Antetokounmpo returns to make a difference for the Bucks. The Suns also win without Paul and Booker thanks to a hat-trick in the final. All right, New Orleans, Denver and Minnesota
Milwaukee is once again scary: he goes to Chicago dragged by Antetokounmpo, with Holiday decisive in the sprint. Phoenix continues to win, even without Paul and Booker: against the Knicks the hero of the evening is Cam Johnson who scores 38 points and triple overtaking on the siren. Here is the detail of the 5 races under observation of the Nba evening.
Chicago Bulls-Milwaukee Bucks 112-118
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The Chicago Bucks seem to return what they imagined: not just the reigning champions, but the team to beat in the East. They fold the Bulls in a sprint and overtake them in the Eastern Conference standings, in third place: 39-25, the same record now, and a favorable direct confrontation. The best in the field is Jrue Holiday: he scores 16 points in the last quarter, shooting 6/8, decisive in the sprint. When Antetokounmpo scores two decisive free throws and Coach Bud resumes the challenge on an alleged Middleton foul on LaVine on which the referees overturn (rightly so). The only good news for Milwaukee, even off the pitch: Brook Lopez, who had a back surgery recently in December, will now be able to train in 5 against 5, and not just individually. His return to the field is expected by the end of the regular season. For the Bulls fourth consecutive defeat, despite shooting 50% from the field. They take too long to bounce back and get in line 11 times against 33 opponents. LaVine’s 30 points are not enough, unlike Giannis’s 34.
Chicago: LaVine 30 (10/16, 3/10, 1/3 tl), DeRozan 29, Vucevic 19. Rimbalzi: Vucevic 9. Assist: Dosunmu 7.
Milwaukee: G. Antetokounmpo 34 (12/20, 0/2, 10/19 tl), Holiday 26, Middleton 22. Rimbalzi: G. Antetokounmpo 16. Assist: Middleton 7.
Phoenix Suns-New York Knicks 115-114
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All good for the Suns, all bad for the Knicks. From Arizona comes yet another confirmation: Phoenix (51-12) wins even without Paul and Booker, in the end thanks to a triple tableau (!) By Cam Johnson who even scored 21 points in the last quarter, 38 in total. New York looked set to win the game thanks to Robinson’s tap-in in the final, but Burks only made 1/2 free throws and gave the hosts, after a long and daring rebound, a chance to overtake. Come on, laugh. The Knicks (25-38) finished without Randle, sent off at 2:40 from the end of the third quarter, with his over 10 points, for an altercation with Johnson.
Phoenix: Johnson 38 (2/4, 9/12, 7/8 tl), Bridges 20, Payne 17. Rimbalzi: Crowder 7. Assist: Payne 16.
New York: Randle 25 (8/16, 1/2, 6/6 tl), Barrett 20, Robinson 17. Rimbalzi: Robinson 15. Assist: Burks 6.
New Orleans Pelicans-Utah Jazz 124-90
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The All Star Game break worked well for the Pelicans (27-36) who have won 4 consecutive times from the second half. This time to dominate Utah, submerged by Hurricane Ingram, unstoppable. These Jazz at 35% of the field, consolidate the tenth place in the West, now only half a game from the Lakers. Utah (39-23) faces a bad evening: Bogdanovic shoots 1/11, Conley 1/8, the guests finish even at 37 points. A failure.
New Orleans: Ingram 29 (10/13, 1/3, 6/6 tl), McCollum 24, Hernagomez 13. Rimbalzi: Ingram 8. Assist: Ingram 6.
Utah: Mitchell 14 (2/7, 3/11, 1/2 tl), Whiteside 13, House 11. Rimbalzi: Gobert 11. Assist: Clarkson 4.
Denver Nuggets-Houston Rockets 116-101
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Cousins does the Jokic, for once. The Joker is sick, unavailable, Boogie replaces him scoring 31 points and guaranteeing the Nuggets (37-26) the seventh victory in their last eight outings, redeeming the fall against Oklahoma City. Houston is the usual disaster: he even loses for the twelfth consecutive time: 15-48 is the worst record in the championship. Barton becomes the leader of the Denver franchise with a triple: 769, surpassing JR Smith.
Denver: Cousins 31 (7 (10, 3/4, 8/9 tl), Ja Green/Je Green 14. Rimbalzi: Cousins 9. Assist: Hyland 5.
Houston: Wood 22 (7/10, 0/2, 8/8 tl), Green 18, Gordon/Sengun 11. Rimbalzi: Wood 10. Assist: Green 7.
Oklahoma City Thunder-Minnesota Timberwolves 101-138
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All easy for the Wolves (35-29) who conquer the third consecutive success confirming the seventh place in the West. Their reserves outclass these opponents by scoring 74 to 18, Minny shooting 54% from the field. The Thunder (20-43), also fresh from the Denver success, this time do not get their hands on it: they only last the first quarter, then they are overwhelmed despite the 33 points of Gilgeous-Alexander.
Oklahoma City: Gilgeous-Alexander 33 (13/18, 1/3, 4/5 tl), Roby 21, Mann 15. Rimbalzi: Roby 10. Assist: Gilgeous-Alexander 7.
Minnesota: Towns / Reid 20, Prince 18. Rimbalzi: Towns / Vanderbilt 8. Assist: Beverley 8.
