NBA Scores: Celtics Win, Jazz Upset, Wizards Rally

The player: Brown gets closer to Bird

If the Celtics crushed the Pacers (140-122) on their floor, consolidating their third place in the East, they owe it largely to Jaylen Brown. As in the last seven games, the guard scored at least 30 points.

He is closing in on a record held by the legendary Larry Bird. The Hall of Famer had scored 30 points or more in nine straight games in 1985. Against the Pacers, Brown made 13 of his 20 shots and was supported in the victory by Payton Pritchard’s 29 units and 9 rebounds. Since it started catching fire, Boston has reeled off six wins in eight games.

The match: George brings down the Pistons

Remaining on three wins in a row against Charlotte, Portland and Sacramento, Detroit lost to Utah (129-131), the leader of the East conceding its seventh setback of the season. An infuriating defeat since conceded on the wire. There were only 2.1 seconds left when Keyonte George took down the Pistons with a decisive floater, completing his outing at 31 points.

Also carried by Lauri Markkanen (30 units, 4 rebounds), the Jazz, 12th record in the West (11 victories, 19 defeats) created a surprise. The residents of the Delta Center owe their victory to their performance in the third quarter where they passed 44 points to a groggy Pistons, who gave everything to come back, equalizing 18 seconds from time without managing to block George on the last possession.

Bad performance: the Hawks and Young get bogged down

When it doesn’t want, it doesn’t want! Atlanta continued a fifth game without a victory against Miami (111-126), a franchise which nevertheless remained on eight defeats in nine matches. To obtain this saving success which turned its record into the positive, the Heat relied on Norman Powell’s 25 units and 7 rebounds and Pelle Larsson’s career points record (21 points). Kel’el Ware contributed with a double-double (16 pts, 13 rebounds) and Jamie Jaquez added 16 coming off the bench.

Opposite, Trae Young struggled, scoring 30 points and distributing 7 assists. But apart from Jalen Johnson (24 pts), the leader did not find any other relay, Zaccharie Risacher having passed through the meeting like a ghost (5 pts, 0 rebounds and 0 assists in 20 minutes of play). Since the return of Young, little concerned with defensive work, the Hawks have no longer tasted victory. The supporters’ rumble against coach Quin Snyder is not going to calm down.

The return: double-double for Morant

If there is one who has made a successful comeback, it’s Ja Morant! While he had missed the last four games due to a sprained left ankle, the Grizzlies leader led his team to victory against the Milwaukee Bucks (125-104) deprived of Giannis Antetounmpo since December 3 and beaten for the sixth time in eight matches. Discreet in the first act, Morant came out of the woods in the second quarter by scoring six of his 17 points. Adding 10 assists and an interception in 25 minutes of presence on the floor, the Memphis star had the gift of initiating a fatal 26-6 run, taking the franchise to an eighth success in a row.

The French: Charlotte relies on Salaün and Diabaté

The Hornets beat the Magic in Florida thanks to LaMelo Ball’s 22 points, but their French also contributed to the victory: Moussa Diabaté compiled 10 points and 12 rebounds in 33 minutes while Tidjane Salaün came close to a double-double (14 pts, 9 rebounds). Opposite, Noah Penda played 11 minutes.

Evening without also for Sidy Cissoko and Rayan Rupert, used sparingly during Portland’s defeat against the Clippers of Nicolas Batum, author of 3 points against his former franchise. Alexandre Sarr (15 pts) and Bilal Coulibaly (21 pts, 8 rebounds) actively participated in Washington’s victory against the Raptors (138-117).

All the scores of the night:

Indiana – Boston : 122-140
Orlando – Charlotte : 105-120
Chicago – Philadelphia: 109-102
Memphis – Milwaukee : 125-104
Portland – Los Angeles Clippers : 103-119
Atlanta-Miami: 111-126
Washington – Toronto : 138-117
New Orleans – Phoenix: 108-115
Utah – Detroit: 131-129