Ten days after the NBA Cup semi-final, Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs once again brought down champion Oklahoma City this Tuesday in the NBA, before the North American league break on Wednesday.
Already superior during the Cup in Las Vegas, the Spurs have once again tamed the Thunderdefending champion, 130 to 110.
Best team of the season, Ololama City only lost its 4th game, the 2nd against the Texans, and will have a new opportunity to take revenge on Thursday at home for one of the Christmas posters.
Still off the bench and with limited playing time since his return from injury, Victor Wembanyama was discreet but effective with 12 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes.
After three fierce and indecisive quarters against the MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 points, 8 passes), “Wemby“gave the team a 12-point lead for the first time Spurs from a distant shot 9 minutes from the siren. The 21-year-old French prodigy then faked the shot from afar to find Keldon Johnson alone in the racket, bringing the gap to +15 with 6 minutes to go.
The giant (2.24 m) however saw his series of games with at least one against end at 101 matches.
Attending the drum, he launched a “clapping” with the public at the end of the match, celebrating the 7th victory in a row in the regular season, which consolidates 2nd place in the Spurs to the West (22v-7d).
The No. 1 of the last draft Cooper Flagg, who celebrated his 19th birthday on Sunday, shone again with dallas during the prestigious success of Mavericks facing Denver (131-130).
Flagg was close to a triple-double with 33 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, showing sharpness in the final minutes, helped by Anthony Davis (31 points, 9 rebounds).
Denver had the match point, Nikola Jokic (29 points, 7 rebounds, 14 assists) attracting his five opponents in the paint before finding Peyton Watson alone in the corner… for a missed shot.
Edwards and KAT, wild reunion
Anthony Edwards blazed with 38 points for a success of the Minnesota Timberwolves 115 to 104 against New York Knicksdeprived in particular of Jalen Brunson and OG Anunoby.
His friend and former teammate in Minneapolis Karl-Anthony Townssent to Knicks last year, struggled with 40 points and 13 rebounds.
The Lakers crushed by the Suns
Deprived of Luka Doncicvictim of a blow to one leg, the LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers (23 points, 6 assists) fell heavily on the floor of the Phoenix Suns 132 to 108.
Devin Booker (21 points, 11 assists) led Phoenixwho took off in the 3rd quarter, to a 16th success to consolidate his 7th place in the West (13d), the Lakers remainder 4e (19v-9d).
Leonard marque 41 points
The two-time and six-time NBA champion All-Star Kawhi Leonard scored 41 points, his best game in more than two years, propelling the Los Angeles Clippers facing the Houston Rockets 128-108.
Well accompanied by James Harden (29 points), Leonard showed himself to be imperial (16 out of 23 shooting, 8 rebounds, 5 assists) for a second success in a row for the Clippersstuck at the bottom of the ranking (13th in the West, 8v-22d).
Leaders in the East, the Detroit Pistons They won 136 to 127 Sacramento with 23 points and 14 assists Cade Cunningham.
While Chicago and Atlanta were tied 123-123 with 1.9 seconds on the clock, Zaccharie Risacher made a mistake on Coby White before the throw-in, giving the Bulls a throw, succeeded by Whitethen possession, leading to success of Bulls 126 to 123.
The French winger (10 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists) was “pulled by the arm” on the action, estimated his trainer Quin Snyderleading to his future fault.
Atlanta (9th in the East, 15v-16d) has lost four matches in a row since its leader returned from injury Trae Young (22 pts, 15 ps), this time against the Australian Bulls Josh Giddeyagain in triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds, 15 assists).
Another Frenchman on the floors, Moussa Diabaté managed a full match as a starter with Charlotte12 points and 18 rebounds, his record, for a 126 to 109 success against the Washington Wizards de Bilal Coulibaly (14 points, 5 rebounds) and Alex Sarr (7 points, 11 rebounds).
