Denver wins against Utah, with Nikola Jokic’s triple-double, the Cavs, Clippers and especially the Nets are doing well despite the many injuries. San Antonio gives Popovich a hit for 26 years as head coach and Portland flies with Lillard-Simons
Golden State conquers the rehash of the last NBA Finals, powered by the unparalleled quality of the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson, authors of 66 points combined. Denver wins against Utah, with Nikola Jokic’s triple double, while Dallas, which is paved without Luka Doncic of the Chicago Bulls, falls. Well done Cavs, Clippers and especially Nets triumphing without their top 8 players in Indianapolis. Finally, the successes of San Antonio, celebrating an important anniversary of its coach Gregg Popovich, and Portland, driven by the Lillard-Simons duo.
Golden State Warriors – Boston Celtics 123-107
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The Golden State Warriors (14-13) reacted as a great team to a shock defeat at the Utah Jazz three days ago, defeating the Boston Celtics (21-6) in a replay of the last NBA Finals. Demonstrating the passion, substance and beauty inherent in their basketball in a vivid and authoritative manner, the defending champions ignited the old-fashioned way through the Splash Brothers, Steph Curry (32 points and 7 assists) and Klay Thompson (34 points), the collectively produced 66 team points and 10/21 three-pointers. A test, that of coach Steve Kerr’s men, which cleared up many of the doubts raised by their poor performances, particularly away from home, at this start of the season. Pace, aggression and speed abound: The Warriors were a perfect machine in this game. And it wasn’t just any opponent in front, but probably the best NBA team at the moment. Boston broke Golden State’s excellent defense and slowly fell apart without ever finding a way to come to their senses and, importantly, get back into the game. A setback that might even benefit Jayson Tatum and his companions, who up until this point in the regular season had never experienced script gaps.
Golden State: Thompson 34 (14/26, 4/11 aus drei, 2/2 Stollen), Curry 32, Poole 20. Rebounds: Looney 15. Assists: Curry 7.
Boston: Brown 31 (13/23, 3/9 from three, 2/2 cleats), Tatum 18, Borgdon 16, Rebounds: Brown 9. Assists: Smart 5.
Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz 115-110
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The Denver Nuggets (16-19) are struggling, and not a little to beat the very incerottati Utah Jazz (15-14) without Markkanen, Conley, Clarkson and Sexton, only closing practice in the final corner drawn by the will be monumental Nikola Jokic, who recorded his 80th career triple-double with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 14 assists. Success came in the final thanks to a dunk by Bruce Brown 1:20 from the siren, followed by free throws by Jokic and the increasingly rediscovered Jamal Murray, author of 30 points and the team’s last 5. In jazz, Nickeil Alexander-Walker did very well with 27 points as second as a starter. Simone Fontecchio is out due to an ankle injury.
Denver: Jokic 31 (11/20, 1/4 von drei, 8/10 Witze), Murray 30, Caldwell-Pope/Gordon 15. Rebounds: Jokic 12. Assists: Jokic 14.
Utah: Alexander-Walker 27 (9/16, 5/10 from three, 4/5 cleats), Beasley 19, Horton-Tucker 19. Rebounds: Olynyk 9. Assists: Horton-Tucker 4.
The Chicago Bulls defeated the Dallas Mavericks 144-115
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Without the injured Luka Doncic, Dallas (13-13) takes a memorable pass from the Chicago Bulls (11-14) at the United Center, stunned by the ease of execution from the hosts, whose lead grew to as much as 30 points during the contest. An essentially uneventful game in which the Bulls were exceptional in off-field percentages (63.5% overall and 55.9% from three triples made with 19) and ball movement (33 team assists from 54 baskets produced). Seven double-figure players for Chicago, with DeMar DeRozan (28 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists) and Nikola Vucevic (20 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists) leading in terms of effectiveness and relevance.
Chicago: DeRozan 28 (9/13, 1/2 right, 9/9 WI), Vucevic 20, Dosunmu 17. Rebounds: DeRozan 9. Assists: White 7.
Dallas: Dinwiddie 27 (9/15, 3/6 from three, 6/7 cleats), Wood 21, McGee 18. Rebounds: Wood 9. Assists: Dinwiddie 8.
Cleveland Cavaliers – Oklahoma City Thunder 110-102
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Exciting victory, more complicated than necessary, for the Cleveland Cavaliers (17-10), who beat the Thunder (11-15) and proved a semi-unbeatable team at home (12-2 home record). The Cavs let OKC rebuild a 17-point lead that went well and hard to regain from 72-55 in the 3rd quarter, even reaching 89 before garnering that crucial 15-4 run in the 4th period that JB Bickerstaff the winning team. Despite the absence of Donovan Mitchell, LeVert, Mobley and Allen have climbed above 20 points, allowing Cleveland to find the offensive continuity necessary to bring home a game that was dominated for long stretches.
