Irresistible for a month, as evidenced by their impressive series of twelve wins in a row, the Nets had the opportunity to come back up to Boston, leader in the East. But it was counting without the Bulls (10th), in the lead for almost the entire meeting thanks to Patrick Williams (22 pts) and Nikola Vucevic (21 pts, 13 rebounds).
Discreet until then, DeMar DeRozan woke up in the last quarter by scoring 10 of his 22 points to keep New Yorkers at a distance, including Kyrie Irving (25 pts), less skilful (10/24) than Durant (15/22).
As a result, Brooklyn (3rd) is overtaken by the Bucks (2nd), who came close to correctional at the Raptors by wasting 21 units in advance, to be pushed into overtime, during which Antetokounmpo was decisive, the day after his 55 points against Washington, with a decisive offering to Grayson Allen (16 pts) for the lethal banderilla.
Omnipresent (30 pts, 21 rebounds, 10 assists), the “Greek Freak” (the “Greek Monster”) nevertheless conceded 12 ball losses that came to draw a funny quadruple-double.
Mitchell still decisive
Cleveland, solid 4th in the East, won a hard fight (90-88) against Phoenix, which nevertheless dominated for a long time.
Two days after his historic 71-point night against Chicago, Donovan Mitchell was well contained by the Suns defense (20 pts, 6/20 on shots). But he was able to force the decision in the last minute, first with a long-range shot and then with an assist to Evan Mobley with four seconds remaining.
Opposite, Chris Paul (25 pts, 8 assists) was unsuccessfully successful. The Arizona team, after this seventh setback in eight games, continues its tumble in the West (8th).
The Sixers, carried by James Harden (26 pts) in the absence of Joel Embiid, defeated Indiana (129-126) after overtime. Leading by 13 lengths after three quarters, Philadelphia found itself trailing four units with 57 seconds remaining, after baskets from Buddy Hield (24 pts) and Myles Turner (14 pts, 5 blocks).
But two ball losses from the Pacers allowed Tyrese Maxey (17 pts) then Tobias Harris (19 pts, 10 rebounds) to equalize, before De’Anthony Melton (19 pts) made the difference in overtime.
The Warriors hot
In the West, Memphis chained a fourth success in a row against Charlotte (131-107), to which Ja Morant (23 pts) contributed without forcing. With the same record (24-13), the Grizzlies are back up to leader Denver.
The Pelicans follow the rhythm in 3rd place thanks to their victory (119-108) against Houston. They did not suffer from the absence of Zion Williamson, sidelined for at least three weeks (hamstrings), relying on CJ McCollum (28 pts).
The surprise came from San Francisco, where the Warriors (9th), still deprived of Stephen Curry but who remained on five victories, were trapped by Detroit (122-119). The Pistons, deserving from start to finish, won thanks to a basket behind the arc at the buzzer of Saddiq Bey, responding to that, equalizer, a second earlier, of Klay Thompson, author of a late awakening (30 points).
Finally, the Lakers, without LeBron James, sick, but with Dennis Shroder, remarkable (32 pts), and Russell Westbrook, very active (21 pts, 9 assists, 8 rebounds), beat Miami (112-109) .
The Los Angeles franchise remains 12th behind Minnesota, which defeated (113-106) Portland (7th) thanks to Anthony Edwards (32 pts).
Source: AFP
Irresistible for a month, as evidenced by their impressive series of twelve wins in a row, the Nets had the opportunity to come back up to Boston, leader in the East. But that was counting without the Bulls (10th), in the lead for almost the entire meeting thanks to Patrick Williams (22 pts) and Nikola Vucevic (21 pts, 13 rebounds). Discreet until then, DeMar DeRozan was.. .
