Star James Harden had a total overflow on Friday night in the NBA to lead the Brooklyn Nets with 44 points in a close win over the Detroit Pistons with a score of 113-111.
Forward Blake Griffin came off the bench to score 17 points for the New York quintet. After the close victory, Griffin said that “it is a team that plays hard. I don’t know if you expect them to nudge you, but I knew it would be difficult. They (they) are going to play hard.”
Griffin spent more than three years with the Pistons, but struck a deal to buy his contract with Detroit earlier this month to go with the Nets. The Pistons showed him a tribute video for a time at halftime, and (Blake) stood up to acknowledge the recognition from the small turnout of fans.
Harden was back after missing his team’s previous game due to neck pain. Still, Brooklyn is still without Kevin Durant (left hamstring strain) and Kyrie Irving (personal reasons), but they had enough to keep the Pistons at bay.
For the ‘pistons’ forward Jerami Grant stood out with 19 points. The game was tied at 82 in the fourth period when Griffin hit a triple that started a 10-0 offense for the Nets. The Pistons fought back to tie at 106 before Harden’s three-point play put Brooklyn back ahead.
“We got the win, but we don’t feel too good“said Brooklyn coach, former Canadian gunman Steve Nash.
– A limited Giannis –
In Milwaukee, the local Bucks lost with a limited Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Boston Celtics 122-114. The Boston quintet was able to take advantage of the actions of Jayson Tatum, with 34 points, and Marcus Smart with 23, who were responsible for breaking the Bucks’ eight-game winning streak.
The Celtics, who led 60-55 at halftime, hit nine of 14 3-pointers in the third quarter to increase the lead to 103-89 as they entered the fourth quarter. Bryn Forbes’ 3-pointer brought Milwaukee closer to 112-97, but newcomers Moe Wagner and Smart responded from beyond the arc to extend Boston’s lead to 118-97.
Veteran Kemba Walker added 21 points and Jaylen Brown 18 points for the Celtics. Boston made 22 of 47 triples (66 points). Smart was 7 (21) out of 10, and Brown and Tatum added four apiece (12 points each).
For the second consecutive game, the Celtics held Antetokounmpo under control, who was limited with just 16 points, well below his average of 28.6 points per game. His teammates Khris Middleton had 19 points and Jrue Holiday 17 cards for the Bucks. The Celtics had lost five of their previous six games.
– Miami concedes sixth loss –
In Charlotte, Malik Monk scored 32 points, Terry Rozier had 26 points and 11 assists and the Charlotte Hornets conceded the Miami Heat. his sixth loss in a row, this time with a score of 110-105. Devonte Graham added 16 points and two decisive free throws for the Hornets.
Star Jimmy Butler added 20 points and nine assists for the Heat after missing Thursday’s 125-122 loss. against the Portland Trail Blazers with a stomach illness. Duncan Robinson also finished with 20 points for the ´Capital del Sol´ quintet.
Friday’s NBA results:
Brooklyn Nets a Detroit Pistons 113-111
Boston Celtics a Milwaukee Bucks 122-114
Phoenix Suns a Toronto Raptors 104-100
Denver Nuggets a New Orleans Hornets 113-108
Minnesota Timberwolves a Houston Rockets 107-101
Portland Trail Blazers a Orlando Magic 112-105
Charlotte Hornets a Miami Heat 110-105
Indiana Pacers a Dallas Mavericks 109-94
Utah Jazz a Memphis Grizzlies 117-114
Atlanta Hawks a Golden State Warriors 124-108
Los Angeles Lakers a Cleveland Cavaliers 100-86
– .
