This is the eighth time this season that Tatum has scored 40 points or more in one game, noting that he played without fellow star Gaylen Brown, who fractured his face following they collided unintentionally, and center fielder Al Horford who injured his knee, in addition to Marcus Smart.
In this absence, distributor Derek White scored 33 points, including 8 three-pointers and 10 assists.
The green team players scored 25 three-pointers in the match out of 55 attempts.
“It felt good to shoot,” White said. “I got good positions and took advantage of that.”
Thanks to early long-range throws, Boston made a big difference, and until the Hornets scored 15 consecutive points in the third quarter, the leaders kept a difference of more than ten points.
With his five three-pointers, Tatum became the first player to score a thousand three-pointers before his twenty-fifth birthday.
“He took the game to a different level this season,” White continued of his 24-year-old teammate. “It’s nice to watch him and play with him. He makes the right choice in every attack.”
Yannis shaves
The Milwaukee Bucks, Boston runners-up in the Eastern Province (39-17), achieved their tenth successive victory, at the expense of their host, the Los Angeles Clippers, 119-106.
As usual, the Greek star Yannis Antetokounmpo shone, scoring 35 points, raising his average in this series to 37.3 points.
The Clippers led 27-22 in the first quarter, thanks to Paul George’s 19 points and 11 rebounds, who played without injured star Kawhi Leonard.
And in the absence of Chris Middleton, Milwaukee, the 2021 champion, featured Brooke Lopez (22 points and 15 rebounds), in addition to Gro Holiday (19 points and 6 assists), to succeed in turning the difference and achieving a new victory.
Philadelphia takes revenge
The Philadelphia 76ers, third in the eastern region (35-19), took revenge for their disappointing loss in New York on Sunday, by defeating the Knicks 119-108.
Cameroonian giants Joel Embiid scored 35 points and picked up 11 rebounds, and Tyrese Maxi added 27 points following coming off the bench, to overturn Philadelphia’s 13-point deficit.
Star James Harden scored 20 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds for the winning team.
For the loser, Julius Randle and Gaylen Branson each scored 30 points, while the latter’s share was 20 points in the first quarter.
Butler’s last breath
In Miami, the competition was intense, as Jimmy Butler planted the winning basket with three-tenths of a second left, and led the Heat to a 97-95 lead over the Houston Rockets.
Tyler Hero was the best scorer for Miami (31 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists), and center player Bam Adebayo added 20 points and Butler 16.
Heat, sixth in the eastern region, was in danger of losing once morest the bottom of the league standings (13-43), by falling behind by five points 3:40 minutes before the end of time.
The wing shot, Jalen Green, equalized the numbers 95-95, but Butler and from the “Alli Up” ball snatched the winning basket.
Irving shines with the Mavericks
Finnish Lauri Markkanen and center player Walker Kessler scored 23 points, leading the Utah Jazz to compensate for its 12-point deficit, 4:53 minutes from the end of its match with the Toronto Raptors, to a 122-116 victory over its host.
In Memphis, Ja Morant scored 32 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists, and Desmond Payne added 20, leading the Grizzlies to a comfortable victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves 128-107.
In his second match following his loud transfer from the Brooklyn Nets, distributor Kyrie Irving scored 25 points and 10 assists, to give the Dallas Mavericks a 122-114 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Slovenian Luka Doncic remained absent due to an ankle injury, but the Mavericks hoped he would return on Saturday to face the Kings once more.
Canadian Shay Gilgios-Alexander hit hard, scoring 44 points for Oklahoma City, during his team’s 138-129 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, which was not enough for 38 points from his star Damian Lillard.
The Phoenix Suns defeated the Indiana Pacers 117-104, thanks to 22 points and 11 rebounds from DeAndre Ayton and 21 points from Devin Booker.
