With 52 points scored and huge baskets, Ja Morant was last night’s incredible NBA MVP. Review of results.
The clash for Miami
Miami won the Eastern Conference clash against Chicago on Monday in the NBA Basketball Championship.
The Florida franchise led by Jimmy Butler, who revealed himself with the Bulls where he played six seasons, left no chance for the Bulls who regained their colors this season but lost 112-99. The other event of the evening was the new performance of the young All-Star point guard from Memphis Ja Morant, who signed a career high by scoring 52 of 118 points for the Grizzlies winners of San Antonio (118-105).
The Heat, finalists in 2020, have established themselves as a credible candidate for the title in the East. With a team with multiple offensive assets behind Butler (15 pts, 7 rebs, 4 interceptions). Tyler Herro and Gabe Vincent added 20 points each, the pivot Bam Adebayo multiplied (15 pts, 7 rebs, 5 assists, 2 blocks) and the team returned 50% of its shots. On defense, Chicago scorer DeMar DeRozan was limited to 18 points and saw his 10-game 30-plus streak come to an end.
Miami’s record is 41 wins and 21 losses. harmless? Maybe not, the last five times it happened, it ended in three crowns (2006, 2012, 2013) and two finals (2011, 2014).
26 points and 16 rebounds for Giannis
Next major test, Wednesday, against Milwaukee who remained on two defeats and reacted by beating Charlotte (130-106). Giannis Antetokounmpo was the usual strongman (26 pts, 16 rebs, 6 assists, 4 blocks, 2 interceptions) and his lieutenants were present: Jrue Holiday (21 pts, 8 assists), Bobby Portis (20 pts, 10 rebs ) and Khris Middleton (19 points). This success allows the Bucks to steal 4th place from Cleveland, beaten on its floor by Minnesota (122-127).
14 losses in 17 games for the Nets
Brooklyn (8th) was corrected at home 97-133 by Toronto (7th) where rookie Scottie Barnes (28 pts, 12/14, 16 rebs, 5 interceptions) was imperial. Still deprived of Kyrie Irving (prevented from playing in New York because not vaccinated) and Kevin Durant who could however make his return in the week, after a month and a half of absence due to a sprained left knee, the Nets missed offensive impact (38% shooting success). Brooklyn, which was deprived of its isolated coach Steve Nash due to Covid procedures, has just lost 14 of its last 17 games.
Ja Morant, the Flying Grizzlie
Quite the opposite of Ja Morant, stratospheric, who again burst the screen to guide Memphis to victory against San Antonio (118-105), beating his points record and that of the franchise in passing, all with a excellent address (22/30). The Grizzlies star (3rd in the West) has also combined spectacle and efficiency, weaving his web of “Spider-Man” in every corner of the FedEx Forum and spending almost more time in the air than on the floor, force of acrobatic gestures to make the crowd rise.
His end to the second quarter was one of impressive power and control: not content with getting three shots in a row from behind the arc, the 22-year-old Morant smashed a massive dunk over Jakob’s head Poeltl, 2m16 and who gives him back 25cm, before scoring at the buzzer, in an off-centre position, volleying a ball in the air launched on the other side of the field by Steve Adams in quarterback mode. With 29 pawns at the break, Morant did not stop there against Spurs who resisted. And in the money-time, he scored 13 points in a row, still flying on double-steps, to complete the job.
