WARRIORS 104 – PACERS 112
The Warriors, with almost all the cavalry: Curry, Thompson, Green, Poole… The Pacers, reserving key men: Haliburton, Turner… Well, the victory went to those from Indiana. And small it was. Fateful night for Steph, with 3/17 shooting, and the game of his life for Andrew Nembhard. Correct, the one who hit the triple to beat the Lakers last week. 31 points, 8 rebounds, 13 assists and a lot of impudence in 41 minutes on the track. With him, the Pacers knew how to control the rhythm, not losing it at any time despite the pressure from the Warriors. The champion gave up at home. It is only their second defeat at home, but the balance is devastating for them: 13-12 and doubts that they are not going away. Hield (17), Smith (15) or Mathurin and Brissett, with 14 each, helped their successful point guard -rookie- to break a streak of three consecutive losses.
ROCKETS 132 – SIXERS 123
The return of James Harden, double in this case, could not end worse. The outside player was playing again after the minor injury that has kept him off the pitch in recent games, but he was doing it in his beloved Houston. And some Rockets who have a campaign to forget made him remember some of his glory nights, only he was on the opposing team. The Sixers fell after enduring two overtimes. Green (27) and Porter (24) crushed Harden on the outside, Eason (18) continues to add at a high level and Smith (16) came up in decisive moments. Garuba, for his part, played six minutes and did not score. The good numbers of Embiid (37) and Harris (29) came to nothing against a team that leading 5-5 in ten games will seem most positive.
HORNETS 117 – CLIPPERS 119
A Kawhi Leonard receiving shot off the post, straightening up at midrange to score with just 1.4 seconds left on the clock, gave the Clippers the most important lead in Charlotte. The one that gave them, finally, the triumph. PJ Washington, after the adjustments proposed by Clifford in the band, did not hit the tie on the buzzer. It was the culmination of a good comeback by the Angelenos during the decisive quarter. Oubre (28), Washington (26) and Rozier (22) were not enough against the limping Leonard (16) and George (19), also touched the last two weeks.
RAPTORS 110 – CELTICS 116
Tatum (31+12) and Brown (22+8+8) form a very dynamic duo. Jaylen missed too many shots but contributed in other facets. Jayson was the one who raised the team again. The Celtics don’t stop winning. And in complicated fiefdoms. In Toronto they had a scary third quarter, 18-35, to take the advantage enough to suffer only a little at the end. Only a little. Because the confidence of this team does not run out. In the premises Juancho did not play due to injury; in the visitors the twentieth victory of the season is reached.
MAGIC 102 – BUCKS 109
The Celtics are being chased by the Bucks. Giannis, with 34 points and 13 rebounds, was the Magic’s nightmare. Portis (18) and Holiday (17) contributed secondarily on a night in which Khris Middleton was noticed still lacking in touch (1/11 in shots). The German Wagner (25) was the most successful in Orlando, who approached with two minutes left for Antetokounmpo to take responsibility ball in hand and get the necessary points to secure the match. Milwaukee will continue three behind Boston in the East standings.
HAWKS 114 – THUNDER 121
New charisma victory for the Thunder with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 points. Decisive in the plays in which he had to be decisive to cancel out the Hawks in the end. Both Young (23), after his controversy, and Murray (24) did not reach the height of the Canadian. Two other youngsters, also important: Giddey (17) and Dieng (15). OKC gets three chained.
MAVERICKS 130 – SUNS 111
The Suns, despite their good progress, run into Luka Doncic again and some Mavericks on the rise. Review from start to finish from the Texans to the leader. Read the chronicle.
GRIZZLIES 101 – HEAT 93
The losses of the Grizzlies placed Santi Aldama as a starter again. The Spaniard made it into a movie and helped defeat the tough Miami Heat. Read the chronicle.
