Basketball – The Suns and the Heat in verve on “Martin Luther King Day”

The Suns increased their lead at the top of the Western Conference and the Heat made an excellent operation in the East, Monday in the NBA, during “Martin Luther King Day”, celebrating every 3rd Monday of January the anniversary of the birth of the reverend.

In San Antonio, where the annual march is the busiest in the country with around 300,000 participants, according to its organizers, the Suns were able to count on Devin Booker on fire (48 pts) to disgust the Spurs (121-107). Phoenix, which is widening the gap on Golden State, made the difference in the last quarter (34-16), also thanks to Chris Paul (15 pts, 12 assists).

In Los Angeles, where MLK calmed the spirits after the riots of Watts in 1965, the Lakers, humiliated Saturday in Denver, reassured themselves by beating Utah (101-95). LeBron James was decisive (25 pts, 7 assists, 7 rebounds), Russell Westbrook (15 pts) achieving the action of the evening with a wild dunk on Rudy Gobert yet still dissuasive (19 pts, 16 rebounds, 3 blocks). LA goes back to 7th place and the Jazz gives up its 3rd position to the Grizzlies, winners of Chicago (119-106).

In Memphis, where MLK was assassinated on April 4, 1968, the Tennessee team showed that they had digested the defeat on Saturday against Dallas very well, which stopped their series of eleven victories, in the wake of Desmond Bane (25 pts , 10/16 on shots) and Ja Morant (16 pts). Deprived of Zach LaVine (knee), Chicago lacked offensive impact, like DeMar DeRozan (16 pts) and this fourth loss in a row weakens its leadership in the East.

Because in Miami, the first city in the country to organize a parade in tribute to MLK in 1977, the Heat won against Toronto (104-99), guided by Jimmy Butler in triple-double mode (19 pts, 10 assists, 10 rbds). Tyler Herro (23 pts) and Bam Adebayo (14 pts, 9 rebounds), for his first match after six weeks of absence, contributed for the Floridians second in front of Brooklyn (114-107), defeated by the Cavs.

In Cleveland, where MLK was very popular, as evidenced by this procession estimated between 10,000 and 14,000 people who escorted the car taking him to a church to give a speech in 1963, it was the young leader Darius Garland (22 pts, 12 assists) who distinguished himself. Without Kevin Durant (knee), Kyrie Irving (27 pts, 9 assists) and James Harden (22 pts, 10 assists) were active, but the Nets duo faltered on a crucial last-second action. Suddenly, the Cavaliers climb to 4th place, because Milwaukee lost (121-114) in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr was born on January 15, 1929.

Trae Young’s Hawks (30 pts, 11 assists), still without Geneva pivot Clint Capela (injured in the ankle), thus ended a series of five losses, defending hard on Giannis Antetokounmpo (27 pts, 8 /20), countered by Onyeka Okongwu in the money-time. Side Bucks, Khris Middleton was employed (34 pts) in vain.

In New York, where Martin Luther King made a famous speech against the Vietnam War in 1967, Charlotte (7th) was able to count on Miles Bridges (38 pts, 14/20 on shots, 12 rebounds) to win (97-87 ) the Knicks (11th).

In Washington, where the civil rights activist pronounced his famous “I have a Dream”, on August 28, 1963, the Wizards (9th) easily disposed (117-98) of Philadelphia (6th). Like Kyle Kuzma’s dunk (15 pts, 16 rbds) on Joel Embiid, the only one to float on the 76ers side (32 pts), the capital’s players were more aggressive.

Finally in Boston, where MLK obtained his doctorate in theology in 1955, the Celtics (10th) won a second consecutive victory against New Orleans (104-92).