With 27 points, 15 assists and 8 rebounds, the Brooklyn star allowed his team to win (120-105).
James Harden was instrumental in Saturday night’s Brooklyn Nets victory over the Pelicans (120-105), during which his teammate and NBA leading scorer Kevin Durant was injured, while the Toronto Raptors, carried by the talent of Pascal Siakam, surprised the Milwaukee Bucks, defending champions (103-96).
James Harden was on the verge of scoring a triple-double (27 points, 15 assists and 8 rebounds) against the New Orleans franchise, 13th in the Western Conference.
As for Durant, who was seen grimacing in the second quarter after colliding with teammate Bruce Brown, he is due for an MRI on Sunday to find out the extent of his injury. However, he scored before leaving 12 points in the first quarter, giving the Nets a ten-point lead that Harden was responsible for thickening with Patty Mills (21 points) and Kessler Edwards (16 points).
«It would be hard to lose himNets coach Steve Nash admitted. “No one wants this to happen and we want this to end in the best possible way. But whatever the outcome, we will have to keep working, improving and fighting.».
The Pelicans were able to count on Brandon Ingram (22 points) and Josh Hart (14 points and 11 rebounds) but that was not enough for them to earn a third victory in a row against the dominating Nets.
In Milwaukee, Pascal Siakam, author of the second triple-double of his career (30 pts, 10 rebounds and 10 assists), was the star of the evening, thanks to which the Raptors went up 15 points to finally win over the Bucks. “I try every night to play with the same intensity and the same energy“, underlined the Cameroonian.
The 76ers stronger than the Heat
This victory, their seventh in the last ten games, allows Toronto to continue their excellent run in the Eastern Conference, where they occupy 8th place. Over the past two weeks, the Raptors have twice beaten the Bucks, triumphed over the Jazz and narrowly lost to the Suns.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had not played the previous two games against the Raptors, was the Bucks’ leading scorer (30 pts), ahead of Grayson Allen (18 points) and Khris Middleton (16).
In Miami, the Philadelphia 76ers, carried by a once again imperial Joel Embiid (32 pts, 12 rebounds), beat the Miami Heat (109-98), third in the East. He was well helped by Tobias Harris (22 points) and Seth Curry (21).
In Denver, the Nuggets dominated the Lakers 133-96, thanks in particular to Nikola Jokic who scored 17 points, and managed 13 assists and 12 rebounds. The Wizards lost to Portland (115-110), while the Clippers lost to Spurs 101-94, Nicolas Batum however passing 13 points for 7 rebounds and 1 assist. In Atlanta, the Knicks triumphed 117 to 108, Evan Fournier scoring 18 points (2 rebounds and 1 assist).
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