Washington (AFP)
The Clippers returned to victory in Portland thanks to the return of Kawhi Leonard while Miami won in Phoenix and San Antonio went down Oklahoma City on Thursday in the NBA.
Beaten the day before at home by Milwaukee (129-124), the Clippers rallied in dominating Portland (107-101). Preserved against the Bucks, Kawhi Leonard shone, especially late in the game, to finish with 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists in 33 minutes on the floor.
The NBA, however, fined the Clippers $ 50,000 after coach Doc Rivers appeared to downplay the reality of the injury that saved Leonard Wednesday night against the Bucks.
In Portland, Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum both scored 22 points.
The Clippers return to fourth place in the Western Conference dominated by their Lakers rivals.
The Miami Heat, for its part, occupies the second place of the Eastern Conference after its success in Phoenix (124-108). If Jimmy Butler was decisive with 34 points, he was well supported by Edrice Adebayo (10 rebounds) and Slovenian Goran Dragic (25 points).
- Boston passes the 6th -
Boston consolidated its leadership on the East Conference by winning in Charlotte (108-87). This sixth success in seven games was won with the help of Gordon Hayward once again very solid (20 points, 10 rebounds and 6 assists).
For his return to a room where he spent eight years, Kemba Walker shed some tears and could only produce 14 points with a poor 4 out of 14 shots.
Finally the Spurs took the best at home against Oklahoma City Thunder (121-112). The team coached by Gregg Popovich took advantage of the shape boost of LaMarcus Aldridge, author of 39 points in 34 minutes with a brilliant 19/23 shot.
The young leader Dejounte Murray brought his speed and 10 assists to put the Spurs back to 6th place in the Western Conference.
Despite Danilo Gallinari's 27 points, Oklahoma City conceded their fifth loss in eight games and looks bad on the quest for a playoff ticket at the end of the regular season.
© 2019 AFP