It’s hard to know if Mike Fratello, former coach of the Atlanta Hawks or the Cleveland Cavaliers but also the Memphis Grizzlies (as well as the Ukraine team between 2011 and 2015), simply wanted to drop a nice word for the attention of Nicolas Batum on his 34th birthday, but there was a great deal of truth in the tribute paid when the winger was named player of the game in the Los Angeles Clippers’ home win against the Los Angeles Clippers. Minnesota Timberwolves (99-88): ” He deserves it. He was decisive in the second half turnaround from the moment he was placed in the five that resumed. »
Led by 5 points at the break (38-43, 24th), the Californians indeed relied on their Frenchie to get out of the trap set by the Wolves during a match marked, above all, by the clumsiness of the two teams. (41.9% for visitors, 38.2% for Los Angeles). Coming off the bench initially, Batum compiled 13 points (5 of 9 shooting) for 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals. Above all, his “+ /-” (point differential when the player is on the floor) broke the ceiling of the Crypto.com Arena (formerly Staples Center): +30, when none of his teammates exceeded the +16 (Luke Kennard, also off the bench). Essential while the leaders of the franchise, Kawhi Leonard (19 points) and Paul George (17 points) were more prolific but much more clumsy (11 out of 31 combined).
On the Wolves side, Rudy Gobert was one of the most prominent players, author of a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks). At the end of the match, however, he suffered a flagrant foul on the inside Marcus Morris – who took the opportunity to add a little by performing a few push-ups after contact – for an elbow that seemed to be involuntary given going up to the basket.
Killian Hayes one point off his record
The rebirth of Killian Hayes on the side of Detroit is one of the excellent news of the small tricolor clan expatriated in the United States this season. The injury of Pistons incumbent Cade Cunningham, whose season is over as he has to undergo tibia surgery, made the position available to the former Cholet Basket player. And the latter, despite a few offensive air pockets (3 games with 6 points or less in his last five outings), seems to be making big profits with a second game with more than twenty units in December (and since beginning of the season).
26
Killian Hayes’ NBA game points record is 26, set late last season against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Wednesday evening, with the Charlotte Hornets, the left-hander compiled 25 points (9 of 19 shooting including 5 of 11 three-pointers), 7 rebounds and 8 assists in 34 minutes of play. Essential as his team won after overtime (141-134, ap) and that he scored a winning shot in the additional period. His five banderillas in the exercise also constitute a new personal record. Opposite, Théo Maledon played 16 minutes off the bench, for 9 points (3 out of 7) and 6 cumulative rebounds.
During the massive home defeat of the Dallas Mavericks against the Cleveland Cavaliers (90-105), Frank Ntilikina was used 12 minutes, without managing to score (0 of 2 shooting, 3 rebounds, 3 fouls). Evan Fournierwhose situation with the New York Knicks has reached, it seems, a point of no return, remained glued to the bench.
