Aurélien CANOT, Media365, published on Monday February 07, 2022 at 08:02
Traveling to Denver, Brooklyn, still without Kevin Durant, suffered its eighth consecutive defeat against the Nuggets. Despite 45 points from DeMar DeRozan, Chicago, beaten at home by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid (40 points), gives up its first place to Miami in the East.
Nothing is going well for Brooklyn. Long leaders of the Eastern Conference, the Nets no longer even appear in the Top 6 of the ranking. Sunday, traveling on the floor of Denver, the New Yorkers, who are suffering cruelly from the absence of Kevin Durant, injured since the beginning of the year and still not ready to resume competition for the moment, recorded their eighth loss in a row (124-104), against the Nuggets and their MVP Nikola Jokic, author of a new triple-double (27 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists). Kyrie Irving did try to deceive the Nets side, with a very valuable double-double (27 points, 11 assists), but he seemed very alone again, especially since James Harden was also absent. Very complicated start to the year also on the side of Chicago, where the Bulls have great difficulty in chaining victories as they knew how to do in 2021. Twenty-four hours after having been able to forget their defeat after extension in Toronto by winning among the Pacers, the men of Illinois relapsed again, at home against Philadelphia (119-108).
Chicago is no longer the boss in the East
A twentieth defeat (for 33 victories) which is expensive for the Bulls, who give up their first place in the East to Miami after this new setback. DeMar DeRozan, the only Chicago player to be exemplary every time his team comes out, has nothing to be ashamed of once again. Author of 45 points (9 rebounds, 7 assists) – on Sunday he became the fourth player in the history of his franchise to sign more than 45 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, in a game after Michael Jordan, Jimmy Butler and Zach LaVine – he did his best to save the Bulls from losing the leadership. But Joel Embiid also pulled out all the stops (40 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 blocks) and allowed the Sixers to return to winning ways after two straight losses. Milwaukee, for its part, lined up a third success by pulverizing the Clippers in California (137-113) – record of points for the season equaled – despite a laborious start from the defending champions, carried once again by Giannis Antetokounmpo (28 points).
BASKETBALL – NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Sunday February 6, 2022
Chicago Bulls – Philadelphia 76ers : 108 – 119
Minnesota Timberwolves – Detroit Pistons : 118 – 105
Denver Nuggets – Brooklyn Nets : 124 – 104
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers : 98 – 85
Orlando Magic – Boston Celtics : 83 – 116
Dallas Mavericks – Atlanta Hawks : 103 – 94
Houston Rockets – New Orleans Pelicans : 107 – 120
LA Clippers – Milwaukee Bucks : 113 – 137
>>> Nicolas Batum (LAC) stats: 16 minutes of play, 2 points (1 out of 5 on shots, including 0 out of 3 from three points), 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 fouls
