Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr Shine in Victory Against Knicks

The match: Nikola Jokic and Michael Porter Jr take care of the Knicks

The champions are back at full strength. Well, they never really left it but the Nuggets have clearly taken a step forward since the break from All-Star Weekend, a bit like Michael Porter Jr, sparkling at the moment. The young winger was excellent again last night. His 31 points on 13 of 16 shots led Denver to another success, this time against New York (113-100). He took the opportunity to break the franchise record for the number of winning baskets scored in a season (193).

Nikola Jokic was obviously not left out. The Serb compiled his 22nd triple-double of the season by posting 30 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. The Nuggets won each of the four quarters to gradually break away from the Knicks. Jalen Brunson (26 points) and his teammates came back to two lengths (90-88) at the start of the last quarter but Michael Malone then revived his frames, who immediately extended the gap. This is the 13th victory in 15 games for Denver since the break.

The player: Damian Lillard finds his rhythm with Milwaukee

Third game in a row with 30 points or more for Damian Lillard, author of precisely 30 points, with also 12 assists, against the Nets on Thursday evening. The Bucks won 115 to 108, notably recording the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo (21 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists). In addition to his points, Lillard also stole two important balls late in the game. Including one that led to the basket to get back in front after Milwaukee squandered a 20-point lead. He planted a three-pointer 41 seconds from the buzzer to definitively secure the victory for his team.

The series: 7 victories in a row for Houston

The Rockets lost Alperen Sengun a few weeks ago but the Texas franchise found a second wind rather than collapsing without its best player. Jalen Green took control of the attack and Houston launched a series of seven consecutive victories after its victory against Chicago (127-117). The match was marked by the start of a fight between the two teams. An altercation which led to the ejection of DeMar DeRozan but also that of Dillon Brooks.

The latter had scored 23 points in just 25 minutes before leaving the floor. Green scored 26 in total and the Rockets’ substitutes added 49 points. Ime Udoka’s team remains eleventh in the Western Conference but they can still hope to secure the play-in if the Warriors find themselves in trouble by the end of the season.

The performance: Paolo Banchero leads the Magic to fourth place

The defeat of the Knicks allowed the Magic to move into the top 4 of the Eastern Conference by winning against the Pelicans (121-106) in the clash between the two outsiders who are doing well at the moment. Paolo Banchero guided his team by accumulating 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists. The second triple-double of his career. Orlando now has a strong chance of qualifying directly for the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and the Floridians may even have home field advantage.

At state: 18

Like the number of dunks scored by the Mavericks against the Jazz (113-97). It hasn’t happened in the NBA to see so many dunks in a game for three years. Daniel Gafford and his comrades had a field day enjoying the caviars of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving.

All scores

Wizards – Kings : 109-102
Rockets – Bulls : 127-117
Bucks – Nets : 115-108
Mavericks – Jazz : 113-97
Nuggets – Knicks : 113-100
Suns – Hawks : 128-115
Magic – Pelicans : 121-106

2024-03-22 06:23:45
#NBA #Denver #Nuggets #playoff #mode #Damian #Lillard #Milwaukee #Bucks