CELTICS 105 – NETS 115
There is a reaction from the Nets. There was in the game and there is in his season. The first quarter was a disaster, the Celtics activated the steamroller, but they had enough courage to gradually come back and finish above the best team in the East so far. The game that in another part of this season was a train wreck is now the fight between the leader and a team that wants to find a new way to be competitive. This Friday it was worth the great game of Mikal Bridges, author of 38 points with 13/22 shooting, or the points of Johnson (20) or the ex-‘mavs’ Dinwiddie and Smith (17). The greens, with Tatum, Brown and other valuable players, had a slip in the Garden against, on the other hand, one of the best ranked teams in the Eastern Conference. Those from Brooklyn had lost four in a row, and with some result that was too bulky since the transfers of Durant and Irving took place, and now they are relaunching with a victory of bells.
HEAT 120 – KNICKS 122
Randle (43) won the game for the Knicks in the most Randle way you know. The New York power forward lost the ball on the penultimate possession, giving away an extra option to win the Heat at home, and in the last one he was on the verge of losing control of the ball on two occasions. He leaned to the right and off balance, he took a winning shot from his hands to the delight of all except one Thibodeau who suffered watching such a spectacle. Brunson (25) and Quickley (21) also stood out in the visiting team. It is the eighth win in a row and the tenth in the last eleven games. Heat and Knicks, for totally opposite reasons, are unknown at this point in the regular season.
WARRIORS 108 – PELICANS 99
Before Stephen Curry returns, Golden State scrubs the floor to honor its megastar. Jordan Poole scored 12 of his 18 personal points and Klay Thompson led with 27 points. In addition to his position partners, Jonathan Kuminga (19) or JaMychal Green (14) stood out as substitutes. The champions dominated inside. Willy Hernangómez started again due to the absences of Jonas Valanciunas and Zion Williamson and finished with 6+6. Things get complicated for the Pelicans: the Lakers knock on the door.
BULLS 104 – SUNS 125
Booker (35) repeated Durant’s (20) first day strategy to make these new Suns a winning team. They were only seen to falter in the second quarter of their game in Chicago, at a lower level than their rival on this day. DeRozan (31) and LaVine (27) tried to no avail. Outstanding Okogie (25).
THUNDER 130 – JAZZ 103
Wiggins (27) turned out to be the surprise of the locals against Markkanen (20) and his teammates. A massive victory between two teams from the West trying to enter the top ten and with the Jazz, as expected, beginning to slack off. Dort (19) and Giddey (18) helped the guard with the scoring task. Good Fontecchio (16).
HORNETS 106 – MAGIC 117
The Magic took advantage of -this time yes- a good game by Paolo Banchero, who reached 31 points with 50% of his shots scored, to emerge victorious from the visit to North Carolina. The lead taken in the first half was well preserved in the second as Michael Jordan’s gaze focused on his players like a rifle scope. Oubre (29+10), the most prominent of the locals. Charlotte continues to make merits to be last ranked in the NBA, and more after the injury of LaMelo Ball, although Detroit, Houston and San Antonio are still below.
HAWKS 129 – BLAZERS 111
Murray (41), scoring the five triples he tried and with only five errors in the complete of his shots, showed the change of the Hawks, now with Snyder in command. The Trail Blazers were not on the same level as the Georgians for almost no time and, with their fifth loss in six games, they are detached from the fight to reach the postseason.
LAKERS 102 – TIMBERWOLVES 110
Defeat against some Wolves that endured Davis’s numbers. The two, direct rivals. But the Lakers benefit from more results. Read the chronicle.
KINGS 128 – CLIPPERS 127
The Los Angeles Clippers still do not know the victory with Russell Westbrook in their ranks. A spicy finish with a worrying result against the Kings. Read the chronicle.
NUGGETS 113 – GRIZZLIES 97
The duel of first against second in the Western Conference was resolved in favor of the Denver Nuggets, leader, with another recital by Nikola Jokic. Read the chronicle.