Only two games in the night program, but full of ideas: the Bulls overwhelm Cleveland thanks to a masterful triple double from the Australian. Minnesota falls at home under the blows of a dominant Jaren Jackson Jr..
On the NBA night just gone, the stage was smaller but the intensity remained that of the big events. With only four teams on the field, attention was focused on the rise of the Chicago Bulls and the unexpected internal slide of the Minnesota Timberwolves. If in Chicago it was a “one man show” with permission to assist his teammates, in Minneapolis it was a trench battle decided by the physicality of the Tennessee big men.
Windy City celebrating: Josh Giddey is the soul of the Bulls
Allo United Center, i Chicago Bulls (11-15) they sent a clear message to the Eastern Conference: the race is still open for the playoffs. Those who paid the price were the Cleveland Cavaliers (15-13)appeared less brilliant than usual and unable to stem the red and white tide.
The match started as a high-speed duel. Cleveland tried to escape immediately by reaching +12, but it was only an illusory burst. Chicago mended the gap already in the first quarter, and then took command of operations before halftime (62-58). The real push came in the second half: the defensive intensity of the home team sent Ohio’s attack into a tailspin, bringing the lead to double figures.
The hero of the evening is without a doubt Josh Giddey. The Australian signed a anthology triple double: 23 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assistsmanaging every possession with disarming maturity. Supported by 25 stitches from a surgeon Coby White and by the solidity in the painting of Nikola Vucevic (20 points), Giddey failed the ballistic test of Donovan Mitchelltop scorer of the match with 32 points but too isolated in the final, when the scoreboard sanctioned the 127-111 definitive.
Memphis growls in Minneapolis: Jackson Jr. freezes the Target Center
The most surprising result, however, comes from Minnesota, where i Memphis Grizzlies (13-14) have carried out a real sporting “theft” against the Timberwolves (17-10). A match lived on the tracks of balance, where leadership continually changed hands as in a high-altitude thriller.
After a first half in which the Wolves seemed to be in control, even reaching +9 in the third quarter (74-65), Memphis changed gear. The resilience of the Grizzlies was evident at the end of the half, with a half-time shot that froze the local fans. In the fourth period, Minnesota attempted the final assault reaching -2 (99-101), but there the outline of Jaren Jackson Jr..
The Memphis big man dominated the area with one double double of 28 points and 12 reboundserecting itself as an insurmountable bulwark. The real surprise, however, came from the bench: Jock Landale he played the game of his life, scoring 20 points and 10 rebounds and overshadowing Minnesota’s big starters. Attempts were useless Julius Randle (21 points) and the generosity of Donte DiVincenzo (19 points and 11 rebounds): at the sound of the siren, the Grizzlies celebrated a huge success for 110-116which revives their ambitions in a wild Western Conference.
Analysis and perspectives: the ranking is getting shorter
These results significantly reshuffle the hierarchies. Chicago interrupts the negative streak and demonstrates that, if Giddey runs at full capacity, the offensive potential is first-rate. Cleveland, on the other hand, will have to wonder about their defensive stability away from friendly walls.
For Minnesota, this is a wake-up call: Losing at home to a team with an inferior record is a luxury a title contender can’t afford too often. Memphis, on the other hand, rediscovers its competitive identity and malice, confirming itself as a “worker’s” team that never dies.
THE RESULTS OF THE NIGHT NBA
| Encounter | Final Score | Top Scorer |
| Chicago Bulls – Cleveland Cavaliers | 127 – 111 | C. White (25); D. Mitchell (32) |
| Minnesota Timberwolves – Memphis Grizzlies | 110 – 116 | J. Randle (21); J. Jackson Jr. (28) |
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