We start this summary straight away with the poster for the start of the season, since it pitted the Suns, unbeaten for 16 games, against the Warriors completely untouchable since the start of the season and leader of the NBA. And the two teams gave us a show to everyone’s expectations, even if Stephen Curry a du.
In this confrontation where no team has gained more than 10 points in advance, the double MVP leader achieved his worst performance in career shooting with such a large number of attempts: 4/21 on shots, 2 assists and 2 turnovers. … For that, and if they are the Warriors the best defense in the NBA, the Suns did a monstrous defensive job on the point guard. First of all Mikal Bridges, author of one of the most monstrous 2-point match in history, but also the whole collective behind and in particular the 24 points and 11 rebounds of DeAndre Ayton, main architect of this Arizonian victory.
And yet, it was the Warriors who had the best start, in a very offensive first quarter where Jordan Poole caught fire with 16 points 6/7 on shots! Thus, the Warriors took the lead by even taking their biggest cart of the match (+9), thanks in particular to the good passage of Otto Porter Jr off the bench (12 of his 16 points). Fortunately for the Suns, Cameron Johnson is also present and does the same while the incumbents then bring the two teams equal for the second period. Unfortunately, we quickly learn that Devin Booker got injured and will be absent for the rest of the match (10 pts for him). What to give hope to the Warriors? Possible but the edge battle continues in the third quarter where, contrary to usual, the Warriors cannot make the difference, and this despite the good passage of Poole and that of Gary Payton II. Once again, the two teams are therefore elbows elbows before the final period. And this game there, the Suns are very solid. Further increasing the defensive level, they will be able to rely on the Pick and Roll Chris Paul – Deandre Ayton who is unstoppable in the last few minutes, to fly to a new victory, 104-96. This victory is the 17th consecutive but above all allows the Suns to remain undefeated during the month of November. A rare feat!
Jordan Poole finished his standard game with 28 points, Draymond Green displays 8 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists and opposite, Chris Paul, still clutching as possible, ends up with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 11 assists and 5 steals!
The second big game of the night was the clash to be King of New York. Even if everyone knows that the real king of New York is Bernard King, it is the Nets who emerged victorious from this tense confrontation until the last moments. And yet the Nets had started off perfectly with a James Harden in great shape which also integrates the top 4 of the ranking of the most prolific players 3 pts in history. From the first minutes, it is “the beard” who takes the game into account and shows that he is having a great night. 15 quick points to try to resist the onslaught of the Knicks who take advantage of the form of Burks, the replacement of Kemba Walker (taken out of the rotation by Thibodeau). The scorers have fun on the distribution of … Julius Randle and thus oppose Harden. Fortunately for the Nets, the duo Cam Thomas – Bruce Brown is efficient off the bench and allows Brooklyn to return to pass again and keep the advantage while waiting for the return of the holders. Because if James Harden (again) comes back again with 13 points (28 in the first period), the Knicks do not give up and collectively, behind a good Julius Randle and the Burks-Rose duo, are slightly in the lead at half-time 61- 60.
Absent from debates until then, Kevin Durant wakes up in the third quarter time and with 10 points, compensates for the logical decline of James Harden. But New York does not let go and is more efficient than its opponent, who however dominates on the rebounds. The two teams surrender blow for blow and if Brooklyn is in front in this third quarter, having in particular taken 16 points in advance, New York is tearing itself to come back. In the last minutes, again it’s Kevin Durant who shines. Despite this, Randle and Burks continue to strive to win, the scoring advantage changes almost every possession and that’s James Johnson, X factor of the end of the game, which will seal the game for the Nets on the throwing line: 112-110. The Knicks did not deserve it, and the battle was fierce, but the Nets won behind Harden’s 34-10-8 and Kevin Durant’s 27-5-9. Alec Burks finished with 25 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds, Julius Randle in 24-9-8 and Derrick Rose with 16 points.
We end the summary of the night with the last three games, which were “less interesting” for the whole of the spectators.
On the one hand, the battle between the Lakers and the Kings, for their revenge after the crazy game a few days ago, was immediately impacted by the fact that LeBron James has been placed in COVID protocol and will be absent for 10 days. Despite that, there was not so much game as the Lakers accelerated in the second period to achieve a 37-15 in the third quarter and 30-18 in the fourth and thus explode the Kings 117-92. The gap of +14 for the Kings in the 3rd quarter is passed +24 very quickly thanks to the 25 points of Davis, 23 of Westbrook and the 22 of Monk. Note the 13 rebounds of Dwight Howard. Opposite, Richaun Holmes has yet posted 27 points and 9 rebounds 12-13 on penalties alongside the 17 points of Fox.
On the side of Portland, no worries either at home against the Pistons, for the tenth consecutive victory at home. With Lillard left at rest, the Blazers did not have to work very hard and the gap grew small to reach +26 in the last quarter for a final victory 110-92. For that, CJ McCollum displays 28 points, Ben McLemore 17 and Nurkic 13-8-5. Opposite, Cade Cunnigham had a very good game with his 26 points and 7 rebounds even though he still lost 6 balls. Isaiah Stewart shows him 15 points and 14 rebounds.
For the Grizzlies vs. Raptors clash, the Bears got scared after leading by 17 points and despite not letting the Raptors get past even a second. Without Ja Morant, they were able to count on a good overall defensive performance but especially on the 25 points of Years Jackson Jr and the 23 of Desmond Bane. Opposite, the 39 points of the duo Barnes-Siakam was not enough.
New York 110 Brooklyn 112
Memphis 98 Toronto 91
GS 96 Phoenix 104
Detroit 92 Portland 110
LA Lakers 117 Sacramento 92
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