The Warriors knock out the defending champions, the Bulls overtake Cleveland. Minnesota surprises the Heat
In the night Nba the big match between Golden State e Milwaukee goes to the Warriors, who beat the reigning champions 122-109 with 38 points of Klay Thompson (31 per Giannis Antetokounmpo). They also smile Chicago Bulls, 101-91 on Cleveland, while the leaders in the East Miami loses 113-104 at home to Minnesota. Toronto goes to Denver and sees the playoff zone, Utah and Portland they prevail against Sacramento and Portland, San Antonio knocked out against Indiana.
GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS-MILWAUKEE BUCKS 122-109
The most important challenge of the NBA night sees Golden State triumph against Milwaukee. In the 122-109 of the Warriors against the reigning champions there is a more than evident signature: that of the best Klay Thompson of the season, 38 points on the scoresheet with a phenomenal 15-24 shooting (and with 8/14 from the arc) . Numbers that therefore do not make Curry’s evening weigh too much to forget, only 8 points in 33 minutes, in a match in which the central phase is decisive: +19 (75-56) if we consider the second and third quarters. The Bucks try to cling to Giannis Antetokounmpo as always, but the 31 points with 9/17 from the field of the Greek are not enough to avoid a knockout that interrupts the streak of six successes in a row. However, Budenholzer’s team remains second in the East, just like Golden State in the West with a record of 46-22 and thanks to the third consecutive victory.
CHICAGO BULLS-CLEVELAND CAVALIERS 101-91
Chicago made no mistake and won the high-ranking match against Cleveland, which now has the least possible gap with respect to seventh place. The Bulls are firmly confirmed in the playoff area thanks to a 101-91 that matures in the first half: at the long interval, in fact, it is 53-42 in favor of the hosts, with the Cavs who are unable to return. At the end of the game, there are 25 points for both DeRozan as regards Chicago (with 9/26 shooting) and for Garland in the ranks of Cleveland (9/24), with the same numbers from the arc: 3/7. Without LaVine, however, the Bulls can count on Vucevic’s double double, who stops at 20 points and 14 rebounds. The Cavs’ advantage over seventh place east of Toronto for the play-in is now only one win, while Chicago remains fourth.
MIAMI HEAT-MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 104-113
Stecca instead the leaders of the Eastern Conference: Miami, in fact, loses 113-104 at home to Minnesota, now very close to the playoffs. The Heat, ahead of 12 points (67-55) at the long interval, play a bad second half, with the Timberwolves who overturn the challenge thanks to the 58-37 of the second half. Still, the three best scorers of the evening are all from Miami: Tyler Herro is top scorer with 30 points, while Adebayo scores 19 (the same as Strus) with 12 rebounds. On the other hand, the most prolific is Nowell with 16, but Minnesota closes with 8 players in double figures, with Edwards and Towns at 15 and D’Angelo Russell at 14. Miami’s advantage over Milwaukee remains unchanged, while Minnesota is now a game and a half away from Denver, sixth to the West.
DENVER NUGGETS-TORONTO RAPTORS 115-127
Just the Nuggets lose 127-115 at home to Toronto in a cross match between teams in search of the playoffs. The Raptors make a comeback thanks to the +18 (34-16) of the last quarter, before which Denver was ahead 99-93. For the guests, Siakam’s 33 points (12/22 from the field) are decisive, while Barnes and Boucher finish in double doubles, respectively with 25 and 21 points and 10 assists and 13 rebounds. In Denver, however, Nikola Jokic’s usual test as leader is not enough: 26 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists for the Serbian, who misses only four shots in the area. The MVP of the last Regular Season, however, is not supported at best: the best after Jokic is in fact Hyland (17). Denver sees the lead on seventh place in the West diminish, while in the Eastern Conference Toronto is now only one race away from sixth place in Cleveland.
UTAH JAZZ-SACRAMENTO KINGS 134-125
Utah remains fourth in the standings in the West thanks to 134-125 against Sacramento. A match that is decided in the central part of the race, in which the Jazz find the +17 (63-46 between second and third period) enough to keep the Kings at a distance. Two players exceed 40 points: the best is Clarkson for Utah, who scores 45 with amazing numbers, 15/21 shooting and 7/13 from the bow. Sacramento, on the other hand, collapses despite De’Aaron Fox’s double double, who puts 41 on the scoresheet with 11 assists and 15/32 from the field. The Jazz, however, can count on a super trio that also includes Bogdanovic (26) and Donovan Mitchell (25), in addition to Whiteside’s sensational 21 rebounds. Utah rises to a record 42-25, remains fourth while retaining the slightest advantage over Dallas fifth. Fourth knockout in a row, however, for Sacramento, always third from last.
PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS-WASHINGTON WIZARDS 127-118
The challenge between the two elevenths in the standings goes to Portland: the Blazers beat Washington 127-118 and remain fully in the running for a placement in the play-in area. The hosts set the record straight in the first half: 72-54, with the Wizards only partially managing to reduce the accumulated disadvantage at the long interval. More than half of Portland’s team points put them on the scoresheet Hart and Watford, respectively at 44 and 27 points (and with 15/21 and 11/16 from the field) and capable of scoring 71 of the 127 team points, with Eubanks in double double (20 with 12 rebounds). Washington, on the other hand, does not go beyond Caldwell-Pope’s 26 and Kuzma’s 22. Portland breaks the fast of victories and after six knockouts in a row returns to smile: potentially, the Blazers are tenth in the West along with the Pelicans. Third consecutive defeat, however, for Washington, even further away from Charlotte.
SAN ANTONIO SPURS-INDIANA PACERS 108-119
Collapses in the house of San Antonio, beaten 119-108 by Indiana. In the final result the double +8 of the first (34-26) and of the third period (26-18) affect the Pacers, who come out better from the blocks and before the last 12 minutes they are on +15. Only four players in double figures for Popovich’s Spurs: the best is Landale with 26 points, then there is Walker at 20, Vassell at 19 and Richardson at 16. For Indiana, however, there are 19 from Haliburton and Washington, with Hield at 17 and, in total, six players with at least 10 points for the Pacers. San Antonio remains twelfth in the Western Conference with a record 26-42, while Indiana ends the three-game losing streak, but remains third from last in the East.
