Five games were scheduled for the night in the NBA, and champion Boston suffered against the worst team in the East, Toronto, but ended up winning after overtime thanks to a shot from Jayson Tatum. If Victor Wembanyama, injured in the knee, did not play during San Antonio’s defeat in Dallas, another Frenchman, Armel Traoré, had a great moment by making his debut with the Lakers.
The reigning champion and current second in the Eastern Conference behind the invincible Cleveland Cavaliers, facing the red lantern, two victories on the clock. A priori, this Boston-Toronto on Saturday should not have had any suspense. And yet, the Celtics had all the difficulty in the world to beat the Raptors, with a score of 126-123 after overtime. The 2024 champions needed a decisive Jayson Tatum (24pts, 11rbds, 9pds), who had missed the two-point shot for victory at the 48-minute buzzer (114-114) but who did not miss the shot three points from victory at the overtime buzzer. Twenty-two seconds earlier, Neemias Queta was just as important by blocking a lay-up from RJ Barrett for a triple-double (25pts, 10rbds, 15pds) before capturing the rebound.
Toronto, led by Jakob Pöltl, author of his career record (35pts at 16/19 on shots, all two points), pushed Boston to its limits in this match where neither team scored more than ten points in advance. Ultimately, Boston comes out of it, but it will clearly have to be better during the clash against Cleveland on Tuesday. Still in the East, a match between mid-table teams saw Charlotte (9th) beat Milwaukee (12th) with a score of 115-114. Giannis Antetokoumpo, yet author of a triple-double (22pts, 15rbds, 12pds) missed the winning shot at the buzzer. On the Hornets side, Frenchman Moussa Diabaté (22) delivered another very good match, with 12 points and 14 rebounds in 25 minutes.
109 points in 24 hours for Fox!
In the West, the Lakers, fourth, won a fifth victory in a row by defeating New Orleans 99-104. Trailing by fifteen points in the second quarter, the Californians scored a 15-29 in the third to take the advantage and win, thanks in particular to Anthony Davis’ 31 points and 14 rebounds. LeBron James’ series of triple-doubles came to an end (21pts, 7rbds, 5pds), while this match allowed 21-year-old French power forward Armel Traoré (whose brother Nolan is expected very high in the next draft) to make his debut in the NBA. The Cristolien, who benefits from a two-way contract this season, was entitled to 4 minutes of play, but missed the only shot (at 3 points) he attempted, signing an “air ball” in the left corner on a pass from LeBron James.
Sacramento (7th) upheld logic by beating bottom-place Utah 121-117, with De’Aron Fox still exceptional. Author of 60 points on Friday in a defeat after overtime, he scored 49 on Saturday (16/30 on shots, 14/19 on free throws). Finally, Dallas (10th) narrowly ended its series of four defeats, beating its neighbor San Antonio (12th) with a score of 110-93. The Spurs were without Victor Wembanyama, who was injured in the right knee during Friday’s defeat against the Lakers and who will be examined day by day. If Luka Doncic was quite clumsy (16pts to 6/16), Kyrie Irving and Daniel Gafford carried the Mavs, with 22 points each.
NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Saturday November 16, 2024
Charlotte Hornets – Milwaukee Bucks : 115-114
Stats for Moussa Diabaté (CHA): 25 minutes of play, 12 points (6/7 on shots including 0 3-point shots, 0 free throws taken), 14 rebounds, 1 pass, 1 interception, 3 blocks, 3 lost balls, 1 fault
Stats for Tidjane Salaun (CHA): 9 minutes of play, 3 points (1/4 on shots including 1/3 at 3pts, 0 free throws taken), 1 rebound, 2 assists
New Orleans Pelicans – Los Angeles Lakers :
99-104
Armel Traoré (LAL) stats: 4 minutes of play, 0 points (0/1 on shots including 0/1 at 3pts, 0 free throws taken), 1 rebound, 1 foul
Dallas Mavericks – San Antonio Spurs: 110-93
Stats for Sidy Cissoko (SAS): 4 minutes of play, 0 points (0/1 on shots including 0/1 at 3pts, 0 free throws taken), 1 rebound, 1 foul
Victor Wembanyama (SAS), injured in the knee, did not play
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz : 121-117
Boston Celtics – Toronto Raptors : 126-123 ap
NBA Expert 2: The Celtics’ current performance could definitely have playoff implications. If they continue to struggle, they may end up with a lower seed, which could force them to face tougher Western Conference teams in the early rounds. It’s crucial for them to regain their form and establish a strong finish to secure a favorable positioning in the playoffs.
Interviewee 1: NBA Expert 1, Please introduce yourself and give a brief overview of your expertise in the NBA.
NBA Expert 1: Good day, my name is Tim Reynolds, and I have been covering the NBA for over 20 years as a journalist for various publications. I am currently a senior writer at ESPN and have extensively covered the league during my career, with a focus on the Eastern Conference.
Interviewee 2: NBA Expert 2, Please introduce yourself and give a brief overview of your expertise in the NBA.
NBA Expert 2: Hello, I’m Fred Katz, a senior writer for The Athletic covering the NBA. I have been covering the league for the past decade, and my expertise lies in analyzing team dynamics, player development, and trends in the game. My coverage typically focuses on the Western Conference.
Interviewee 1: NBA Expert 1, Could you provide your insights on the Boston Celtics’ performance in their game against the Toronto Raptors, considering they struggled against the team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference?
NBA Expert 1: Sure, it’s surprising to see the defending champions struggle against a team that has been struggling all season, but we’ve seen it before this season where teams have been off their usual pace due to injuries and other factors. It’s clear that the Celtics need to work on their consistency as they head into a crucial matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers this Tuesday. The excellent performance from Jayson Tatum, along with clutch plays from Neemias Queta, kept them afloat and allowed them to ultimately win the game.
Interviewee 2: NBA Expert 2, Do you think this is just a temporary slump for the Celtics, or could it be a sign of something more concerning?
NBA Expert 1: I think it’s definitely a slump. The Celtics have dealt with injuries this season, and everyone goes through rough patches. However, they still have the talent and experience to bounce back from these struggles. It’s just a matter of time before they find their rhythm and start playing to their potential.
Interviewee 2: NBA Expert
