Milwaukee had the last laugh against Chicago in the Eastern Conference clash, again dominated by Brooklyn, on Friday in the NBA, where Stephen Curry saved Golden State at the buzzer against Houston and the Lakers were violent in Orlando.
The Bucks, defending champions, carried by the inevitable Giannis Antetokounmpo (30 pts, 12 rebounds), won (94-90) in a match where the score lead changed 16 times and the tie was produced 15 times.
Opposite, DeMar DeRozan (35 pts, 6 rebounds) shone but missed the attempt behind the arc which could have put his people in front in the last seconds. Instead, Khris Middleton (16 pts, 10 rebounds) made two free throws that folded the game.
The three-point address was also at half mast for Chicago (18.4%), which slipped to 2nd place, and barely better for Milwaukee (19.4%), still 4th behind Miami (3rd), defeated in the last moments in Atlanta (110-108).
The Hawks (12th) of Trae Young (28 pts) are doing a little better with this third success in a row, which they almost saw fly away, their lead of 18 units having almost completely melted.
And the Heat to miss the opportunity to regain the lead in the standings, unlike the Nets, winners in San Antonio (117-102) thanks to James Harden, whose triple-double (37 pts, 11 assists, 10 rebounds) eclipsed that of Dejounte Murray (25 pts, 12 rebounds, 10 assists).
In the West, the Warriors, long abused by the Rockets, who were up to 15 lengths ahead, came close to an unwelcome second consecutive defeat at home. But Curry, yet struggling (22 pts at 6/21, 12 assists), arose to put the winning shot at the siren (105-103).
– Morant impresses –
Hard to believe, yet this was the very first “buzzer-beater” of the career of the 33-year-old leader, who screamed his relief: “Finally one! It was time!”.
Golden State remains 2nd ahead of Memphis, which relied on its nugget Ja Morant to win (122-118) in Denver (6th). Halfway, behind the arc, in alley-oop, in counter-attacks, the back scored in all positions (38 pts at 15/26 on shots, 6 assists). Untenable!
An impressive performance which rendered in vain the fourth consecutive triple-double of the reigning MVP Nikola Jokic (26 pts, 12 assists, 11 rebounds).
Without Donovan Mitchell (concussion), Utah (4th) relied on Rudy Gobert to defeat Detroit (111-101). The French pivot was ultra-dominant (24 pts at 8/11, 14 rebounds, 4 blocks).
Two days after the humiliating setback suffered at home against Indiana, the Lakers reacted in Orlando. But it was not easy against the Magic (116-105).
They first liquefied at the end of the second quarter, conceding a 16-4 to be eight points behind at the break (62-54). But, in the wake of LeBron James (29 pts, 7 rebounds), LA recovered in the 3rd quarter (31-16), also taking advantage of the awakening of Carmelo Anthony (23 pts) and Russell Westbrook (18 pts , 11 rbds).
The Lakers remain 7th ahead of the Clippers, stunning winners in Philadelphia (102-101), after falling 24 units behind in the second half.
The “angeleno” collective, still deprived of Paul George (elbow) and Kawhi Leonard (knee), joined forces behind Reggie Jackson (19 pts), who made the two decisive free throws 18 seconds from time, like by Nicolas Batum (15 pts, 7 rebounds) still excellent.
On the 76ers side, Joel Embiid, author of 40 points (13 rebounds, 6 assists) two days after having planted 50 against Orlando, was not enough.