We start again after New York’s success in the NBA Cup: crisis-busting victory for the Bulls. Memphis’ rise continues, beating Minnesota with a super Jaren Jackson
No break after the success of the Knicks in the NBA Cup, we immediately return to the field: in the two games of the night, Chicago beats Cleveland thanks to Coby White and the now usual triple double from Giddey, while Memphis continues to rise by beating Minnesota with a great performance from Jaren Jackson Jr.
Chicago Bulls-Cleveland Cavaliers 127-111
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It’s difficult to predict whether it will be a victory to get rid of it, but the Bulls (11-15) raise their heads again: after losing eight of the last nine games, a clear success comes over Cleveland (15-13), against whom Chicago had been knocked out in 12 of the last 13 matches. Josh Giddey ends up on the cover, author of the 6th triple double of his excellent start to the season, with also 5 triples made (career maximum). The contribution of White (25 points) and Vucevic (20 and 9 rebounds) was decisive, on an evening in which the Bulls shot 56% and forced their opponents into 20 turnovers. Cleveland, however, remains a mystery: in addition to Mitchell, who scored his 30 points tonight too, the rest of the team remains very inconsistent. Yet, the Cavs started well, reaching +12 in the middle of the 1st quarter, but were immediately overtaken and the rest of the 1st half was a game of balance (58-62 Bulls at halftime). Donovan’s team, however, returns to the field with their foot on the accelerator, while Atkinson’s team remains in the locker room. White hammers (4/4 in the 3rd period), and Chicago goes up +15, but Cleveland stays in the game with Tyson, until the decisive partial that brings the Bulls up +17 with 5′ to go. Cleveland thus suffered its 13th defeat of the season: in the previous year, it had arrived in March. Alarm bell.
Chicago: White 25 (8/13, 3/5 3pt, 6/7 tl), Giddey 23, Vucevic 20 Rimbalzi: Giddey 11. Assist: Giddey 11.
Cleveland: Mitchell 32 (11/23, 4/9 3pt, 6/6 t.l.), Tyson 21, Garland 15. Rimbalzi: Ball 7. Assist: Garland 6.
Minnesota Timberwolves-Memphis Grizzlies 110-116
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With Edwards (right foot problem) and Morant (left ankle) in the pits, the match between Minnesota (17-10) and Memphis still turns out to be pleasant and balanced: in the end the Grizzlies take it home (13-14), led by Jaren Jackson Jr (author of 28 points and 12 rebounds), with the usual, excellent impact of the bench (44 points), above all a Jock Landale in double double (20+10) and author of several baskets decisive. After a balanced first half, Minnesota already has four players in double figures and is up by one point (62-61) at halftime: Finch’s boys try to get their hands on the game by reaching +9 (76-67 halfway through the third quarter), but that’s when the game turns. A triple from Landale kicks off a run of 14-2, closed by another 3-pointer from JJJ, which gives Memphis +5. From there, the Grizzlies always kept their head ahead until the end, and when it came to the final minutes, with the Wolves at -3 (106-103) after a trip to the line by McDaniels, it was again Landale who made the triple for +6, followed by another basket by Jackson Jr which, in fact, closed the game. Randle’s 21 points and DiVincenzo’s 19 were useless for Minnesota.
Minnesota: Jackson Jr 28 (10/18, 2/3 3pt, 6/6 t.l.), Landale 20, Wells 17. Rimbalzi: Jackson Jr 12. Assist: Williams Jr 4.
Memphis: Randle 21 (9/21, 1/6 3pt, 2/4 tl), DiVinence 19, Gobert, and Reid 16. Resides: Gobert 16. Assist: McDaniels 6
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