The Los Angeles Lakers suffer another loss in Utah and slip out of the play-in ranks again. DeMar DeRozan heaves his Chicago Bulls to an OT win with a 50-point game as James Harden’s performance in Detroit leaves questions again.
Detroit Pistons (21-56) – Philadelphia 76ers (46-30) 102:94 (BOXSCORE)
- The Pistons remain a real favorite and this time annoyed a home Halle the Philadelphia 76ers. Detroit was almost the entire game behind, it was six minutes before the end before Cade Cunningham gave the hosts their first lead of the night with a layup.
- It was part of a 23-4 run in the fourth quarter that gave the Pistons a double-digit cushion and never gave up. Cunningham (27, 12/19 FG, 6 assists, 4 steals) and Saddiq Bey (22, 9/17) were the catalysts for the late run, the lethargic Sixers running out of response.
- This also applied to Joel Embiid, who made two costly live turnovers in crunch time, in the end it was 7 turnovers for the MVP candidate. This was repeatedly doubled by the Pistons and yet Embiid recorded 37 points (11/19 FG, 14/16 FT) and 15 rebounds. Both Isaiah Stewart and Kelly Olynyk saw no land against Philly’s Big.
- However, the support was lacking, although at this point we have to look sharply in the direction of James Harden, which is what coach Doc Rivers did after the game. The nine-time All-Star only hit one of his eight throws after the change and ended the game with just 18 points (4/15 FG, 2/9 three-pointers, 8/9 FT), 9 rebounds and 7 assists. It was another oddly juiceless performance from “The Beard.” Tyrese Maxey (13, 5/10) also remained pale. The loss drops the Sixers to fourth place in the East, behind Boston.
Atlanta Hawks (40-37) – Cleveland Cavaliers (42-35) 131:107 (BOXSCORE)
- The Atlanta Hawks secured the last play-in berth in the East by beating Cleveland, which also means the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards were eliminated as the last teams in the East. Against a decimated and tired Cavs team (which lost to Dallas yesterday), Atlanta had no problems at all and celebrated a classic lights-to-flag victory.
- And yet the hosts had to take a deep breath, when Trae Young went down after a floater on Moses Brown in the first half and stayed there for a while. Young had to go into the dressing room with groin pain, but the All-Star was back on the field after the change. He scored 15 of his 30 points (9/17 FG, 9 assists) in the third quarter and said goodbye to the end of the day calmly and early.
- The Hawks scored almost 50 percent from the field and sunk ten more three-pointers than their opponents (17:7). Kevin Huerter (23) netted five of his six attempts, while Clint Capela (12, 14 boards, 3 blocks) made a good play in the zone. Backup Onyeka Okongwu (17, 6/6, 12 rebounds) also recorded a double-double.
- For the Cavs, Cedi Osman was the best scorer with 21 points (7/9), Darius Garland (18, 7/21, 8 assists) scored almost nothing from the middle distance and the floater didn’t want to fall that evening either. The Cavs’ bankruptcy makes the Boston Celtics happy, who now definitely qualify for the playoffs.
–
