Nicolas Batum leader of collective Clippers
Sad spectacle for Miami Heat fans, authorized for the first time – at least for 1,500 of them – to return to the American Airlines Arena since March 2020: after having been forced to pass health security checks, and in particular the sniffer dogs of covid, they witnessed live the plummet of their franchise, beaten by the Los Angeles Clippers (105-109), synonymous with the fifth setback in a row.
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The score is rather flattering for the Floridians who finally played only two quarters: the first, convincing (33-19), and the last (36-21), become useless after having conceded a worrying 69-36 between the 11th and 30th minutes. Undermined by staffing problems (Butler and Dragic absent), the Heat nevertheless faced an opponent also plagued by the same problems: Kawhi Leonard and Paul George were both absent under the covid protocol in force in the league and Patrick Beverley had forfeited (knee).
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6
Nicolas Batum scored six three-point baskets in nine attempts. A total that he had not reached since February 2, 2018 (7 out of 11) and a success against Indiana. His personal best is nine award-winning shots registered (9/15 on February 4, 2012 against Denver).
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Angel side, these absentees of weight however made it possible to highlight an attractive collective, embodied by a Nicolas Batum best scorer of his family (18 points, 6 rebounds). The French winger, in full rebirth with the Clippers, was one of six players in the Californian franchise to have scored at least ten points in the meeting. With eight successes in nine matches, the “Clips” have thus risen to second place in the Western Conference, ahead of the Lakers, beaten in Detroit.
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Houston and fashion diesel
The game scenario was similar on the side of Houston, where the Rockets quickly recovered from an indigestible first quarter (17-32) to finally overthrow the Portland Trail Blazers (104-101). Victor Oladipo (25 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists), Christian Wood (22 points, 12 rebounds) and John Wall (20 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists) were the main architects of this comeback, initiated from the second quarter (36-18), validated in the following (33-27) but only assured in the last seconds.
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It took two free throws from Eric Gordon (8 points to 2 of 11) planted 2”1 from the buzzer, then a missed shot from Gary Trent Jr. (23 points) to get a fourth victory in a row and continue the slow rise in the Western Conference (8v-9d, 10th). Despite their three-point address (17 out of 41, 41.5%), the Blazers of Damian Lillard (30 points, 9 assists) mark time with this second loss in a row (9v-8d, 8th).
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Stephen Curry Too Lonely
Coming out of a third consecutive loss for his Phoenix Suns on Wednesday (97-102 against Oklahoma City), point guard Chris Paul had tried to shake up his troops by publicly admitting that his team did not ” not playing well enough at the moment “. The absence of injury from Devin Booker, leader of the franchise, was there for a lot but it did not weigh Thursday night to go for the success of the revival against the Golden State Warriors (114-93).
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The franchise of Arizona was well helped by the big clumsiness of the “Dubs” (38.4%), embodied by Kelly Oubre Jr. (4 points to 1 in 11), ex … Sun. Thus, Stephen Curry found himself far too alone (27 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists) for what constituted a back-to-back for his own. Opposite, in addition to the tauliers that are Deandre Ayton (12 points, 13 rebounds), Chris Paul (13 points, 4 assists) or Mikal Bridges (20 points), the second knives have weighed, like Frank Kaminsky, who came close to the triple-double coming off the bench (12 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists). This success also had the effect of bringing Phoenix into the first eight places in the West (9v-8d, 7th), while the Warriors came out (10v-9d, 9th).
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