Chicago (USA), Dec 17 (EFE).- Devin Booker was the main character in the NBA this Saturday, leading the comeback of the Phoenix Suns against the New Orleans Pelicans with 58 points, after that Monty Williams’ team was trailing by 24 points.
Kawhi Leonard’s display against the Washington Wizards (31 points) and the Miami Heat’s victory against the San Antonio Spurs in Mexico City also stood out on a day in which the Dallas Mavericks lost in overtime against the Cleveland Cavaliers, without Slovenian Luka Doncic.
SUNS 118 – PELICANS 114
Booker sealed the third best performance of his career, scoring 70 points against the Boston Celtics in 2017 and 59 against the Utah Jazz in 2019, and led the Suns’ 24-point comeback against the Pelicans.
The Suns point guard thwarted the great performances of Zion Williamson, who scored 30 points with nine assists, and CJ McCollum, who had 27 points and eight assists for the Pelicans.
Chris Paul, who graduated this Friday in communications from the University of Winston Salem, returned to the court with 18 points, five rebounds and eight assists.
THUNDER 115 – GRIZZLES 109
The Oklahoma City Thunder ended a five-game losing streak at the expense of some Grizzlies in which Ja Morant was ejected at the end of the second quarter for his insistent protests to the referees.
Morant left the track when he had six points in 13 minutes and the Grizzlies were not enough for the 32 points, with six triples, from Dillon Brooks.
The Spanish Santi Aldama scored seven points, with five rebounds and an assist in 16 minutes and 51 seconds on the court coming off the bench.
In the Thunder, without Shai Gilgeous Alexander, the team’s leading scorer this season, the victory was led by Luguentz Dort’s 24 points and Isaiah Joe’s 23.
SPURS 101 – HEAT 111
Jimmy Butler, with 26 points, and Bam Adebayo, with a double-double of 22 points and thirteen rebounds, launched some Miami Heat that knocked down the Spurs in a game played in Mexico City.
Erick Spoelstra’s team woke up on time and sealed their victory with a resounding 31-17 in the last period.
BUCKS 123 – JAZZ 97
Without the Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo or Khris Middleton, the Bucks overwhelmed the Utah Jazz at home pushed by a double double of 22 points and fourteen rebounds from Bobby Portis. Jrue Holiday contributed 21 points, four rebounds and eight assists.
The Spanish Serge Ibaka scored two points and grabbed two rebounds in eleven minutes and 16 seconds on the court. The rookie MarJon Beauchamp also excelled, with 18 points, four rebounds and three assists in just over 18 minutes on the court.
CLIPPERS 102 – WIZARDS 93
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Washington Wizards 102-93 with 31 points from a dominant Kawhi Leonard, who led his team by the hand despite the illustrious losses of Paul George, Reggie Jackson or Ivica Zubac.
Leonard had the best performance of his season, both in terms of points (31) and minutes on court (33), and led a Clippers who rallied from fifteen points behind in the second quarter to stay sixth in the West (18 -14), in the ‘playoffs’ area.
The Clippers left behind the defeat suffered three days ago against the Phoenix Suns, when Leonard, who is finalizing his recovery after the broken cross suffered in 2021, was out.
CAVALIERS 100 – MAVERICKS 99
The Dallas Mavericks, without Luka Doncic, out due to a quadriceps injury, lost for the second time in two meetings this year with the Cavaliers, who settled in third place in the East (20-11).
Kemba Walker shined with 32 points and was the only one of the Mavs capable of scoring in an overtime marked by errors. The Texans only made one shot of seven and the Cavaliers were victorious despite their two-of-7 shooting.
Donovan Mitchell contributed 25 points and four rebounds, Darius Garland signed a new double double of 18 points and twelve assists and Jarrett Allen dominated in the paint with fifteen rebounds.
TRAIL BLAZERS 107 – ROCKETS 95
Anfernee Simons, with 32 points, Damian Lillard, with a double double of 25 points and ten assists, and Josh Hart, with another double double of twelve points and thirteen rebounds, led the Blazers to victory against the Rockets.
The Blazers, sixth in the West (17-13), sank some Rockets that are bottom in the same conference (9-11), tied with the San Antonio Spurs.
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– Classifications:
. Eastern Conference:
.1. Boston Celtics 22-8
.2. Milwaukee Bucks 21-8
.3. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-11
.4. Brooklyn Nets 18-12
.5. Philadelphia 76ers 16-12
.6. New York Knicks 16-13
.7. Miami Heat 16-15
.8. Indiana Pacers 15-15
.9. Atlanta Hawks 15-15
10. Toronto Raptors 13-16
11. Chicago Bulls 11-17
12. Washington Wizards 11-19
13. Orlando Magic 10-20
14. Detroit Pistons 8-23
15. Charlotte Hornets 7-22
. Western Conference:
.1. Memphis Grizzlies 19-10
.2. New Orleans Pelicans 18-11
.3. Denver Nuggets 17-11
.4. Phoenix Suns 18-12
.5. Sacramento Kings 16-12
.6. Portland Trail Blazers 17-13
.7. LA Clippers 18-14
.8. Utah Jazz 17-15
.9. Dallas Mavericks 15-15
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 14-15
11. Golden State Warriors 14-16
12. LA Lakers 12-16
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 12-18
14. San Antonio Spurs 9-20
15. Houston Rockets 9-20