In Detroit, the atmosphere was electric. Nine minutes from the end of the third quarter, while the Pistons extended their advantage to 12 points on a free throw, LeBron James suddenly turned around, slapping Isaiah Stewart in the nose, marking him.
The superstar immediately had to return to the locker room, with young Talen Horton-Tucker stepping in in his place.
But before that, Stewart, who suffered a cut above the right eye, repeatedly tried to get revenge. This led to a melee of players from both teams, with several staff and security members also joining the fight.
The leader of the Lakers, Russel Westbrook, particularly virulent in the scuffle, is not immune from retroactive sanction.
This is also the case of Anthony Davis, his team’s top scorer with 30 points, who defended his teammate, excluded for the second time in his career, after a meeting where the Lakers have remade their delay in the last quarter against Pistons suddenly seized in attack to win (121-116).
– Paul George decisive –
“Everyone in the league knows that (James) is not a bad guy. As soon as he touched him he turned around and said: + It’s my fault. It wasn’t. not voluntary. + I don’t know what (Stewart) was trying to do, “he said.
For Lakers coach Frank Vogel, “Our guys did a good job protecting our teammate. You want peacekeepers in these situations. Form a wall around a teammate and get up before it gets over. ugly, “he said.
The Los Angeles franchise moves to eighth in the Western Conference with nine wins for as many losses, while Detroit is second to last in the Eastern Conference.
The only consolation, Cade Cunningham, the first pick of the last draft, scored 13 points, took 12 rebounds and delivered 10 assists to become the youngest player in Pistons history to achieve a triple-double.
Paul George scored 29 points during the Los Angeles Clippers’ home success over the Dallas Mavericks deprived of Luka Doncic (97-91). Reggie Jackson scored 23 points for the Clippers, who won the first game of a two-game winning streak between the Western Conference franchises, which will also meet in California on Tuesday.
The Mavericks suffered their third loss in a row despite the efforts of Kristaps Porzingis (25 points and eight rebounds) and Jalen Brunson (20 points and eight assists).
– DeMar DeRozan confirme –
At the United Center, the Chicago Bulls got the better of the New York Knicks (109-103) to take the lead in the Eastern Conference. Demar DeRozan confirmed his excellent form: the 32-year-old back, who came from Spurs in the offseason, had 31 points, six rebounds and five assists.
Opposite, Julius Randle (34 points, 10 rebounds) carried the Knicks, unlike Frenchman Evan Fournier, author of only three points in 23 minutes spent on the floor.
The New York franchise has suffered seven defeats in its eleven games played since early November and fell to seventh in the East.
The Phoenix Suns easily defeated the Denver Nuggets (126-97), thanks to a good overall performance which brought them a twelfth victory in a row, their best series since the 2006/2007 season.
The Nuggets may also have to do without their winger Michael Porter Jr, injured back, for the rest of the season.
The Suns, unfortunate finalists last July against the Bucks, are still solid second in the Western Conference behind the Warriors.
Golden State has indeed signed against the Toronto Raptors (119-104) a 15th success in 17 games.
Stephen Curry, unusually discreet (12 points) probably because of his hip worries, was very well replaced by Andrew Wiggins (32 points) and Jordan Poole (33 points).
– .