Cleveland: LeVert 22 (9/22, 4/9 from three), Mobley 21, Allen 21. Rebounds: Mobley 12. Assists: Giddey 6.
OKC: Gilgeous-Alexander 23 (7/13, 0/2 from three, 9/9 Tl), Giddey 17, Pokusevski 16. Rebounds: Pokusevski 14. Assists: Garland 8.
Washington Wizards – Los Angeles Clippers 107-114
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John Wall scores 13 points on his return to Washington amid cheers from his people, and the Clippers (15-13) pull off a significant win that forces the Wizards (11-16) to a sixth straight loss. With both Paul George (36 points) and Kawhi Leonard (13 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists) on the floor, Los Angeles always felt in control of the game, even though the balance was only broken in the middle Second final thanks to a three by the usual Nicolas Batum. Washington played with passion and will, aided by the all-hot Kyle Kuzma (35 points with 7 three-pointers on target and 12 rebounds) and Kristaps Porzingis (30 points and 15 rebounds), but were a bit at odds at the crucial moment and missed a game, that he never wanted to lose.
Washington: Kuzma 35 (14/27, 7/11 aus drei), Porzingis 30, Goodwin 17. Rebounds: Porzingis 15. Assists: Goodwin 6.
Los Angeles: George 36 (13/27, 5/12 from three, 5/5 jokes), Morris 19, Wall/Leonard 13. Rebounds: Leonard 8. Assists: George 6.
Indiana Pacers-Brooklyn Nets 133-136
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With no eight players available, including Durant, Irving and Simmons (all strictly for “injury management”), Brooklyn (16-12) surprises Indiana (14-13) and wins with personality, desire and unafraid of making a bad impression. Cam Thomas, with his career-high 33 points and “old” Patty Mills’ 24 points, was crucial for the Nets, who are good at staying in the game and attacking prey at the moment of greatest vulnerability. Indiana collapsed on offensive rebounds (29-7) and second chance points (37 allowed), and melted despite the stellar performance of their leader Tyrese Haliburton, who had 35 points (7/8 from the arc) and 9 assists in 37 graduated, there’.
Indiana: Haliburton 35 (12/15, 7/8 from three, 4/4 cleats), held 17, Turner 16. Rebounds: Mathurin 7. Assists: Haliburton 9.
Brooklyn: Thomas 33 (13/20, 3/3 aus drei, 4/6 dl), Mills 24, Sumner 21. Rebounds: Sharpe 12. Assists: Mills 6.
Miami Heat vs. San Antonio Spurs 111-115
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Gregg Popovich celebrates 26 years since his first game as head coach with a win, beating the compliant Miami Heat (12-15) on the road. The Spurs (8-18) achieved the success thanks to their rebounding dominance (46-32) and above all thanks to their bench’s productivity, which demolished Miami’s 47-20. Erik Spoelstra’s team ended up with a chance to win, missing out on the 3-pointers with Herro and Martin that would have put them ahead in the score. Both Keldon Johnson (21 points) and Romeo Langford (19 points) are driving forces for San Antonio, as is Devin Vassell (18 points), author of some tough baskets in the last 2′. Unusable for the Heat, however, are the 30 points on 11/16 shooting signed by Jimmy Butler.
Miami: Butler 30 (16.11., 0/1 aus drei, 8/10 tl), Herro 23, Martin 14. Rebounds: Adebayo 9. Assists: Lowry 7.
San Antonio: Johnson 21 (7/15, 0/2 from three, 7/7 cleats), Langford 19, Vassell 18. Rebounds: Collins 8. Assists: Richardson 6.
The Portland Trail Blazers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-118
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Damian Lillard (36 points and 8 assists) and Anfernee Simons (31 points) combined for 67 points to lead Portland (14-12) to a home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves (13-13) after moving from a double-digit deficit had recovered the 2nd time. Chauncey Billups’ team took it home by changing defensive registers in the 2nd half and not conceding too many easy baskets against Wolves. Then Lillard (15/15 from the line), Simons and Grant took care of bringing body and substance to attack, inspired and unpredictable, those are inevitable traits in the Blazers’ basketball idea.
Portland: Lillard 36 (9/22, 3/11 from three, 15/15 jokes), Simons 31, Grant 17. Rebounds: Nurkic 15. Assists: Lillard 8.
Minnesota: Edwards 26 (10/20, 4/8 from three, 2/4 cleats), Russell 24, Gobert 24. Rebounds: Gobert 9. Assists: Edwards 7.
December 11, 2022 (change December 11, 2022 | 11:54 am)
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