Are the Lakers already in crisis? This is the question that observers are asking following their lost match once morest the Suns, for an expected revenge of the 1is turn of playoffs of last season. Despite a serious start to the match, the men of Frank Vogel collapsed during the second quarter, the fault of a lack of background and constant investment on their part. Against a well-established team, they lost an incredible number of balls (Russell Westbrook and LeBron James are at the forefront), facilitating easy baskets for a Phoenix team that did not expect so much… The defense of Mikal Brides and of DeAndre Ayton forced the Lakers to chain sterile possessions, like their lost streak a few months ago… From the second quarter, the game was over. Proof of this is an altercation between Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard three minutes from halftime… The two men must have been separated by their teammates. On the other side, Chris Paul played his marvelous score as his team’s maestro. In this regard, he became the first player in history to exceed the bar of 20,000 points and 10,000 assists in his career… Did you say legend? During the third quarter, the Suns mastered their subject, the gap then cheerfully exceeding thirty points before a return in the last quarter-time of the Lakers… Despite a LeBron James in legs, the collective of the Purple and Gold barely integrating Russell Westbrook. The defensive identity of the team no longer exists and the site is open for Frank Vogel to establish the right rotations…
The big performance of the night is credited to Kevin Durant in the Nets’ victory (114/109) once morest the Sixers. Well entered in their meeting, the Sixers take the party to cartel the defense of Brooklyn by multiplying the attempts at 3-points. With success, they take a few possessions ahead in the first quarter once morest the flock of Steve Nash. Tobias Harris is skillful, as Seth Curry and this Philly team offers exciting basketball despite a Joel Embiid inside. In the second quarter, the Nets defend better, their defensive rotations are set up and the duo KevinDurant /LaMarcus Aldridge torpedo Philly. The interior, returned to the courts following announcing his retirement last year, is still just as fair in his offensive choices. The two allow Brooklyn back into the game. Always led the break, the Nets fail to come back to score in the third quarter. The young Sixers are impressive with accuracy and willpower, between a Tyrese Maxey particularly responsible as a titular playmaker of the team or of a Matisse Thybulle defensively impacting. The Sixers control the game before a terrible collapse in the last minutes of the meeting. During the last four minutes, they will not register the slightest basket… (only one point during the last six minutes) In defense, they do anything and here is Kevin Durant and his team launched towards a 16/1 for the take away… Once once more, LaMarcus Aldridge proved to be the most reliable teammate for KD while James Harden struggling at the start of the season. What an incredible rat from these Sixers, yet exciting.
It all happened in the dying seconds of the hottest game of the night between the Wizards and the Pacers. In an ultra-offensive game, the Wizards were deprived of Bradley Beal, touch the hip. Leading by 10 points in the last quarter, the Wizards are holding on to win. The Pacers wake up then. They increase their intensity in defense while continuing to attack effectively ( once morest a weak defense). Malcolm Brogdon allows his team to take the advantage and widen the gap a few minutes from the end of the meeting. Spencer Dinwiddie justifies his recruitment by scoring two important priming shots to equalize (123/123). During the last seconds, following a lost ball by Malcolm Brogdon, Dinwiddie misses the winning shot. Both teams then go into overtime. The Pacers immediately take the advantage thanks to the enormous performance of Myles Turner. Once once more, the Wizards react. They rely on Spencer Dinwiddie but also on the good game of Kyle Kuzma to take the advantage (134/131) a few seconds from the end of the meeting. This Ms. Kuzma scored an important free throw to leave the Pacers two possessions behind. Despite a final winning shot from Malcolm Brogdon, the men of Rick Carlisle fail to come back and bow by the narrowest of margins (135/134).
The Jazz won once morest the Kings (110/101) thanks to an excellent match by Rudy Gobert (17 points/20 rebounds), dominating in the racket. Charlotte chained a second consecutive victory by winning once morest the Cavaliers, thanks to the 30 points of Miles Bridges. The victory was decided in the last minutes of the game, a moment chosen by the Hornets to raise their level of play once morest their opponents. Why does the Cleveland coach insist on playing together Lauri Markkanen, Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley ? This is the real question of this start to the season as Isaac Okoro comes off the bench and was drafted last year… Boston was largely dominated by the Raptors (115/83)… The first two games not reassure Boston while Toronto, Scottie Barnes delivered a masterclass in his second game (25 points/13 rebounds). In the duel dunces (potential), Houston largely dominated OKC (124/91). Christian Wood finds its marks and massacres the opponent’s racket with a performance punctuated by 31 points and 14 rebounds. The Nuggets were able to count on a Nikola Jokic (32 points/16 rebounds/7 assists) in MVP mode to overcome Spurs (102/96). The flocks of Gregg Popovich had resisted well before waving the white flag in the last minutes of the game once morest the opposing talent. Finally, the Bulls won quietly once morest the Pelicans (128/112) thanks to a very good match from their new trio: Lonzo Ball/DeMar DeRozan/Zach LaVine.
Cleveland Cavaliers 112 – 123 Charlotte Hornets
Washington Wizards 135 – 134 Indiana Pacers
Boston Celtics 83- 115 Toronto Raptors
Philadelhpei 109 – 114 Brooklyn Nets
Chicago Bulls 128 – 112 New Orleans Pelicans
Houston Rockets 124 – 91 OKC
Denver Nuggets 102 – 96 San Antonio Spurs
Los Angeles Lakers 105 – 115 Phoenix Suns
Sacramento Kings 101 – 110 Utah Jazz