“NBA”: Leadership of the East is on fire between the Bucks, Sixers and Celtics
The Milwaukee Bucks and Philadelphia 76ers continued their pursuit of the Boston Celtics for leadership of the Eastern Conference and the overall standings of the NBA, with the first defeating the Brooklyn Nets 144-122 and the second defeating the Orlando Magic 112-92 on Wednesday.
In Brooklyn, the Bucks took full advantage of the Nets’ decision to rest their stars after returning from a trip to the West during which they lost four of their five matches, then followed that up with two defeats at home before regaining their balance with two wins over the wounded Detroit Pistons, to achieve their twenty-third victory in 31 matches.
Thanks to 32 points, 10 rebounds and 8 assists from its Greek star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and 27 points and 10 assists from Khris Middleton, the Bucks made up for their loss in their last match against the New York Knicks and consolidated their second place in the Eastern Conference with the same number of victories as the leaders, the Celtics, who played two fewer games than them.
The hosts rested three of their key players, namely Spencer Dinwiddie, Nick Claxton, and Cam Johnson, in addition to the rotation of Finney-Smith, but they “resisted strongly,” according to what Antetokounmpo said after the match, adding: “I do not know most of them, but I will certainly not forget them after today because they made it difficult.” “Things are very, very difficult for us.”
The Nets played the match with a squad of “rookies” and players on short-term contracts, but they fought fiercely before surrendering in the final quarter, during which the Bucks prevailed by 14 points, 44-30. Cameron Payne and Malik Beasley played a role in the tenth victory out of the 12 matches the Bucks played in December, after each of them scored 5 three-pointers, with the former finishing the match with 18 points and the latter with 17.
On the Nets side, who suffered their sixteenth defeat in 31 games, “rookie” Jaylen Wilson was the best with 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Trendon Watford added 17, and both Dennis Smith and the other “rookie” Noah Clowney had 14.
Philadelphia beat the Orlando Magic 112-92 (Reuters)
“Sixers win without Embiid»
In Orlando, despite the absence of its Cameroonian star, Joel Embiid, for the second game in a row due to a sprain in his right ankle, the Sixers achieved their ninth win in the last 11 games and the twentieth in 30 games by defeating the Magic 112-92, thanks to the efforts of Tyrese Maxey (23 points), Tobias Harris and DeAnthony Melton. (22 each).
Paul Reed also compensated for Embiid’s absence well by scoring 15 points with 10 rebounds and 3 defensive interceptions (blocks), contributing to the victory over the Magic, who suffered their fifth defeat in the last seven games and the twelfth this season despite the efforts of German Franz Wagner (24 points). Jaylen Sags (20) and Paolo Banchero (19 with 9 rebounds), affected by his suffering from beyond the arc, as he made nine three-pointers out of 33 attempts.
Sixers coach Nick Nurse, after this victory, which strengthened the team’s third place in the Eastern Conference, two and a half games behind the Celtics, stressed the need to adapt to Embiid’s absence by saying: “I think we must definitely find a different style of play because it is different when he is not here.” He added: “Playing well enough to give us a chance to win is the most important thing in Joel’s absence.”
Kevin Durant achieved triple double figures for the eighteenth time in his career crowned with two titles in the colors of the Golden State Warriors, and led the Phoenix Suns to victory over the host Houston Rockets 129-113 by scoring 27 points with 10 rebounds and 16 assists (his highest number in his career).
Durant succeeded in 9 of his 16 attempts, putting an end to his team’s losing streak at three games, and giving him his first victory away from home since November 26.
Eric Gordon also contributed to the Suns’ 15th victory in 30 games by scoring 27 points in the first match at his former team’s stadium since the latter abandoned him last February.
Gordon scored 17 points in the second quarter, which his team won 43-31, ending the first half with a large margin of 73-55, while Turkish Alperin Shingun (24 points) and Jaylen Green (23, including 6 three-pointers) were the best among the Rockets, who suffered their fourteenth defeat. .
Oklahoma City Thunder achieved its twentieth win in 29 matches (Reuters)
“The Cavaliers are coming back from afar»
Thanks to 36 points each from Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jaylen Williams, the Oklahoma City Thunder achieved their twentieth win in 29 games, defeating their guest New York Knicks 129-120, while the Cleveland Cavaliers came back from afar and made up for their deficit against their host Dallas Mavericks by 20 points in the first half. He won 113-110.
The Cavaliers owe the victory to Caris LeVert, who scored 29 points, including the winning basket from beyond the arc in the final seconds of the match, while Jarrett Allen contributed 24 points with 23 rebounds, and Isaac Okoro contributed 22 points in the visitors’ third victory out of four matches they played without their star. Patient Donovan Mitchell.
Despite the efforts of Slovenian Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points and reached 30 points or more for the 14th time in the last 15 games, the Mavericks suffered their 13th defeat.
The Toronto Raptors ended their five-game losing streak by defeating the Washington Wizards 132-102 thanks to Britain’s OG Anunoby (26 points), Cameroonian Pascal Siakam (22 with 11 assists), and Scotty Barnes (20 with 12 rebounds).
2023-12-28 14:40:16
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