Game of the night: Memphis v Philadelphia
Absent since December 29 with an ankle injury, Ja Morant made his comeback this Saturday, and led Memphis to a great victory over Philadelphia. The Grizzlies won 106-104, giving them a balanced record of six wins and six losses. Even deprived of Joel Embiid, Seth Curry and Vincent Poirier, it was the 76ers who started the game the best, leading by six points in the first quarter. Then Memphis came back and took the lead just before half-time, never to let go of the controls afterwards. The Grizzlies, led by Ja Morant (17pts, 6pds), were up to fourteen points ahead at the start of the last quarter, before being scared. Philadelphia, thanks in particular to a 6-0, has indeed returned little by little. The score was even 105-104 at 1’25 from the end. But a Ben Simmons foul gave Ja Morant two shots, who only put one in, but that was enough as Tyrese Maxey missed the 3-point shot of the buzzer victory. Despite Shake Milton’s 28 points and Ben Simmons on the verge of the triple-double (11pts, 16rbds, 9bds), Philadelphia must bow and fall to 4th place in the Eastern Conference standings.
MVP of the night: James Harden
This Saturday, January 16 marked the great debut of James Harden in his new Brooklyn jersey. And he did not miss them! The “bearded” has indeed offered his first triple-double of the season in the 122-115 victory of the Nets against Orlando: 32 points (8 of 18 on shots including 3/10 at 3pts and 13/15 on free throws), 12 rebounds and 14 assists in 40 minutes! The former Houston superstar was able to offer Kevin Durant some caviars, as in OKC’s time, and the latter also finished with 42 points on the clock. But all was not so easy for the Nets, jostled by a Magic still deprived of Evan Fournier but carried by a Nikola Vucevic on fire (34pts, 10rebds, 7pds, 5ints). Orlando was still leading the score at the end of the third quarter, before cracking in the last. Brooklyn, 5th in the East (8v-6d), now has an appointment Monday against Milwaukee for a highly anticipated game on this MLK Day.
The flop of the night: Miami
Between the defending vice-champion and the worst team in the League, there should be no photo. And yet! Miami suffered a third loss in a row, against Detroit at home: 100-120! Deprived of Jimmy Butler, Avery Bradley and Tyler Herro, the Heat was unrecognizable and held on during the first half (56-52) before completely cracking. Worn by Jerami Grant (24pts, 9rbds, 6pds), Derrick Rose (23pts, 4pds, 4ints) and Blake Griffin (15pts, 7rbds, 8pds), the Pistons overturned everything in their path in the third quarter, winning 38- 19, and then managed the end of the game, facing a Heat where Bam Adebayo saved the furniture with 28 points, 7 rebounds and 8 assists.
Frenchman of the night: Sekou Doumbouya
The 20-year-old Frenchman made his contribution to Detroit’s great victory in Miami by scoring 6 points and taking 3 rebounds in 16’30. He hadn’t played and scored so much since January 4 and his 13 points in 23 minutes against Milwaukee. To be confirmed on Monday during a new match against Miami!
NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Saturday January 16, 2021
Brooklyn Nets – Orlando Magic : 122-115
>>> Stats by Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (BRO): 24 minutes of play, 3 points (1 of 4 on shots including 1/2 to 3pts), 2 rebounds, 1 against, 1 lost ball, 1 foul
>>> Evan Fournier (ORL) did not play
Memphis Grizzlies – Philadelphia 76ers : 106-104
>>> Killian Tillie (MEM) and Vincent Poirier (PHI) did not play
Miami Heat – Detroit Pistons : 100-120
>>> Stats of Sekou Doumbouya (DET): 16’30 of play, 6 points (3 of 6 on shots including 0/2 to 3pts), 3 rebounds, 3 faults
Portland Trailblazers – Atlanta Hawks : 112-106
Toronto Raptors – Charlotte Hornets : 116-113
San antonio spurs – Houston Rockets : 103-91
Postponed: Phoenix Suns – Indiana Pacers
–
