2024-01-24 09:31:45
The Clippers and the Knicks emerged victorious from fratricidal duels on Tuesday evening in the NBA, dominating their neighbors the Lakers and the Nets.
The Clippers and the Knicks emerged victorious from fratricidal duels on Tuesday evening in the NBA, dominating their neighbors the Lakers and the Nets, respectively in Los Angeles and Brooklyn, in the suburbs of New York.
Fratricidal duels
West Coast/East Coast, no jealousy for basketball lovers since the Clippers faced the Lakers in LA while the Knicks challenged the Nets in Brooklyn. In the former Staples Center in the City of Angels, it was the Clippers of Kawhi Leonard (25 points) and James Harden (23 units) who took over the Lakers deprived of LeBron James (ankle), 127-116.
Russell Westbrook (16 points in 18 minutes) allowed himself to score a three-point basket with only one shoe on his feet. “We have so much talent, legendary players in this locker room… our mission is to ensure that every match we continue to polish this diamond», Reacted the former Lakers.
Already trailing by around fifteen points before the break, the latter never managed to get back up to par, despite the efforts of Anthony Davis (26 pts), and fell back into the negative (22 v., 23 l.), at 9th place. On the contrary, this victory allows the Clippers to string together a third victory and consolidate their 4th place in the standings.
At the other end of the country, logic was also respected since the Knicks, 5th, dominated their neighbors Brooklyn, 11th, 108-103. But the matter was not so simple for New York, which was still trailing by 10 points at the end of the third quarter. Facing the Nets led by Mikal Bridges (36 units, including 7 three-pointers), the Julius Randle-Jalen Brunson duo had to stack up 60 points (30 each) to allow the Knicks to win.
OKC, a short head
At home, the Thunder also had to fight to overcome Portland (111-109), snatching the victory two seconds from the buzzer on a basket by Jalen Williams. “The coach put in place an action so that I could take the shot. He had faith in me to find the right place and succeed», rejoiced the young (22 years old) winger, second best scorer (19 pts) of his team behind the inevitable Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33 units).
Here is OKC at the top of the Western Conference, with a record identical to that of Minnesota (30-13).
Jokic voit triple-double
Behind this duo, Denver does not give up, carried as always by its Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic, author of a triple-double (31 pts, 13 rebounds, 10 assists), for a 114-109 victory against the Pacers. But in a very competitive game, the reigning champions only made the difference at the very end of the match. “Our whole first half was bad, but the second was successful», Commented Jokic, well supported by Jamal Murray (also 31 points).
In the third quarter, clearly dominated by Denver (39-19), Indiana coach Rick Carlisle saw red, excluded for having criticized an uncalled foul, according to him, on Pascal Siakam. The Pacers, who still have to do without Tyrese Haliburton, who is convalescing, are 7th.
The wing-tapping Pelicans
The day after Joel Embiid’s staggering 70 points, the big score of the evening was the work of the New Orleans Pelicans. Led by CJ McCollum and Zion Williamson, the Louisianans beat the Jazz (153-124), and broke the franchise’s points record.
Without making any noise, New Orleans, which had already passed 141 points to the Golden State Warriors two weeks ago, is on pace for the play-offs, in fifth place in the West (26-18).
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