ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The march of the Denver Nuggets and the New York Knicks knows no pause, who secure their respective second positions in the Western and Eastern Conference of the NBA, both rising to six victories in a row. The Nuggets start badly, suffering the resourcefulness of the Orlando Magic, but with a super Nikola Jokicauthor of another great game with 23 points, 11 rebounds and 13 assists, settled things already in the second quarter with a run of 43-22.
At that point, thanks also to Jamal Murray’s 32 points, it is sufficient to manage the Magic’s desire for a comeback, for which the super triple double of Paolo Banchero (26 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists) and 26 points from Wendell Carter Jr: it ends 126-115. The task of the Knicks is more complicated as, in their first championship after the victory in the NBA Cup, they prevail 114-113 on the Indiana Pacers’ pitch.
The hosts dream of a coup with 31 points from Andrew Nembhard and 26 from Pascal Siakam, but the usual Jalen Brunson (25 points), author of the decisive triple, supported by Mikal Bridges (22) and the excellent Jordan Clarkson (18) and Tyler Kolek (16 points and 11 assists), allows the Knicks to come out on top right at the end.
To win you also need the fourth quarter Los Angeles Lakers, who achieved their second success in a row by beating the Utah Jazz at home 143-135. Taking center stage is Luka Doncic, who despite some errors from beyond the arc (4/12) signed a performance of 45 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists, making him by far the best on the pitch. LeBron James adds 28, with 7 rebounds and 10 assists, while the home team, which was ahead 106-102 before the last set, was not enough with Keyonte George’s 34 points.
Second consecutive defeat in extra time for the Houston Rockets, dominating the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans but they collapse in the second, completing the omelette with a 36-20 fourth quarter: Kevin Durant’s 32 points are not enough, the Pelicans come back with Saddiq Bey (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Trey Murphy (27 points) finding the equalizer and then extending in extra time up to the final 133-128.
They also win in extra time Dallas Mavericks (116-114 against the leaders in the East, the Detroit Pistons) and Portland Trail Blazers (134-133 against the Sacramento Kings).
In the other matches of the Italian night, the team returned to win Oklahoma City Thunder (122-101 at home against the Los Angeles Clippers), as well as the Miami Heat, who interrupted a streak of five consecutive knockouts by prevailing 106-95 on the Brooklyn Nets court.
-Photo IPA Agency-
(ITALPRESS).
