Boston is the new leader of the Eastern Conference of the NBA, the North American basketball league. The Celtics won 134-112 against Minnesota and took advantage of Philadelphia’s loss to Phoenix (114-104) to take the East lead.
By Belga
ELed by Jayson Tatum (34 points) and Jaylen Brown (31 points), the Celtics made short work of the Timberwolves. With this new success, the 9th of the last 10 games, Boston takes the lead in the East after the Sixers’ defeat to Phoenix, leader of the West.
Joel Embiid was too alone on the Philadelphia side with his 37 points while James Harden struggled to set the sights (14 points). On the Suns side, Devin Booker planted 35 points. Philadelphia slips to 4th place behind Boston, Miami and Milwaukee.
Lower in the standings, Brooklyn will probably have to go through the ‘play-in’ to hope to play the playoffs after their 110-119 defeat despite Kyrie Irving’s first match on New York soil. The Nets sit in 9th place and are four wins behind 6th place Toronto.
In the West, the fight intensifies for the playoffs. Golden State, 3rd and still deprived of Stephen Curry, lost 123-115 in Washington and feels the breath of Dallas in his neck. The Mavericks took 4th place by beating Utah (114-100) and returned to two Warriors victories.
The Los Angeles Lakers had the wrong operation of the evening in the fight for the ‘play-in’. Despite LeBron James’ 39 points, the Lakers lost 116-108 to New Orleans after going 23 points ahead.
The 2020 champions give up their 9th place to the Pelicans and have only one victory ahead of San Antonio, 11th, in ambush to play the ‘play-in’.
