The perf of the night: Jaylen Brown, 50 points and a closed club
The new year almost started in a bad light for the Boston Celtics, rather surprised to have had to fight Sunday night, at home, against an Orlando Magic who has not taken for the habit of shaking his opponents this season ( 7 wins, 30 losses). In the absence of Jayson Tatum, present at the edge of the field, winger Jaylen Brown played the firefighters on duty.
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First by slamming 11 of the last 13 points of his team at the end of regulation time, in order to obtain the right to play an extension (100-100). Then by slamming a three-point shot to make the break in the additional period, which also allowed him to reach the 50 points scored during the game (19 of 29 shooting, 11 rebounds, 4 assists). A personal best that only seven other players have reached in the history of his franchise: Larry Bird, Jayson Tatum, Kevin McHale, Sam Jones, Paul Pierce and Isaiah Thomas.
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51
Jaylen Brown fell short of a point record in a game this season, held by Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets): 51 points.
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« There was no way we could lose this matchBrown commented after the game. I wanted to get the victory for everyone. “This success does not solve the problems of regularity of his club (18v-19d, 10th in the East), but it allows to stick, for the moment, to a leitmotif to continue:” We want to put 2021 behind us, it’s a new year. »
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The rookie: Josh Giddey, precocity record
Failing to allow his team to win regularly (13v-23d, 13th in the West), the Australian leader Josh Giddey shows a maturity and a sense of responsibility bluffing for his age, namely 19 years ( in October). If he still seems so fickle when it comes to contributing offensively (17 points to 7 out of 16 Monday), sometimes showing himself to be awkward as close as possible to the circle, the Oklahoma City rookie has nevertheless seized a record broken barely a year ago by LaMelo ball: that of the youngest player to achieve a triple-double.
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By accumulating 17 points, 13 rebounds and 14 assists, the Melbourne native became the leader of the category at 19 years and 84 days. However, insufficient to win at home against Dallas (86-95), which also frustrated Giddey: ” It’s cool, like I said earlier in the season. The individual stats are nice, we make the most of it for an evening. But winning is always better than individual stats. If I line up 0-0-0 and we win, it’s always better than a triple-double and loss. A laudable mentality, which does not however stick to the Thunder project, clearly focused on the development of players to the detriment of results. Which therefore benefits, quite largely, the nuggets of the caliber of the sixth choice of the last draft.
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Return to the field: Luka Doncic nears the triple-double
Winner side at the Paycom Center OKC, the evening was doubly satisfactory: in addition to having balanced their record (18v-18d, 8th in the West), the Mavs have finally found their master playing Luka Doncic, absent since mid-December. A smooth return for the Slovenian (31 minutes), who still missed the triple-double for a small rebound (14 points to 6 of 14, 9 rebounds, 10 assists but 7 stray balls).
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10
Hit in an ankle and then by the Covid, Luka Doncic had missed the last ten matches in Dallas. In the absence of his maestro, the Texas franchise did not sink (5v-5d).
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« It was hard, delivered the former Madrid. The last time I did five-on-five, it must have been four weeks ago. It was a weird feeling, but I’m happy to be back. My chest was burning. I think it will come back slowly. It was special to take my shots, I didn’t know if they were going to come in. On a shot I said to myself ” he’s great he’s going to come in ”, and it was finally an airball. “Doncic will have the opportunity to adjust the sights a little more on Monday evening, with a difficult duel to negotiate against the Denver Nuggets.
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