The NBA enters a final leg of its normal season which will definitely accelerate after the All-Star 2023 break to be held next week in Salt Lake City. For some teams, that means preparing the weaponry for the fight for the final grand prize. For others, accelerating in the race for the last places in playoffsa space now more open, since the creation of the play-in. And for the latter, the worst for one thing or another, circumstantial or conjunctural, It is about finishing as low as possible because the eyes turn, now openly or dissembling (if there has been so far) to the draft. And more so if a player appears on the horizon with traces of a generational piece, an architect who will redesign the franchise in which he lands. That player, of course, is the center/wonder man French Victor Wembanyama. And two of the teams that are following in his footsteps are the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs.
Both faced each other in Detroit, in one of those songs to tanking that now they have a little less drama: in the last reconfiguration of the norm, the three worst have the same chances of taking the number 1, 14%. An attempt to ensure that matches like this are not a very clear contest to see who is capable of not win with more salt shaker. The worst is guaranteed a top 5, the second can have up to the pick 6 and the third, up to 7. But they all have a 14% chance of No. 1. By the fourth, that count drops to 12.5%. And in that they are, in this order after Detroit’s 138-131, Houston Rockets (the worst, 13-43), Spurs (14-42), Hornets (15-42) and Pistons (15-42).
With their victory, the Pistons leave the bottom 3but there is only a game and a half difference between them and the Rockets, so those accounts will be resolved little by little, day by day, defeat by defeat. Meanwhile, those of the motown they won after two extensions and with an eye on what happens with the transfer that was going to leave them with James Wiseman and without Saddiq Bey, a four-way operation that hangs by a thread because Gary Payton did not pass the medical examination with some Warriors that they are very angry and can back down the whole movement.
With a team in absolute circumstances between injuries and players on hold after the hectic trade deadline, the Spurs shot poorly (43% total) but the Pistons shot worse (7/37 from 3-pointers)… but they grabbed a lot of attack rebounds (21). Popovich’s men had done it 18 seconds from the end of the first overtime (121-125) but four points from Bojan Bogdanovic and a steal from Isaiah Livers forced the second overtime. The Croatian finished with 32 points, the best in decisive moments. AND center Jalen Duren (19 years and 86 days) played the best game, so far, of what should be a very long NBA career: 30 points, 17 rebounds, 4 blocks. In the areas of the Spurs there was no resistance. For the Texans, Zach Collins contributed 29 points and 11 rebounds, the rookies Malaki Branham 27 and newcomer Devonte’ Graham, 31 with a license to throw it all (6/16 in triples).
Another unbelievable loss for the Rockets
If the Spurs accumulate eleven consecutive defeats, their Texan neighbor, the Houston Rockets, is in four, and 20 in the last 23 games. The last two, yes, have been millimetric, almost impossible. On Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings they won 128-123 with 57 seconds to go and 128-127 with one to go… and with possession. They lost 128-130. This time, in Miami, they led 88-91 already at the last minute and they tied with a supersonic transition from Jalen Green (95-95) with only seven tenths left on the clock. But Jimmy Butler completed a alley-oop and gave victory to those from Florida, who still did not give exactly a good image. They are (31-25) sixth in the East, with a feeling of coldness after doing nothing at the close of the market.
The coach of Stephen Silas, who complains all the time about the attitude of his young, ripped Rockets, said afterward that he warned his players not to make defensive changes to prevent a Heat player from ending up alone under the rim. But it passed, and Butler scored. He finished with 16 points, Bam Adebayo with 20 and 9 rebounds and Tyler Herro, with 31 + 9 and 8 assists. in the Rockets, 22 + 8 for Jabari Smith Jr and a disastrous 5/19 in shots for 11 points by Jalen Green. After the departure of Bruno Fernando on Thursday, Usman Garuba gained weight in the center rotation: he played more than 14 minutes (2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals).
OTHER RESULTS OF THE DAY
INDIANA PACERS 104-PHOENIX SUNS 117
BOSTON CELTICS 127-CHARLOTTE HORNETS 116
PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 119-NEW YORK KNICKS 108
TORONTO RAPTORS 116-UTAH JAZZ 122
NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 107-CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 118
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS 129-OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER 138
