Los Angeles (AFP)
The Philadelphia 76ers, though deprived of their star Joel Embiid, suspended, won on the wire on the floor of Portland (129-128) on Saturday, and remain the only team still undefeated in the NBA.
. Invincible
Generally, when there are a few seconds left to play and the Blazers need a basket to win, Damian Lillard takes care of it. And while we waited for a shoot, the back penetrated to better bring the ball to Anfernee Simons, whose basket three gave two ahead. Good game.
And usually, again, after such a blow, the opponent does not get up. But Philadelphia, like the match where he has constantly reappointed the score, managed to win on a three-point basket of the young Turk Furkan Korkmaz, almost to the buzzer. Lillard way, to summarize.
Here are the Sixers, also worn by Al Horford (25) and Tobias Harris (23 pts), with five consecutive wins. Portland stays in balance, three wins, three losses.
. The duel: Giannis vs Lowry
The second poster of the night featured one of the favorites in the East, Milwaukee, the defending champion, Toronto. And she also kept her promises. If the win was won by the Bucks (115-105), the Raptors showed heart by sticking to four points in the fourth quarter, after counting 26 behind.
And in the aftermath of the sumptuous duel between LeBron James and Luka Doncic (Lakers-Mavericks), Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyle Lowry offered another high-caliber. The first split 36 points, 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 4 against, the second also scored 36 points, adding 6 assists and 4 rebounds.
Milwaukee now has four wins for two losses, as does Toronto.
. MVP: Andre Drummond
When there is Drummond in the racket, there are often few balls left to pick. And Brooklyn paid for it in the loss to Detroit (113-109). To say that the pivot of the Pistons was ultra-dominant is a euphemism: 25 points, 20 rebounds, 6 assists, 5 against and 3 interceptions!
What eclipse the triple-double Kyrie Irving (20 pts, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), insufficient to prevent the Nets to concede their fourth defeat in six games.
. Denver is recovering
After two defeats against Dallas and New Orleans, which angered coach Mike Malone, furious at the defensive passivity of his players, they rectified the shot in Orlando (91-87).
A fourth win, long to take shape for the Nuggets who counted up to 18 points behind (48-30), before Nikola Jokic wakes up. The Serbian pivot has scored 16 of its 20 points in the second half, including a very important basket in the last moments. Jamal Murray scored 22 points.
Magic side, the 24 points of Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic were not enough to prevent this fourth setback, the French Evan Fournier proving a little below its current production with 11 points and 5 assists.
. Golden State at the worst
The decrepitude continues at Golden State with a fifth defeat in six games at home against Charlotte (93-87). It must be said that without Stephen Curry (absent at least three months), Draymond Green, for several matches (ligament of an index) and D'Angelo Russell (right ankle), the Warriors presented a five unpublished.
His youth did not deserve, leading for three quarters in the wake of the inside Eric Paschall (25 pts), before cracking on the end, after a basket and two free throws Terry Rozier (20 pts).
Five months ago to the day, Golden State tied 1-1 against the Raptors in the NBA Finals, thanks to Klay Thompson, Curry and Green. Almost an eternity ...
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