There were thirteen matches, but only two Frenchies played Wednesday night in the NBA. The main role fell to Rudy Gobert, who did well but lost with Utah. The Jazz mark time with 6 defeats in the last 7 matches. Donovan Mitchell, in concussion protocol, was absent, but that will not be enough to explain this new hitch (111-116) of a declared candidate for the title, against the dunce of the Western conference, Houston (14-32), carried by Garrison Matthews (23 points).
In the gloom of a third straight loss at home, the French Jazz pivot played 37 minutes, during which he compiled 23 points at 9/13 shooting, while ensuring 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 2 cons. Bojan Bogdanovic added 29 points, but the Salt Lake City franchise’s defensive passivity on the 3-point line, usually one of his specialties, and long-range skill (10/38 for Utah, 22/45 for the Rockets) made the difference between the two teams.
Ntilikina down sharply in January
For the rest, almost no trace of other French people on the court last night. After his big performance (32 points and the victory against Indiana 139-133) during Martin Luther King Day, Nicholas Batum again integrated the Covid protocol and therefore missed the overtime defeat in Denver of its LA Clippers (128-130).
During Dallas’ success over Toronto (102-98), the French leader Frank Ntilikina was only allowed two minutes (1 foul). In January, the Olympic silver medalist runs at 5 minutes of playing time, while in December, injuries and cases of Covid had opened the rotation to him (18 minutes on average). A worrying setback.
On his side, Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (Atlanta), if he was on the sheet, did not participate in the Hawks’ victory over Minnesota (134-122). Killian Tillie (Memphis) was not in the workforce of the Grizzlies defeated in Milwaukee (114-126), just like Théo Maledon, absent from the Oklahoma City roster, largely dominated in San Antonio (96-118). Back in the infirmary (bruised hip), Killian Hayes did not tread the boards either during the victory in extremis of his Pistons, who ended their meeting on the Sacramento floor with an 11-0 to snatch the decision (133-131) behind the 30 points of Saddiq Bey .
