Chicago (USA), December 1 (EFE) – Slovenian Luka Doncic returned in a big way this Sunday after missing five games due to injuries and led the Dallas Mavericks victory against the Portland Trail Blazers with 36 points, in an NBA day in which the Cleveland Cavaliers hit the boards against the Boston Celtics to the unstoppable rhythm of Donovan Mitchell.
The NBA night also saw the defeat of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the leaders of the West, in the field of the increasingly competitive Houston Rockets, seconds only one win behind the opponents this Sunday.
TRAIL BLAZERS 131 – MAVERICKS 137
Doncic returned to his competition after missing five games due to a wrist injury and shined with 36 points, seven rebounds and thirteen assists in Dallas’ victory at the Blazers field.
The Texans sealed their fourth consecutive victory despite not being able to count on Kyrie Irving in Portland, due to a shoulder problem, or Klay Thompson, absent due to a foot injury.
In their absence, Quentin Grimes was in the middle with 28 points, the result of nine out of thirteen goals, with five triples.
CAVALIERS 115 – CELTICS 111
Mitchell destroyed the Celtics with twenty points in a magnificent fourth quarter that allowed the Cavaliers to overcome a fourteen point deficit and prove themselves as the best team in the NBA so far in the regular season.
Mitchell led the Cavs’ victory with 35 points and seven rebounds, with 12 of 21 shooting from the field and six triples, aided by Darius Garland’s 22 points, five rebounds and eight assists. He was perfect in the fourth quarter with six of six field goals and four three-pointers.
The Cavs snapped the Celtics’ seven-game winning streak, which paid for the losses of Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. Jayson Tatum added 33 points and eight rebounds, no credit.
JAZZ 104 – LAKERS 105
LeBron James became the second player in NBA history to reach 15,000 field goals made, in the Los Angeles team’s victory over the Utah Jazz.
LeBron, who turns 40 on December 30, is the second player with the most goals scored, behind Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who added 15,837.
Against the Jazz, LeBron finished the game with 27 points and fourteen assists and his Lakers left the last defeat suffered against the Oklahoma City Thunder to increase the balance to twelve victories and eight losses.
ROCKETS 119 – THUNDER 116
With 38 points from Fred VanVleet, the Rockets hit the table, defeating the Thunder in a cross between first and second in the West. The Texans have won six of their last seven games.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander scored 32 points for the Thunder. OKC is 15-5, and the Rockets are 15-6.
KINGS 125 – SPURS 127
Frenchman Victor Wembanyama recorded the third triple-double of his NBA career, leading the victory of the Spurs at the King’s field with 34 points, fourteen rebounds and eleven assists.
The number one pick in the 2023 draft hit five triples and had three blocks in the Sacramento game.
GRIZZLIES 136 – PACERS 121
The Grizzlies sealed their sixth straight victory, defeating the Pacers led by 25 points and eight rebounds from Jaren Jackson. The Spaniard Santi Aldama added 15 points (3 three times), four rebounds and six assists in 25 minutes off the bench.
Ja Morant added 19 points and eight assists for the Grizzlies, third in the West (14-7).
The Pacers suffered their second straight loss this afternoon when Tyrese Haliburton was held to eight points, making three of ten field goals.
NETS 92 – MAGIC 100
The Orlando Magic won at the Nets arena under Spanish coach Jordi Fernández and suffered their second loss in three days.
Orlando finished with six players in double figures despite shooting 45.9% from the field and connecting just seven times out of 28 attempts. German Franz Wagner was the Magic’s leading scorer with 20 points, although he connected on only four of his 17 field goals. He finished 0 for 6 from the arc.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 16 points, Wendell Carter Jr. scored fourteen, while Goga Bitadze had a double-double with twelve points and thirteen rebounds. German Moritz Wagner scored twelve points off the bench.
(c) EFE Group
2024-12-02 07:06:00
#Doncic #returns #big #man #Cavaliers #knock #Celtics
## Luka’s Return Sparks Mavs Victory While Mitchell Powers Cavs Past Celtics
**World-Today-News Exclusive Interview with NBA Analyst Mark Jackson**
* **World-Today-News:** Mark, another scintillating night of NBA action. Luka Doncic made a triumphant return for the Mavs after missing five games. 36 points, seven rebounds, and thirteen assists – a classic Luka performance. What were your takeaways from his return?
* **Mark Jackson:** Luka’s return was exactly what the doctor ordered for the Mavericks. He looked sharp, orchestrating the offense flawlessly, and his scoring touch was as good as ever. It’s a testament to his talent that he could jump back into the lineup after a important injury and immediately elevate his team’s performance.
* **World-Today-news:** The Blazers hung tough, though, and Grimes really stepped up in the absence of Irving and Thompson. What did you think of his performance?
* **Mark Jackson:** Quentin Grimes is a prime example of a young player seizing an opportunity. Without Irving and Thompson, the Mavs needed someone to step up offensively, and Grimes delivered. He was aggressive, shot the ball with confidence, and really made the Blazers pay for their defensive lapses.
* **World-Today-News:** Shifting gears to the East, the Cavaliers secured a hard-fought victory over the Celtics. Donovan mitchell was the story of the game, exploding for 20 points in the fourth quarter. Is he becoming the closer the Cavs need?
* **Mark Jackson:** Without a doubt. Donovan mitchell has that killer instinct you want in a closer. he’s not afraid of the big moments and thrives under pressure. His fourth quarter performance against the Celtics was a perfect example – he willed his team to victory.
* **World-Today-News:** The west is incredibly tight at the top, with the Thunder facing a surprise loss to the Rockets. Are the rockets a legitimate threat in the West this year?
* **Mark Jackson:** The Rockets are definately a team on the rise. They’re young, athletic, and playing with a lot of confidence. Sunday’s win over the Thunder shows they can compete with the best teams in the league.Whether they can sustain this level of play throughout the season remains to be seen, but they’re certainly a team to watch.
* **World-Today-News:** Mark, with so many exciting storylines developing, what are you looking forward to most in the coming weeks?
* **Mark Jackson:** I’m excited to see how these teams continue to evolve throughout the season. The race for the playoffs is shaping up to be incredibly competitive, and every game is going to be crucial. We’re in for a thrilling rest of the season!
**Thank you, Mark, for your insights!**
