The Chicago Bulls signed their third straight home victory against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday as the Los Angeles Clippers, beaten by the Memphis Grizzlies, have yet to win, and the Milwaukee Bucks have bounced back to the San Antonio Spurs .
Eleventh in the Eastern Conference last year at the end of the regular season, the Bulls won Thursday on the floor of the Pistons (94-88) then took the best Friday over New Orleans (128-112 ).
During this second success in 48 hours on the Pistons (97-82), the Bulls were able to count on DeMar DeRozan (21 points) and Nikola Vucevic (15 pts, 19 rebounds).
Deprived for still very long months of Kawhi Leonard, convalescent, the Clippers, dominated Thursday at the opening at the Golden State Warriors (115-113), were again at Staples Center by Memphis (120-114), despite a good Paul George (41 pts, 10 rebounds).
Eliminated in the semifinals of the play-offs last season, the Los Angeles franchise remains on five consecutive losses including the pre-season matches.
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 21 points for the Bucks, reigning NBA champions, who took advantage of a solid fourth quarter to win their meeting against the Spurs (121-111) after suffering a crushing defeat against Miami (137 -95) two nights earlier.
Khris Middleton scored 28 points and all elements of Milwaukee’s starting five finished with at least 10 points in front of a crowd of 18,300 at the AT&T Center.
“You just have to find a way to bounce back,” said the winger.
– Dark Phoenix in Portland –
“It’s just the way you adjust, how you respond to that. I think tonight, for the most part, the effort was in the right place,” Middleton stressed.
Beaten in the final by Milwaukee last July, Phoenix is struggling to start its season: the Suns lost clearly in Portland (134-105), their second loss in three games, and their leader Chris Paul was limited to 4 points .
The Cleveland Cavaliers signed their first victory of the new season by beating the Atlanta Hawks (101-95), thanks in particular to a good performance from Ricky Rubio, author of 23 points.
The Spanish leader added eight assists, which allowed Cleveland to end a two-game losing streak in Memphis (132-121) and ahead of the Charlotte Hornets (123-112).
Trae Young led the Hawks with 24 points, including 15 in the first half. Cam Reddish came off the bench to score 19 points, but Cleveland struggled at three points, making just 10 of 34 attempts.
In Toronto, Luka Doncic compiled 27 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors (103-95).
Tim Hardaway added 25 points for the Mavericks, who won for the first time this season after losing their first game Thursday in Atlanta (113-87).
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