The Utah Jazz, lagging behind in the Western Conference, achieved the feat at home of bringing down the Detroit Pistons, leader of this Conference, 131 to 129 Friday evening, December 26 in the NBA, during an evening where Chicago, launched, signed its fifth victory in a row against Philadelphia 109 to 102.
>> NBA: Houston takes its revenge on Denver
>> NBA: The Thunder regains victory, Gilgeous-Alexander in the footsteps of Chamberlain
>> NBA: Wembanyama and the Spurs spoil OKC’s Christmas, Jokic exceptional
| James Harden of the Los Angeles Clippers attacks the basket against Portland in the NBA on December 26 in Portland. |
| Photo : AFP/VNA/CVN |
In Salt Lake City, Keyonte George, who was the man of the match with 31 points, gave the Jazz victory (131-129) with a basket 2.1 seconds from the buzzer.
With a desperate three-point attempt at the buzzer, Cade Cunningham failed to turn things around for the Pistons, who had won eight of their previous ten games.
To George’s 31 points were added for the Jazz the 30 of Lauri Markkanen.
Cunningham, despite his activity (29 points, 17 assists), could not prevent the defeat of his team.
Despite this hitch, the Nuggets nevertheless remain largely the leader of the Eastern Conference. Utah, which remained on four defeats, remains 12e to the West.
Two other teams from the top of the table in this Eastern Conference also fell: Philadelphia (5e), who gave in at the end of the match in Chicago (now 9e) 109 to 102, and Toronto (4e), largely beaten in Washington (138-117), which is no longer the bottom of the rankings.
The Sixers, who are going through a bad patch, have lost the fifth of their last eleven matches. They were victims of a Bulls team that showed character. Trailing after the third quarter, the Illinois team turned things around in the last quarter to achieve their fifth success in a row.
Offensive festival of Boston
“It was a bit messy, but we still won”satisfied White who, discreet until then, was decisive in this last quarter won 28-17 by the Bulls and during which he scored ten of his 13 points.
Joel Embiid scored 31 points for the Sixers. On a layup from him, Philadelphia still led by three points (102-99) with less than four minutes remaining. But the Bulls then signed a fatal 10-0 to the visiting team.
If Detroit, Philadelphia and Toronto fell outside, another big name from the Eastern Conference, Boston (3e), won brilliantly there, in Indiana against the Pacers, exhausted 140 to 122.
Jaylen Brown (30 points), Payton Pritchard (29 pts, 9 rebounds) and Sam Hauser (23 pts), who had an insolent success on award-winning shots (7 out of 8, coming off the bench) were the main architects of the fourth victory in a row for the Celtics.
In Washington, the Wizards bewitched the Raptors (138-117). This victory, only their sixth of the season against 23 defeats, allows them to abandon last place in the Conference to the Pacers.
Bilal Coulibaly stood out during this meeting, with 21 points, eight rebounds and three steals.
“We lacked aggression (in the first period). What we needed next was to be better physically.” declared the young French back of the Wizards.
In the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers are raising their heads. After losing the first quarter, they won the other three, including the last two, to win in Portland 119 to 103 and sign their third success in a row.
Bad news on the other hand from the Lakers, who announced that Austin Reaves, injured in his left calf against Houston on Thursday, would be absent for at least a month.
AFP/VNA/CVN
