Launched on a series of four successes in a row, the New York Knicks intended to continue this Wednesday evening at Madison Square Garden against Charlotte for a place in the play-in. But Evan Fournier’s teammates were stopped short (125-114), losing almost any chance of playing knockout matches in a few weeks.
However, the Frenchman did everything to keep his team in the game with thirty points including a six out of eight from long distance. But opposite, Miles Bridges (31 points) and LaMelo Ball (20 points, 15 assists) had the respondent. And while New York was still in the game in the last quarter (104-102 5′ from time), the end of the game was one-sided.
A defeat that leaves New York in eleventh place in the East, at the gates of the play-in and which gives air to Charlotte (9th). Especially since at the same time, Atlanta did the right thing.
Atlanta and Luwawu-Cabarrot do the right thing
Thanks to a great night Trae Young (41 points) and a perfect start to the game (42-24 in the first quarter), the Hawks brought down Oklahoma (136-118) to consolidate the last jump seat in the East (10th) with five more wins and one less game played than New York.
A success in which the French Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot participated with ten points, three rebounds and three assists in 23 minutes. The latter was not the only tricolor to stand out since Théo Maledon, despite the defeat of the Thunder, again filled in a good statistics sheet with 18 points, 8 assists and four rebounds, just like Olivier Sarr (17 points , 9 rebounds).
Doncic lifts Dallas to third in the West
Nothing is more surprising with Luka Doncic. In a beefy game in Cleveland, the Slovenian showed his talent again with 35 points, 13 assists and 9 rebounds to allow the Mavs to win 120-112 and move third in the West, following the defeat of Golden State against Phoenix.
And while Memphis, still deprived of Ja Morant (knee) consolidated its second place in the West with a success on the wire over San Antonio (112-111), leaving the Texans, for the time being, out of the play- in favor of the Lakers, Toronto made a good operation by winning 125-102 against Minnesota, thanks in particular to the triple double of Pascal Siakam (12 points, 10 rebounds, 13 assists).
New Orleans having won in Portland (117-107), the battle will be tense until the end for the last runners-up in the West where Denver took fifth place from Utah thanks to a success over Indiana (125-118 ), worn by Nikola Jokic (37 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists).