NBA: Finally good news for Usman Garuba: first start in the NBA

Usman Garuba was first time holder in his career in NBA in the defeat of the Rockets before the Kings by 118-121. A reward for his effort in a first season that has been especially hard. The Spanish pvot has had to fight not only against the obstacles of a novicelike earning the respect of the League, the pace of competition, travel… He has also faced numerous physical problems: a thigh injury, the League’s health and safety protocols against COVID-19, a broken wrist and, more recently, a sprained ankle.

His trainer, Stephen Silassaid a few weeks ago that Garuba would find it difficult to enter the rotation in this final stretch of the season, but the absences of Christian Wood (strain in the left hamstring) and Alperen Sengun (hit in the left leg) allowed him not only to play but to start from the start. And I took the opportunity. before the Kingsthe former player of Real Madrid I finished with eight points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes, his NBA record.

Between injuries, lack of opportunities and transfers to the G League with the Rio Grande Valley VipersGaruba has appeared in 19 of the Rockets’ 77 games. Their averages are 1.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.4 blocks in just over seven minutes on the track. Maybe he can improve them in this late-season stretch if the Rockets, who haven’t played for a while, continue to be down. It would be a good way to sweeten a tough first season in the NBA.

Those from Houston lost despite the great performances of Kevin Porter Jr.with 30 points, 12 rebounds and as many assists, and 32 points from Jalen Green. It was the first career triple-double for one, the fourth game over 30 for the other, leading rookies in that stat, and the first time both had reached 30 in the same game. There is a future for the Rockets and Garuba can be a part of it.

The Hawks’ campaign isn’t much. Ah, they are fighting for a place in the Eastern play-in. But Trae Young is once again accrediting his status as an NBA star. The point guard scored 41 points… in three quarters. Ace led his team’s win over the Thunder 118-136. With few games remaining in the regular season, he is the NBA’s leading scorer in total points. Nobody has put more than him. He pity that this does not translate into many victories for his team

Klay Thompson had hopeful matches when he returned after his two consecutive serious injuries: rupture of the knee ligaments and fracture of the Achilles tendon. Past that gaseous effect, that of the Warriors alternates good performances with other gray ones. In the defeat of his team against the Suns (103-107) he got the second. He stayed at 13 points with an improper 1/10 on 3s. those of San Francisco perhaps they can console themselves with Jordan Poole, who had 38 points with seven triples, nine rebounds and seven assists. In the history of the franchise, only Stephen Curry reached those numbers.

In the close Eastern Conference, the Raptors they can become judges among all the teams that must be counted as contenders for the ring: Heat, Sixers, Celtics, Bucks y Nets. those of Toronto they have won 10 of the last 12 games and five of them have been against rivals as powerful as Suns, Celtics, Sixers, Nuggets and last night, Timberwolves, whom they crushed 125-102. They are a tough rival in this final stretch of the regular season and they can be in the playoffs. Gary Trent Jr.with 29 points, and Pascal Siakamwith the second triple-double of his career (12 points, 10 rebounds and 13 assists) led the victory.

Good day to the romantic fans of the Sevillawhich now will be a little of the Wizards by the presence there of Kristaps Porzingis and Tomas Satoranskywith a past on the banks of the Guadalquivir. The Latvian pvot lived his best game since he came to Washingtonscoring 35 points. In his last two seasons in Dallas only once had he reached that figure. The Czech base, meanwhile, signed an amazing statistic with 10 rebounds and 13 assists, but without scoring. He stayed at zero after missing the two field goals he tried. The two were key in the victory over the Magic by 127-110.

The Pacers they experienced the worst start to a game of any team so far this season. At the end of the first quarter they lost 15-43, the biggest difference recorded this course in the first break. The culprit for it was Nikola Jokic, who in 11 minutes had already had 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists, two recoveries, a block and had scored all six of his field goals. Figures that many will sign at the end of a game and that he achieves in a sigh without apparent effort. He finished with 37 + 13 + 9.

The first ownership of Usman Garuba in the NBA it was the best news of the day as far as Spanish players are concerned. However, the other two whose teams played had to watch the games from the bench. Willy Hernangmez did not participate in the triumph of the Pelicans on Portland (107-117) and Saints Aldama He also did not have minutes in the narrow victory of the Grizzlies on Saint Anthony by 111-112.