Boston, which remains on three defeats and a record of five wins and in ten games, occupies 2nd place (45v-21d) but sees Philadelphia getting closer. The Sixers left Minnesota defeated at home 94-117 no chance. In the duel of pivots Joel Embiid left only crumbs to Rudy Gobert. The Franco-American-Cameroonian completed his performance with 39 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 1 interception. The French had to settle for 6 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 against. Embiid was still able to count on Tyrese Maxey (27 pts, 5 ast; 4 rebs) enough to make people forget the absence of James Harden. Philadelphia has 43 wins and 22 losses after this third consecutive success.
New York saw its winning streak come to an end at nine. The Knicks physically paid for the two extensions played forty-eight hours earlier to overcome Boston. Charlotte took the opportunity to come and win at Madison Square Garden 105-112. Exhausted New Yorkers scored only 39 points (30% success rate) after the break. They remain 5th in the East (39v-28d) and are within reach of Brooklyn.
Their neighbors, who were no longer given a chance after the departure of stars Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, are raising their heads. A third consecutive victory (by more than ten points difference), 96-118 in Houston, allows the Nets to stay in the race for the play-offs in 6th place (37v-28d). Newcomers Mikal Bridges (30 pts, 5 ast, 2 blk, 1 stl) and Spencer Dinwiddie (23 pts) got the job done.
In the West, Golden State made the wrong move by losing to Oklahoma City 137-128. Josh Giddey’s 17 assists, 17 points and 11 rebounds weighed heavily and made Stephen Curry’s 40 points (including 10/16 at 3 pts) useless. The defending champions remain 6th (34v-32d) but are more than ever under threat from at least seven teams to clinch the last direct place in the play-offs. After this 3rd success in a row, the Thunder find themselves 11th (31v-34d) tied with New Orleans, which holds the last place for the play-ins.
The Los Angeles Lakers are 9th (32v-34d) after their precious success against Memphis 112-103. Anthony Davis (30 pts and 22 rebounds) and Dennis Schröder (17 pts and 9 ast) combined their talent to make up for the absences of LeBron James and D’Angelo Russell injured. The Grizzlies, disturbed by the Ja Morant case, which incurs a heavy suspension after showing himself in public with a firearm in his hand, slip to 3rd place (38v-26d) after this 3rd loss in a row.
Dallas’ star duo are starting to find their feet. Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving combined for 62 points. And it was not useless against Utah narrowly beaten 120-116. Irving had 33 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Doncic had 29 points, 10 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 1 block. The Mavericks are 5th in the West (34v-32d). The Jazz is 13th (31v-35d).
