Washington – The Clippers returned to victory over Portland thanks to the return of Kawhi Leonard while Miami won in Phoenix and San Antonio broke Oklahoma City on Thursday in the NBA.
Beaten the day before at home by Milwaukee (129-124), the Clippers recovered by dominating Portland (107-101). Preserved against the Bucks, Kawhi Leonard shone, especially at the end of the game, to finish with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes on the floor.
The NBA has nevertheless fined the Clippers $ 50,000 following the words of coach Doc Rivers seeming to minimize the reality of the injury that made it possible to spare Leonard Wednesday night against the Bucks.
On the Portland side, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum both scored 22 points.
The Clippers return to fourth place in the Western Conference dominated by their Lakers rivals.
The Miami Heat is in second place in the Eastern Conference after its success in Phoenix (124-108). If Jimmy Butler was decisive with 34 points, he was well supported by Edrice Adebayo (10 rebounds) and the Slovenian Goran Dragic (25 points).
– Boston passe la 6e –
Boston consolidated its leadership on the Eastern Conference by going to win in Charlotte (108-87). This sixth success in seven games was acquired with the help of Gordon Hayward, once again very solid (20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists).
On his return to a room where he spent eight years, Kemba Walker shed a few tears and could only produce 14 points with a poor 4 of 14 shots.
Finally the Spurs took the best at home against Oklahoma City Thunder (121-112). The team coached by Gregg Popovich benefited from the renewed form of LaMarcus Aldridge, author of 39 points in 34 minutes with a brilliant 19/23 on shots.
Young leader Dejounte Murray brought his speed of execution and his 10 assists to allow the Spurs to return to 6th place in the Western Conference.
Despite Danilo Gallinari’s 27 points, Oklahoma City conceded their fifth defeat in eight games and appear to be off to a bad start in the quest for a play-off ticket after the regular season.
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