Los Denver Nuggets They are once again leaders of the Western Conference, overtaking the Minnesota Timberwolves after beating the Atlanta Hawks with authority this Saturday, while the Los Angeles Lakers managed to get out of the last two places in the play-in after many weeks.
LAKERS 116 – 97 CAVALIERS
LeBron James (24 points and 12 assists), Anthony Davis (22 points and 13 rebounds) and D’Angelo Russell (28 points) have returned to their best form at the right time of the season.
With their victory today, the Lakers (45-33) have 9 in the last 10 games and climb to eighth place in the West to the detriment of the Sacramento Kings (44-33), leaving them out of the play-in life-or-death tie in which the Golden State Warriors may possibly be.
Opposite sensations for the Cavaliers (46-32), who have only won 3 of their last 10, although they remain third in the East. Darius Garland scored 26 points for the Cavs.
NETS 113 – 103 PISTONS
The Pistons (13-65) believed they had the game in their pocket when they had a 15-point lead with 7:48 remaining, but they suffered a setback and ended up losing by 10 to the Nets (31-47).
Cam Thomas with 32 points was the architect of the Nets’ comeback, while the Pistons stood out Then touch Metu with 20 points and Jaden Ivey with 16 points and 10 assists.
Both teams have been left out of the postseason, but the Pistons are also the worst franchise in the league.
GRIZZLIES 96 – 116 76ERS
The Memphis Grizzlies (27-51) could not give a victory to Marc Gasol the day the franchise retired the number ’33’ that the center from Sant Boi de Llobregat wore for 11 seasons.
The 76ers (43-35) count their games by victories since Joel Embiid returned from injury and they gave Memphis no option.
Those from Philadelphia are burning their last cartridges to climb positions to the playoff zone, which they have only one victory away, but for now they remain eighth, condemned to play the ‘play-in’ of the East.
Embiid led the 76ers with 30 points and 12 rebounds, his best game since returning from the injury. For the Grizzlies he stood out Scotty Pippen Jr.who posted his best numbers as a professional, with 24 points and 5 assists.
NUGGETS 142 – 110 HAWKS
The lead in the Western Conference once again belongs to the Nuggets (54-24), led by a triple-double from Nikola Jokic (19 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists), his number 25 in this campaign.
The Hawks (36-42), currently tenth in the East and competing for home-court advantage for the life-or-death play-in tie in which they will face off against the Chicago Bullsthey couldn’t do anything against the current champion.
Clint Capela had 19 points and 12 rebounds for the Hawks and Dejounte Murray had 14 points and 12 assists.
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