to the season, Orlando had rectified the situation with six successes in a row, but the Magic saw their series come to an end by losing by a small point (126-125) in Atlanta, winner thanks to Dejounte Murray.
Conversely, Charlotte, who remained on eight consecutive defeats, finally won by winning in Sacramento, 125-119.
Source: AFP
This shock at the top against the Pelicans, who still recently occupied the head of the Western Conference, quickly turned to the advantage of the Bucks who took control from the 8th minute and kept them until the end. New Orleans, however, offered a good resistance, even returning to three points (117-114) less than 2 minutes from the end. But the…
