Red alert in Los Angeles. The Clippers have lost another game and are now five in their last eight, although the worst may not be that. Weeks ago it was seen that they were not able to fight for the first three places in the West (those have been won by Denver, Oklahoma and Minnesota, we will see in what order), but it did seem that they had tied up the fourth position, the last one that gives an advantage of field in the first round of playoffs. But not even that anymore. The New Orleans Pelicans are coming from behind like a rocket and, between their victory and the Clippers’ defeat against the Philadelphia 76ers (107-121), the distance between them has been reduced to half a game. A non-existent difference with 12 games left to play, the Clippers, and 11, the Pelicans.
And it’s not that they had the best team in the League in front of them, far from it. The Sixers have become accustomed to losing more than winning since Joel Embiid’s injury, to the point that they have exchanged the fight for second place in the East for a play-in spot. Now, with this victory, they are seventh. That was the rival the Clippers faced and against that rival they were shipwrecked once again. With a spirit, a desire and a discipline that is conspicuous by its absence almost every time they are on the court. Bad omen for their trip to the playoffs starting in April.
It was the first time James Harden faced the Sixers since his trade in October. A small but noisy group of Philadelphia team fans present at the Crypto.com Arena celebrated each of their former player’s mistakes from the three-point line (0/6), some of them even without touching the rim. Harden finished with 12 points and 14 assists, but sitting on the bench next to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George long before the end of the game, after a 2-15 run to open the last quarter that put the Sixers up 21. Tyron Lue supposedly tried to make a comeback with a quintet of secondary players who pressed a little more in defense, which was not difficult. But they were never even close to putting a challenge to the victory of a rival that was based on Tobias Harris’ remarkable 24-point game. Although the one who gave the finishing touch was Tyrese Maxey, being the main weapon of the decisive quarter of the last quarter. The point guard, who had 5 points at halftime, finished with 24 and some magnificent percentages. Cameron Payne also stood out from the bench, with his best game of the course: 23 points, 5/10 in triples.
Pistons 101 – Pelicans 114
The New Orleans Pelicans did not waste the opportunity in one of the easiest exits that any NBA team can have this season. They had to play in Detroit, bottom of the League and franchise that has lost the most games this season at home (31 of 38). And it wasn’t today when that dynamic changed. The Pelicans, who had just broken an excellent streak of play and results in their last game in Orlando, returned to the path of victory in a peaceful game for them, who already dominated by 19 points (10-29) at the end of the first room. The other three quarters were won by Detroit (91-85), but the visiting team dedicated itself to holding on to the lead without much effort. They had already done everything they had to do to win.
Zion Williamson continues to play at the best level he has seen since he arrived in the NBA. This time he scored 36 points on 13/14 shooting from the field. The young star is virtually unstoppable near the rim, where he averages more points than any other player in the last 25 years. He also added 7 rebounds and 6 assists, a facet of the latter in which he lavishes himself more and more and with good results for his team’s game. CJ McCollum also had a great day with 23 points, 7 baskets and a 5/9 in triples. In the Pistons, with the absence of Cade Cunningham, there were five players above double digits in scoring, but none reached twenty points.
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2024-03-24 22:00:18
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