Nine NBA games were on the night’s schedule, including a clash between Chicago and Milwaukee, won by the Bucks. Cam Johnson meanwhile gave Phoenix the win against New York, while Utah completely missed out on their game in New Orleans.
The poster of the night: Chicago – Milwaukee
After three straight losses, Chicago hoped to revive by receiving the defending champion, Milwaukee. It missed. The Bucks came to win 112-118 at the United Center and now have the same record as the Bulls (39 wins -25 losses). The Illinois players, led by a Zach LaVine with 30 points and 8 rebounds and a DeMar DeRozan with 29 points and 5 assists, returned well to the game after a complicated start. Led by fourteen points in the middle of the second quarter, they were eight ahead at the start of the last quarter. But in the money-time, Milwaukee managed to make the difference, with a last quarter won 37-24, in the wake of a Jrue Holiday who scored 16 of his 26 points in the last twelve minutes. Giannis Antetokounmpo finished with 34 points and 16 rebounds and Khris Middleton with 22 points and 7 assists. The Bucks are ready for the clash against Phoenix on Sunday!
The MVP of the night: Cameron Johnson
Offer the victory to his team at the buzzer on a 3-point shot while beating his career points record! Such is the fabulous evening experienced by Cameron Johnson on Friday. The day after his 26th birthday, the strong winger from Phoenix allowed the Suns (still deprived of Booker and Paul) to win 115-114 against New York. With the score 112-114 in favor of the Knicks, Alex Burks missed his second free throw with seven seconds remaining, Mikal Bridges took the rebound, and passed on to Cameron Payne, who gave the another Cameron on the team, who took his chance two yards from the 3-point line, and thus handed the victory to the Suns. Johnson thus finished with 38 points (11 of 16 on shots including 9 of 12 from 3 points), he whose record was 24 points, recorded at the start of the year against the Clippers. The Knicks of Julius Randle (25pts and RJ Barrett (20pts) will be able to bite their fingers, because they still led by fourteen points at the start of the last quarter. The exclusion of Randle at the end of the third quarter, for having jostled Cam Johnson , has undoubtedly changed a lot of things.
The flop of the night: Utah
Utah had won its three games since the All Star break, but the Jazz suffered a big setback in Louisiana, losing 124-90 to the Pelicans, who won their fourth straight victory. New Orleans led from the third to the last minute of this one-sided game, with a lead that climbed to +37, a gap that Utah had never had to deplore this season. Brandon Ingram (29pts, 8rbds, 6pds) and CJ McCollum (24pts, 5rbds) feasted. No Jazz player exceeded 14 points (5/18 for Donovan Mitchell) during this quickly forgotten evening, where Utah only returned 34.8% of their shots. We will have to get back on Sunday in Oklahoma City…
The French of the night: Evan Fournier
Even though New York lost at the last second to Phoenix, Evan Fournier, who was not on the field when Cameron Johnson shot (he came out 16 seconds from the end) still delivered a correct match, with 16 points on the clock, 4 out of 7 at 3 points in particular.
NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Friday, March 4, 2022
Detroit Pistons – Indiana Pacers : 111-106
>>> Stats of Killian Hayes (DET): 21 minutes of play, 3 points (1/6 on shots including 1/2 at 3pts, 0 free throws attempted), 4 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 interception, 1 against, 1 lost ball, 2 fouls
Washington Wizards – Atlanta Hawks : 114-117
>>> Joel Ayayi (WAS) was not in the group
>>> Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (ATL) did not play, by decision of the coach
New Orleans Pelicans – Utah Jazz : 124-90
>>> Rudy Gobert’s stats (UTA): 25 minutes of play, 10 points (4/4 on shots including 0 3-point shots, 2/6 on free throws), 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 interception, 1 ball lost, 1 fault
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves : 101-138
>>> Stats of Théo Maledon (OKC): 25 minutes of play, 8 points (2/10 on shots including 1/6 at 3pts, 3/3 on free throws), 4 rebounds, 1 interception, 2 loose balls, 2 faults
>>> Olivier Sarr’s stats (OKC): 16 minutes of play, 5 points (2/2 on shots including 0 3-point shots, 1/2 on free throws), 4 rebounds, 1 interception, 1 lost ball, 2 faults
Phoenix Suns – New York Knicks : 115-114
>>> Stats of Evan Fournier (NYK): 36 minutes of play, 16 points (5/11 on shots including 4/7 at 3pts, 2/3 on free throws), 1 rebound, 2 assists, 3 fouls
Philadelphia 76ers – Cleveland Cavaliers : 125-119
Chicago Bulls – Milwaukee Bucks : 112-118
Toronto Raptors – Orlando Magic : 97-103
Denver Nuggets – Houston Rockets : 116-101
