Leader Phoenix falls in Los Angeles
Fragile leader of the League, Phoenix lost first place Monday with his fifth loss of the season, conceded to Los Angeles against the Clippers (95-111). The 2021 finalists who deplored two major absences, those of back Devin Booker (hamstrings) and pivot DeAndre Ayton (ill), were led the entire game (44-56 at the break). Also deprived of their two stars Kawhi Leonard (long-term injury) and Paul George (elbow), the Californians relied on their success on shots (55%) behind Marcus Morris (24 points, 11 rebounds).
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The perf of the night: Jayson Tatum and Boston
Jayson Tatum broke his season point record (42, 16 of 25 on shots and 7 of 13 on three-pointers) Monday in Boston’s success against the Milwaukee Bucks (117-103). The Celtics recorded the return of Jaylen Brown (19 points) after five missed matches (hamstrings). Tatum scored sixteen points in the fourth quarter to put the defending champions at bay.
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Return of the night: Houston wins in Atlanta
Led by nineteen points in the first half, and another thirteen at the start of the fourth quarter (88-101) Houston in full rebirth, eight wins in ten matches, after a series of fifteen losses at the start of the season, got (132-126) his second away win.
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Atlanta lost at home for the fifth time in a row. Trae Young multiplied (41 points to 14 of 22, 9 assists) in vain for the Hawks while the young Rockets leaned on Eric Gordon (32 points) and DJ Augustin, who emerged from the bench (22 points) for torpedoing their opponent in the last quarter (44-25).
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Player of the night: brilliant Jokic before expulsion
MVP 2021 is not resting on its laurels. Very alone with the unavailability of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr but also Monday night of JayMichal Green and Will Barton, Nikola Jokic is struggling to keep Denver on the surface. In Washington, the Serbian pivot once again split from an exceptional stats line, to a triple double pass by accumulating 28 points (9 of 14 on shots), 19 rebounds and 9 assists for a success (113 -107) which obviously owes him a lot. He didn’t even finish the game after being sent off six minutes from time for an overly nudge on Spencer Dinwiddie. But the Nuggets who led by 18 points had already done the job.
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