The Boston Celtics, defending champions and second in the Eastern Conference, beat the Toronto Raptors (126-123) at the last second on Saturday at home. They won at the end of overtime, on a long-distance shot from Jayson Tatum (24 points scored). In regulation time, Boston had already equalized at the end of the match, 42”1 from the buzzer by Neemias Queta before Jaylen Brown (27 pts) against RJ Barrett, the Raptors’ fullback. Jakob Poeltl scored 35 points for Toronto, which is now on seven straight defeats and brings up the rear in the Eastern Conference.
The player: Fox doesn’t stop
De’Aaron Fox is not satisfied. Friday, the leader of the Sacramento Kings scored 60 points, but his team lost against Minnesota (126-130). On Saturday, the Kings won this time against Utah (121-117) and Fox was again voracious with 49 points to his credit (16/30 shooting including 3/4 three-pointers). Trailing at the start of the last quarter, Sacramento made the difference with a 31-23 in its favor and two free throws from Fox 1 second from the final buzzer. In his last two matches, the Kings star scored 109 points, a record in the history of the California franchise.
The series: and five for the Lakers
By beating the New Orleans Pelicans (104-99), the Los Angeles Lakers had a fifth consecutive victory and are now ranked fourth in the Western Conference. LeBron James failed to achieve a fifth triple-double in a row but scored 21 points, including two decisive long-range shots in the last two minutes of the game. Anthony Davis supported him well with 31 points while rookie Dalton Knecht stood out with 27 points. The Frenchman Armel Traoré played four minutes, contenting himself with taking a rebound. The Pelicans, still without Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum, both injured in a thigh, relied on Brandon Ingram (32 points).
