. LeBron still wears the Lakers
In the absence of Anthony Davis, who is still treating his right Achilles tendon, LA could still count on James, its 36-year-old stainless leader, author of 37 points (14/22 on shots, 8 rebounds, 6 passes) in 36 minutes spent on the floor. More than usual, but necessary to allow his team to win (116-105) a 4th success in a row.
Because the opposition of the Hornets was more tenacious than expected. Led by 15 points at the break, they rebelled, in the wake of rookie LaMelo Ball (26 pts, 7 assists), and it took the Lakers, also helped by the 22 points of Dennis Schroder, put back a last shot collar to avoid a mishap.
. Edwards sparkles in the Suns
The surprise of the evening came from Phoenix where Minnesota won (123-119), thanks to Anthony Edwards and Karl-Anthony Towns who scored 83 points between them, or two-thirds of the Timberwolves, still last to the west.
If “KAT” scored 41 points (10 rebounds, 8 assists), Edwards, drafted in 1st position, broke his personal best with 42 units (7 rebounds). The 19-year-old became the third youngest player in history to score at least 40 points in a game, after LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
What to eclipse the 35 points (6 assists) of Devin Booker, the only one to float in Phoenix, now 3rd in the West.
. A little magic at the Wizards
When his duo are in full swing, Washington is capable of bringing down any team. Utah did not resist the 43 points of Bradley Beal and the 35 others of Russell Westbrook, losing (131-122).
The latter completed his score with a triple-double (15 rebounds, 13 assists), his 13th of the season, for the Wizards (tied for 12th with Cleveland) who counted up to 24 lengths ahead just before the break and thus ended a bad five-game losing streak.
“We knew it would be difficult because they are the top ranked team in the league right now. We had no choice but to defend or lose 30 points,” said Beal. .
On the Jazz side, Donovan Mitchell broke his season point record with 42 units, Joe Ingles planted 8 baskets behind the arc (34 pts) and Rudy Gobert went there with his usual double-double (10 pts, 13 rebounds). , 2 blocks), but that was not enough to prevent a 4th defeat in six games.
. It’s high for the Hawks
Since Nate McMillan succeeded Lloyd Pierce on the Atlanta bench, the team has strung together victories and the seventh in a row has not made any dispute against Oklahoma City (116-93).
The young star Trae Young, author of one of his nine assists by bouncing the ball on the plexiglass for the dunk of John Collins (19 pts), managed 23 points, just like Bogdan Bogdanovic, effective off the bench.
Thunder side, 12th in the West after this second consecutive defeat, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the top scorer (19 pts).
The Hawks are 6th in the East, ahead of New York which revived against Orlando (94-93) after two straight losses against Brooklyn and Philadelphia.
The Knicks were able to count on their strong man, Julius Randle author of a triple-double (18 pts, 17 assists, 10 rebounds). Alec Burks and Reggie Bullock added 21 and 20 pawns.
The French Evan Fournier was the best scorer (23 pts) of the Magic, but he committed his only loss of the ball at the worst moment, on the ultimate possession of his team, penultimate in the East after this 9th consecutive loss .
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