CHARLOTTE HORNETS 118 – 130 BOSTON CELTICS
The two teams from the Eastern Conference opened this Martin Luther King Day with an even start, where both franchises they would show their cards From the beginning. Tatum y McDaniels They began with an exchange of baskets, something that would carry over to the entire match.
The Celtics went from less to more in success. The good ball movement it didn’t translate into three-pointers released. It had to be Malcolm Brogdonwho perfectly filled the gap left by the injured Jaylen Brown, the one who unblocked the game with notable actions from beyond the arc. Together with him, Pritchard and the aforementioned Boston star, extended the lead. Tatum closed the first quarter with 11 points.
The Hornets bench did not invite illusion in Charlotte. Erratic throws of a JT Thor that was not inspired, a Bryce McGowens that does not fit into the system and a Mark Williams that he has not yet shown the dominance to which he had accustomed us in his stage in Dukedid not contribute to the set of North Carolina. McDaniels prevented the distance from being greater and, consequently, ending the game in the first part, thanks to a good hit from triple.
LaMelo y Rozier they would be encouraged from the line of three to leave the score 66-55 at halftimewith 20 points from a Tatum who took the leader’s cape and 18 (4/5 T3) from a multipurpose McDaniels.
The second part ended as the first began: with an infallible McDaniels from the triple. Good partials from both teams. The Celtics tried to keep the difference below 10 points. Rozier and Mark Williams led a 10-0 run to get closer to six before the last quarter: 62-56.
Charlotte changed into overalls in the fourth quarter. The Hornets came within two, but Tatum knew the victory was his. he got the hero cape and secured the win for the Celtics with a last quarter to remember. The Massachusetts franchise forward finished with 51 pointsmatching Gilbert Arenas as third best scoring brand in history on this emblematic day.
The Celtics are still the best record in the NBA (33-12) and, despite the loss of Jaylen Brown, they take games forward. The reigning runners-up came close to scaring, but Tatum, in MVP modeshowed why they are one of the teams to take into account for the championship.
MILWAUKEE BUCKS 132 – 119 INDIANA PACERS
The two teams arrived without their stars to the clash. down from Haliburton in Indiana it was added that of Giannis (y Middleton) in Milwaukee. The match was decided in the final minutes. The Bucks break their two-game losing streak by winning at home against the Indianapolis team, which fought until the end.
The game began with an exchange of baskets, with both teams turned on the attack. mathurin, who was starting due to the point guard’s injury, started off well. The visitors left in the lead at the end of the first ten minutes (38-32)giving a warning of the headache that would be for the defense of Mike Budenholzer.
The success in the triple would star in the second quarter. With Myles Turner y McConell Taking over from an erratic Mathurin, the Pacers shattered the Bucks’ non-existent defense. those of Wisconsin they were unable to stop the pivot, one of the most coveted pieces in this transfer market. Milwaukee did not reach aid in the exterior shotsand with Beauchampthe rookie and former Ignite player, defense specialist, on the bench.
Con Bobby Portis in the lead, the second part would be for the locals. Superiority in paint and the exterior success of a Holiday that he had not entered the game on the right foot. The Pacers led the fourth quarter (98-92), but the Milwaukee side would have the last word. The triples of Allen, Hill y Matthews they would sentence the match (119-132) and give the Bucks first win in last three games.
