Milwaukee travolge i Clippers, Jokic stende Brooklyn

LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS-MILWAUKEE BUCKS 113-137
Another 137 points in back-to-back for Milwaukee, which after the success of Portland also prevails at the home of the Clippers. The decisive extension of the reigning champions comes during the second quarter: a partial of 32-19 that gives +9 (60-51) to the long interval to the Bucks, who then accelerate in the second half (77-62). The holders of the title close with three players in double doubles, and all over 20 points: Giannis Antetokounmpo scores 28 with 10 rebounds and 8/15 shooting, Jrue Holiday does even better, 27 with 13 assists 11/16 from field, while Portis stops at 24 with 11 rebounds. Among the Clippers only Powell (28) and Marcus Morris (20) try, but it is not enough: Milwaukee approaches the summit in the East, Los Angeles always eighth in the West.

DENVER NUGGETS-BROOKLYN NETS 124-104
The Brooklyn crisis does not stop, remedying the eighth consecutive knockout by losing 124-104 to Denver. The Nets remain in contact with the Nuggets only in the first half, closed at 76-75 in favor of the hosts, then the 31-16 of the third period allow Jokic and his teammates to dig the definitive furrow. And it is precisely the triple double of the MVP of the last Regular Season that extends Brooklyn: 27 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists with 12/15 from the field for the Serbian, numbers that combined with Barton’s 21 defeat the 27 with 11 assists of Kyrie Irving, who along with Thomas (20) tries to keep the Nets afloat. With the eighth knockout in a row, Brooklyn slips out of the playoff zone to the East, overtaken by Toronto: to date, Durant and his teammates would be forced to play-in to continue the post Regular Season. Always sixth in the West, however, Denver.

CHICAGO BULLS-PHILADELPHIA 76ERS 108-119
Show in Chicago: Philadelphia imposes itself 119-108 at the home of the Bulls and returns to success after two defeats in a row, getting closer to the very high areas of the Eastern Conference rankings, very short and with franchises all close to each other. At the United Center the long-distance clash between DeMar DeRozan and Joel Embiid is staged: the Bulls star is top scorer with 45 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists, while the Cameroonian goes in double doubles with 40 points and 10 rebounds. The Sixers, however, can also count on Tobias Harris (23), Maxey (16) and Seth Curry (12), while Vucevic (23) and Green (17) are not enough in Chicago, now second with a 33-20 record against 32-21 in Philadelphia.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS-INDIANA PACERS 98-85
Cleveland is also among the big names to the east, potentially third together with Milwaukee thanks to the 98-85 in Ohio over Indiana. After a bad start (12-27), the Cavs recover and present themselves at the last period under 7 points (68-61), but in the final 12 minutes a perfect quarter arrives: 37-17 in favor of the masters of home, dragged by Osman (22) and an incisive Kevin Love (19) especially from the arc (4/8), with Allen and Rondo at 15 and respectively with 17 rebounds and 12 assists. Indiana, always third from last in the East, tries to cling in vain to Duarte’s 22 points and Washington’s 17 points.

ORLANDO MAGIC-BOSTON CELTICS 83-116
No problem for Boston at Orlando: the Celtics impose themselves 116-83 and overwhelm the Magic, who collapse especially in the final. If in the middle of the game (49-39) the games do not seem to have been made yet, the +7 (29-22) of the third quarter alone and especially the 38-22 of the last period put an end to any comeback attempt by the hosts, with Boston which imposes itself thanks to Brown’s 26 points, as well as Schroeder’s 22, while Tatum makes 15, but shooting badly (6/18 from the field). Orlando, always last in the East, does not go beyond Suggs’ 17 points. Fifth win in a row for the Celtics, who target the seventh place in Brooklyn.

DALLAS MAVERICKS-ATLANTA HAWKS 103-94
Dallas also wins, beating Danilo Gallinari’s Hawks 103-94. The challenge between the stars Luka Doncic and Trae Young goes to the Slovenian, who finishes in triple double with 18 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, but with shooting percentages (6/17) to be reviewed, as well as those of the Atlanta leader, 17 points with 11 assists and 6/19 from the field. The Mavs stretch especially in the final, closing the challenge early thanks to the 22 of Brunson and Bullock. In double figures, however, Danilo Gallinari, who scores 11 with 4/8 from the field. Dallas confirms fifth in the Western Conference, while Atlanta remains tenth in the East, but now risks the engagement of Washington.

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES-DETROIT PISTONS 118-105
Minnesota made no mistake and beat Detroit thanks to an excellent second half. If at the long interval, in fact, the Pistons have only one point ahead (56-55) over the Timberwolves, in the second half they arrive 63 points that allow the hosts to recover. Merit of 24 points with 12 rebounds by Karl-Anthony Towns, while Russell puts 22 on the scoresheet. Only Bey (24), on the other hand, keeps pace with his opponents in the ranks of Detroit, always penultimate in the East. Minnesota remains in contact with the teams in the playoff area and confirmed seventh in the West with a record of 28-25 against Denver’s 29-24.

HOUSTON ROCKETS-NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 107-120
External shot of New Orleans, which imposes 120-107 in Houston. The Pelicans play a great second half (71-53) and overturn the -5 (49-54) of the long interval thanks to a super Brandon Ingram: 33 points and 12 assists with 12/21 shooting and 3/5 from the field , but Hayes (21) and Valanciunas (18) also contribute to the success of New Orleans. For the Rockets, however, Wood’s 22 points and Green and Mathews’ 18 are not enough: Houston remains last in the Western Conference, while the Pelicans enter the play-in area, temporarily overtaking Portland and reaching tenth place.