We start with a rather expected poster in the big league and which is that of the confrontation between LeBron James and the Lakers and Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Not in good shape lately with no victory since the resumption, the Lakers had to do a lot to try to win back their fans a little. It’s not an easy task but, despite a good start from “Luka Magic” with his 12 points in the first quarter, the Lakers resist and neither team can take the lead. It was the Mavs who sounded the first big offensive in the second quarter with a duo Dorian Finney-Smith/Jalen Brunson which explodes the opposing defense. Dallas takes up to 21 points and the Lakers are at the bottom of the hole, despite the fact that they come back “-15” at halftime. The return from the locker room will be much more interesting on the Angelinos side. The players are much more aggressive, offensively and defensively, limiting the Mavericks to only 14 points in the quarter and on the other side, finally getting their shots. Thus, LeBron James and Malik Monk allow the Lakers to come back in front and the game is restarted. The Lakers hold on for a few minutes thanks to their duo LeBron James /Russell Westbrook but 5 minutes from time, Dallas will swing the game in its direction and will never let go of the advantage. Again the Lakers crack in the fourth quarter time and once more the Lakers lose, this time 109-104. Another tough defeat for fans and players. LeBron James has 26 pts, 12 rebounds and 5 assists, and Carmelo Anthony was regular and efficient coming off the bench with his 20 units. Opposite, the Doncic-Brunson duo finished with 47 points and victory!
On the Minnesota side, no hassle. Motivated like never before, the Wolves had a good game to afford the Warriors who will have held a quarter time. The latter, well balanced collectively, will see the enormous heat stroke of Karl Anthony Towns with 15 points. Despite this, the Warriors resist and it is the Wolves bench that will make the small difference allowing the locals to keep the advantage. Stephen Curry is trying to put his people back in front with his 10 pts in the second quarter, but D’Angelo Russell keeps an eye on the grain and with his 12 units keeps his team in the lead at halftime. The third quarter, the Warriors’ playground will be once more with Stephen Curry in great shape. The double MVP has 16 points and is trying to bring his people back, but Wolves are ultra solid tonight and a great Karl Anthony Towns (another 11 points in this quarter) keeps them at a distance. Having missed the boat, the Warriors give up a bit but above all, Minnesota puts their mouths on the line to fly to victory and wins 129-114. Towns was crazy with 39 pts 14/22 and 9 rebounds, alongside Russell’s 22 points and 20 from a Malik Beasley very effective. Opposite, Curry’s 34 points will not have been enough.
We end the night with the four other posters and in particular the very interesting Hawks-Celtics where it is the defense of the C’s which emerged victorious from the confrontation. Winning 107-98, Boston was initially very scared with the loss of Jaylen Brown from the start of the game and the Hawks who flew before halftime, recovering up to 17 points ahead thanks to the 22 points of Bring Young. But the return from the locker room was much better next to the Celtics with a defense found, 13 and 20 points conceded during the 3rd and 4th quarter, a big comeback and a Jayson Tatum untenable with its 33 points. Thus Boston imposes itself thanks also to the 18 points of Derrick White and Grant Williams.
Hard blow for the Nets who thought they had done the hardest part by coming back to the score once morest the Raptors, and leading by 7 points at the start of the fourth quarter, but who finally bowed to the heat stroke of Gary Trent Jr and a big defense in the 4th quarter. Without the winning trio, Brooklyn still had 18 points from Curry and 19 of J.Johnson but that was not enough once morest the 24 of GTJ and the 18 of Siakam and Barnes.
In such a tight end to the game, Washington narrowly won once morest the Pistons thanks to a slight domination and a better last quarter time. With 8 players in double figures including Kyle Kuzma 21 points, the Wizards collective spoke once morest the trio Cunningham, Grant and Bey Pistons, authors of 20.26 and 19 points respectively.
Fourth straight victory for the Clippers, 113-100 once morest the Rockets, thanks to a third quarter of madness. After a balanced first half, the Clippers went 40-25 to the Rockets, thanks in particular to 10 points and 7 rebounds from Tooth on the quarter time and have thus recovered the advantage that they will not let go until the end, despite the 12 points of Jalen Green in the last quarter. A solid victory for a group that is just as solid!
Detroit 113 Washington 116
Atlanta 98 Boston 107
Brooklyn 108 Toronto 109
LA 113 Houston 100
GS 114 Minnesota 129
Dallas 109 LA Lakers 104
