Denver Nuggets – Miami Heat : 113-96
There were less than three minutes to play in Denver and the Nuggets had already won (+17). Suddenly Markieff Morris was guilty of a big foul on Nikola Jokic, who was returning the ball. The Serbian’s blood only swirled around and he retaliated by sending the Heat winger to the ground with a violent shoulder kick from behind, both players being sent off on the spot.
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“I feel bad, really bad”, Jokic then said. His load, “Dirty and dangerous”, according to Miami coach Erik Spoelstra, left Morris with, officially, a neck injury and could be worth a suspension to the MVP of the last regular season, who had flown over the meeting before that until signing a triple double (25 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists).
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Los Angeles Lakers – Charlotte Hornets : 126-123 a.p.
Very spectacular game at Staples Center, where the Lakers, still deprived of LeBron James (abs), repelled the Hornets thanks to Anthony Davis (32 points), Carmelo Anthony (29 points) and Russell Westbrook (17 points, 14 assists, 12 rebounds). A triple double answered by LaMelo Ball (25 points, 15 rebounds, 11 assists). The Californians needed extra time after Miles Bridges equalized in the last minute of regulation.
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Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves : 125-118 a.p.
There was also an extra time at FedExForum, where there too the visiting team snatched five more minutes thanks to an award-winning basket – this time a jewel made by Karl-Anthony Towns – before giving in, overwhelmed by the inevitable Ja Morant (33 points). The Grizzlies have come a long way since they were led by 16 points (86-102) at 7’30 ” from the end of the fourth quarter.
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Chicago Bulls – Brooklyn Nets : 118-95
+23 in the end against the Brooklyn Nets, that may not happen at the end of the season. But since we are closer to the start than the end, the Nets (who remained on five straight wins) remain capable of slippage like this. The exit from the road takes place in a last one-way quarter (42-17) with a Kevin Durant much too lonely on the Nets side (38 points at 54% against 57 points at 34% for his 11 teammates used, including a 4 / 11 for James Harden).
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Sacramento Kings – Phoenix Suns : 104-109
The Suns, finalists last summer, find some rhythm with this fifth straight victory, the longest streak underway with that of Golden State. The final gap is not high but the Suns were up to 24 points ahead shortly before the end of the third quarter (74-98, 35th) before slacking off. For the first time this season in Phoenix, a replacement, Cameron Payne, was the team’s top scorer (24 points). Opposite, the absence of Tyrese Haliburton (back), de facto leader of the Kings, weighed heavily.
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