While the Philadelphia Sixers, leaders of the Eastern Conference, beat Utah (131-123 ap) Wednesday, the Brooklyn Nets, they were merciless against the Houston Rockets (132-114), on the floor of the latter moreover. The New York franchise thus remains in contact with the 76ers, since they only have one more defeat than the latter.
– –
For its part, Houston continues to suffer. The Rockets have not won for 13 games and a success against Memphis (115-103) a month ago.
– –
Brooklyn widened the gap in the second quarter, reaching the break with a 13-point lead (67-54). Gap that the Rockets were unable to make up. James Harden, who moved from Houston to Brooklyn last January, split a triple-double against his former team (29 points, 10 rebounds, 14 assists). Kyrie Irving scored 24 points.
– –
John Wall (36 pts) and Victor Oladipo (33) were very prominent in the Texas ranks, but without being able to stop the infernal series of their team.
– –
McConnell and Lillard save Indiana and Portland
TJ McConnell, for his part, was the strongman of the Indiana Pacers, winners with the Cleveland Cavaliers (114-111). The Indianapolis point guard had a triple-double, with 16 points, 13 assists and 10 steals. Nine of these were made in the first period, which is an NBA record. In a single game, the highest number of successful interceptions stands at 11 and has remained in the hands of Kendall Gill (then New Jersey Nets) since 1999.
– –
Indiana’s four-game losing streak ended on Wednesday … as did the Cavaliers’ four-game winning streak.
– –
Damian Lillard won the Portland Trail Blazers against the Golden State Warriors (108-106). With 50 seconds remaining, he first landed two free throws, before hitting a decisive three-point shot, then preventing Draymond Green from snatching overtime.
– –
Lillard finished the game with 22 points, as did Carmelo Anthony, his teammate. For the Warriors, Stephen Curry scored 35.
– –
Atlanta’s comeback, Charlotte’s lesson
The Detroit Pistons ended three defeats in a row, by winning clearly (129-105) against the Toronto Raptors diminished by numerous absences due to the Covid-19 protocol (including Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet). For the Pistons, Sekou Doumbouya played 27 minutes, for nine points, a rebound and an assist.
– –
The Atlanta Hawks made a nice comeback against the Orlando Magic (115-112). At the break, they showed a liability of 19 points (61-42). Trae Young has split 32 points for the Georgia franchise. Evan Fournier (Orlando) did not play, touched in the groin.
– –
With 36 points from Zach LaVine, the Chicago Bulls dominated the New Orleans Pelicans (128-124). The Charlotte Hornets, led by Terry Rozier (31 points), corrected the Minnesota Timberwolves (135-102). They are on a nine-game losing streak.
– –
Finally the Dallas Mavericks, without Luka Doncic (back pain), beat the Oklahoma City Thunder (87-78) and put on a third consecutive victory. For the Thunder, Theo Maledon scored 11 points (plus three rebounds and one assist) in 31 minutes.
– – .
