Cleveland Cavaliers Dominate in NBA Paris Game

The poster proposed for the NBA Paris Game is not the one that most dreamed of. And, for three quarters, we thought the game was over, so impressive was the domination of the Cleveland Cavaliers. But the late awakening of the Brooklyn Nets managed to spice up the end of the match. Cleveland, however, held on and won (111-102) on Thursday at the Accor Arena, in a meeting counting for the regular season of the North American pro league.

The Cavaliers thus achieved a fourth consecutive success and preserved their sixth place in the Eastern Conference. The Nets lost a second game in a row and are ranked 10th in the same conference. For 36 minutes, they took on the water against Donovan Mitchell and his teammates, unleashed from the start (16-4, 5th). Cleveland reached its peak, returning from the locker room, leading by 26 points (60-34, 26th).

Cleveland worried but not overwhelmed

The victory seemed certain and this Parisian match was destined not to be remembered in the NBA season. But, in the last quarter, carried by an energy of despair, the Nets suddenly woke up, with Mikal Bridges and Cam Thomas. And, four minutes from the buzzer, they had managed to only be seven points behind (94-87, 44th).

Led by Donovan Mitchell, author of 45 points, his record this season, including 21 in the last quarter alone, Cleveland was not the victim of a bad surprise and was able to quickly take the match back on its own (102 -89, 46th). In front of a large Parisian audience (16,000 spectators), the “Cavs” finally achieved a deserved success.

Mbappé, Ronaldo, Parker, Beckham as spectators

Several stars had traveled to attend this NBA Paris Game: PSG players including Kylian Mbappé. But also Tony Parker, the legend of the San Antonio Spurs, David Beckham, ex-football star in the colors of Real Madrid and Manchester United. There was also Ronaldo, Brazilian football legend, two-time World Cup winner and two-time Ballon d’Or.

On the show side, we saw M. Pokora and Pharrell Wiliams. Adam Silver, the boss of the NBA, obviously made the trip. Several former French basketball players, who played the courts of the US pro league during their career, were there, such as Joakim Noah and Ian Mahinmi.

Wemby and Spurs in 2025?

There was even a scuffle during the match. Tristan Thompson, the Cavaliers pivot, came to provoke a Brooklyn player, causing general friction on the floor. Which resulted in Thompson being sent off at the start of the final quarter.

Both teams will have a few days off now. They will return to play next Monday, Cleveland at home against the Chicago Bulls and Brooklyn also at home against the Miami Heat. And Paris will now dream of a next NBA match – or even two – in 2025 with the San Antonio Spurs and the nugget Victor Wembanyama, as is rumored.

2024-01-11 21:54:00
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