Orlando is resisting
Did the Clippers, who remained on six straight wins, take their opponent down? Their loss to Orlando (96-103), Tuesday at Staples Center, looks fiercely like a blunder. After the departures of Nikola Vucevic, Evan Fournier and Aaron Gordon last Thursday just before the market closes, Orlando is indeed lining up an experimental team.
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The Clippers led the race almost from start to finish despite many absentees (George, Ibaka, Morris, Rondo, Beverley) which caused Nicolas Batum to return to the five (2 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) . But Kawhi Leonard (28 points) and his teammates relaxed too early, 91-82 in their favor and 3’45 to play. What took advantage of Terrence Ross and the substitutes of the Magic, who scored more than half of the points of their team, to turn the situation around.
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Crowder sauve Phoenix
In the fight for second place in the Western Conference behind Utah, the Clippers now have three losses more than Phoenix, who did not falter at home against Atlanta (117-110). The Suns were nonetheless scared when the Hawks came back to a tie late in the game after being 16 points behind. The decisive action came from Jae Crowder, author of a 3 + 1 (an award-winning basket plus the foul pitch) on a Chris Paul pass 23 seconds to go.
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Denver dominates the leader of the East
The Clippers must also look behind them since the Nuggets, which they will receive Thursday night, have only one defeat more than them. Tuesday, Denver offered the co-leader of the Eastern Conference, Philadelphia, who did not have Joel Embiid (knee) to oppose Serbian Nikola Jokic (21 points).
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The game came down to a lone Nuggets rider, carried by Jamal Murray (30 points) and Michael Porter Jr (27 points, 12 rebounds). No Sixer has scored more than 13 points, Ben Simmons being very discreet (11 points, 3 assists). This meeting also marked the return of the public to the Pepsi Center, which officially welcomed 3,574 spectators (18% occupancy).
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Insufficient Westbrook vs. Charlotte
Like the day before against Indiana, Russell Westbrook posted a consistent triple double Tuesday night (22 points, 15 rebounds, 14 assists). But it was not enough this time to win in the absence of Bradley Beal (hip). Too clumsy in the image of their leader, the Wizards were cooled at home by Charlotte (104-114), led by Terry Rozier (27 points) and Gordon Hayward (26). The Hornets’ fourth win in five games since LaMelo Ball’s injury (wrist).
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