NBA | Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee) steps on the Clippers, Jimmy Butler (Chicago) flies away against the Rockets

THE MATCH: MILWAUKEE PLAYS CLIPPERS

And ten straight wins for Milwaukee! Very impressive, like Giannis Antetokounmpo (35 points), the Bucks won at the Clippers (119-106) during a Friday evening in the NBA where other holders of the next All-Star Game, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid and Ja Morant, shone.

With their “Greek Freak”, the Bucks do not fear much at the moment: on this virtuous series of ten successes, he averages 37.3 points. After a piano start, LA taking the lead (27-22) in the first quarter thanks to Paul George (19 pts, 11 rebounds), orphan of Kawhi Leonard, Milwaukee tightened the bolts.

In the absence of Khris Middleton, it was Brook Lopez (22 pts, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks) who played lieutenants with Jrue Holiday (19 pts, 6 assists). The 2021 champion remains second in the East, behind Boston which chained a third victory at the expense of Charlotte (127-116). Without Jaylen Brown (facial fracture) or Marcus Smart (ankle), the Celtics were able to rely on Jayson Tatum, effective (41 pts at 13/21 on shots) and well relayed by Derrick White (33 pts, 10 assists).

LA PERF’: 35 POINTS, 11 REBOUNDS: EMBIID PUT THE KNICKS IN STEP

In third place, remain the Sixers who had the last laugh against the Knicks (119-108). The match settled in the last quarter and if Joel Embiid (35 pts, 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 blocks) has been the most prominent so far. Sixth man Tyrese Maxey made the difference by hitting nine of his 27 points, courtesy of three award-winning banderillas.

Philly, who remained on two setbacks, had just cleared 13 lengths behind New Yorkers (7th) yet well guided by Jalen Brunson and Julius Randle at 30 points each. But neither of them was able to weigh in the last twelve minutes, both blocked at two points.

THE CARD OF THE NIGHT: 44 points for SGA

Impressive SGA. Oklahoma City (11th) was still able to count on the untenable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, author of 44 points (13/16 on shots), to defeat (138-129) Portland (12th) and its star Damian Lillard, not in rest (38 pts, 9 assists). The Thunder guard is the first player in the franchise to score over 40 points with over 80% shooting success. No wonder when you look at his season as a whole: he averages 30.8 points for 4.7 rebounds and 5.6 assists on average.

THE BASKETS: BUTLER’S BUZZER DUNK, MORANT TUTTES THE SKIES

In Miami, Jimmy Butler (16 pts) played the saviors 7/10ths of a second from the buzzer, crushing a dunk on a pass in the air from Gabe Vincent, in the heart of a ghostly defense of the Rockets, beaten on the thread (97-95). An unconvincing success for the Heat (6th), against the last in the West, despite a solid Tyler Herro (31 pts, 9 rebounds, 8 assists).

In the West, Memphis, second in the standings, had no trouble disposing of Minnesota (128-107). Ja Morant was familiar with the triple-double (32 pts at 13/23, 9 assists, 9 rebounds), rewarding the fans with a dunk at very high altitude upon receiving an alley-oop (pass in the air) .

THE PLAYER: IRVING STILL DECISIVE

For his second game with Dallas (4th), Kyrie Irving, author of 25 points (10 assists), was decisive in the victory obtained on the floor of the Kings (122-114). The leader was not very skilful (5/14), except on the free throw line, with a 6/6 in the last minute which made 12/12 in the end. De’Aaron Fox, author of 15 of his 33 points in the final quarter, almost brought back into the game Sacramento (3rd), led throughout.

THE RESULTS OF THE NIGHT

New Orleans – Cleveland 107 – 118

Miami – Houston 97 – 95

LA Clippers – Milwaukee 106 – 119

Boston – Charlotte 127 – 116

Toronto – Utah 116 – 122

Portland – Oklahoma City 129 – 138

Sacramento – Dallas 114 – 122

Memphis – Minnesota 128 – 107

Detroit – San Antonio 138 – 131 (ap)

Indiana – Phoenix 104 – 117

Philadelphia – New York 119 – 108