The player: Stephen Curry is having fun, once again
After Klay Thompson two days ago against the Kings (102-101), it is the turn of the second member of the “Splash Bros” to offer victory to the Warriors. Stephen Curry (30 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists) enhanced a very complete performance once again with a winning basket scored, once is not customary, near the circle. A crucial lay-up, allowing Golden State to win at the end of a duel of attacks against the Oklahoma City Thunder (141-139).
The duo of the night: Antetokounmpo and Lillard finally connected
Although it experienced some delays in starting, the duo formed by Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard achieved their first benchmark performance. The Greek (22 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists) and his American companion (30 points) jointly brought the Bucks to success against the Knicks (110-105), Friday evening, in Pool B of the Eastern Conference, in the part of the mid-season tournament organized by the NBA. A third success in five matches for Milwaukee.
The fact: suspense on all floors… or almost
This first evening of “In-Season Tournament” rather met the expectations of the NBA since the average difference in score between the teams in play is the second lowest in the last ten seasons: only 4.9 points.
Other proof of this unprecedented suspense? Only one of the seven matches on the menu ended with a difference of more than seven points. The duel of bosses between the Mavericks of Luka Doncic (34 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists) and the Nuggets of Nikola Jokic (33 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists) finally turned in favor of Denver (125-114).
0-6
The record of Memphis, second in the Western Conference last season and still without a victory following the defeat conceded last night against Portland (113-115).
In Group B of the Eastern Conference, Miami also won against Washington (121-114) thanks to Tyler Herro on the verge of a triple-double (24 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists). Resident of Group A, Cleveland once again lost (116-121), Donovan Mitchell’s 38 points being insufficient to defeat the collective of the Indiana Pacers (six players with more than 13 points).
Still in the East, but in Group C this time, Brooklyn could have lost in the very last seconds on a shot from Zach LaVine (24 points), but ultimately won by two small points against Chicago ( 109-107).
