The Matchup: Lakers upset by Bulls
No mercy. The Bulls were ruthless with the Lakers on Monday night. For an easy victory of Chicago in Los Angeles (121-103), the second in a row following the one won once morest the Clippers the day before. With one thing in common in both meetings: an absolutely unplayable DeMar DeRozan. The All-Star running back, a native of Compton, delivered another XXL performance by scoring 38 points on 15-of-23 shooting. But beyond his performance, the bulls’ two games once morest the Hollywood formations have nothing to do with it.
The Clippers put up a show of resistance. The Lakers, on the other hand, got run over by the Chicagoan bulldozer. To the point of giving the impression that a candidate at the top was challenging a mid-table team. Inverted statuses … but Angelenos do not look at all like a formation capable of going through in a few months. In any case certainly not last night. Already unable to hold their own in the first half, Frank Vogel’s players took to the water in defense when they returned from the locker room. As usual. DeRozan and Zach LaVine (26 points) started the Bulls on a 9-0 run to pull within 68-53. They didn’t look back then.
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Only Anthony Davis had 20 points in 28 minutes before being ejected. A sign of frustration. His rant a few days ago regarding the importance of applying in the third quarter didn’t have an impact. The Lakers fell apart at that point. This brings their total differential to -89 since the beginning of the season. The worst team in the league in the third quarters.
Lonzo Ball (27 points) charged in to finish off his hometown franchise in the fourth. With a maddening address. Outdoor baskets that served as an exclamation point to conclude this very nice success of the Bulls, decidedly solid on this first month. Just the opposite of the Lakers.
The Player: Chris Paul decisive, Suns string together ninth win
The finalists needed a little week to get started. With 3 losses in their first 4 matches. But since then, here they are. They turned on the steamroller to string together 9 wins in a row. The last one, on Monday night, once morest the Timberwolves (99-96), is to be credited to Chris Paul. The veteran point guard has been imperious in the past, with teams still vying for the win. Quiet for three quarters, CP3 scored 19 of its 21 points in the final 12 minutes.
An offensive performance necessary to keep Karl-Anthony Towns (35 points) and his teammates at bay. If Paul shone, it was his teammate Devin Booker, author of 29 points, who scored the basket for the win 16 seconds before the siren. Thus sealing the new victory of the Arizona franchise, already second in the West.
The Series: 5 in a row and a record start for the Wizards
This Washington team is transformed. Usually very rough and dependent on its star Bradley Beal, it seems much better organized and deeper since its leaders traded Russell Westbrook for five (good) players. Several of them got the job done to lead the Wizards to a fifth straight victory Monday night. And that one, Scott Brooks’ men went for it with their guts. Coming back from a 19-point deficit to win once morest the Pelicans (105-100).
It was at 41-60 in the third quarter that Spencer Dinwiddie started the scoring machine by scoring the first of his four award-winning baskets. The point guard finished the game with 27 points. But the Wizards ran following the score for another long minutes. Still 7 points behind at the start of the last 12 minutes. It was only 5 minutes before the buzzer that Kyle Kuzma tied it for the first time (92-92). The Pelicans have missed 11 shots in a row, letting their opponents slip to victory. The tenth for Washington this season. With a 10-3 record, the D.C. franchise is off to its best start since 1975.
The Duo: Porzingis and Doncic topple Jokic and the Nuggets
Warn the other 29 teams in the league: Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis are slowly creating an interesting alchemy on the field. And that, it can hurt. The Nuggets paid the price last night, falling to the Mavericks (101-111) despite an 8-point advantage at the break. Because Nikola Jokic (35 points, 16 rebounds) and his comrades came across a tandem of All-Stars in great shape.
Doncic and Porzingis each scored more than 20 points for the third straight game. 23 with 11 assists for the former, 29 with 11 rebounds for the latter. The Mavericks started the final quarter with a flurry of three-point baskets to quickly regain the advantage and widen the gap. Without being joined followingwards. With 9-4, here they are on the podium of the Western Conference. The only catch, Doncic hurt his ankle at the very end of the game. Bad news ahead of shocks once morest the Suns and Clippers.
The rookie: Matchup reference for the first pick of the draft
Be careful, Cade Cunningham is starting to set the sights. After several tricky exits, the new Pistons star is increasingly comfortable on the floor. And on Monday night, the young man showed himself by compiling 25 points and 8 rebounds. With finally a little address (10 out of 20). The best performance of his very young career (7 matches). The top pick in the draft is slowly finding his feet following being hampered by an ankle injury. Enough to give Detroit fans hope for a bright future.
The stat : 2
Like the number of baskets the Pacers scored once morest the Knicks in the fourth quarter Monday night. 2 on 20-of-20 shooting and squandered a 5-point lead to finally let New York win (92-84). Tom Thibodeau’s players were not much more adroit than their opponents. But they relied on their defense to end a three-game losing streak at home. With a very defensive last quarter (23-10) that turned to their advantage.
The French: A little night for the representatives of France
Down 0 of 5, Killian Hayes didn’t score for the Pistons last night. He settled for 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 1 interception and 1 once morest in 23 minutes. A basket for Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot – a three-pointer – with the Hawks but… for a single minute of play. Evan Fournier still hasn’t found his shot and he finished with 7 points (3-of-9), 3 rebounds and 3 assists in the Knicks’ win. Frank Ntilikina scored 3 points for the Mavericks.
The results of the night in the NBA
Cavaliers – Celtics: 92-98
Pistons – Kings: 107-129
Wizards – Pelicans: 105-100
Hawks – Magic: 129-111
Knicks – Pacers: 92-84
Mavericks – Nuggets: 111-101
Grizzlies – Rockets: 136-102
Timberwolves – Suns: 96-98
Thunder – Heat: 90-103
Raptors – Trail Blazers: 113-118
Lakers – Bulls: 121-103
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