Los Angeles (AFP)

"Kobe! Kobe!" that resonate, voluntary violations of the 24-second rule, moving tributes: we still played basketball in the NBA on Sunday, but thinking very hard of Kobe Bryant, dead at 41 years of a helicopter accident.

The 50 points of Damian Lillard still on fire with Portland, the Clippers and Kawhi Leonard who win in Orlando before their duel on Tuesday against the Lakers, Toronto which takes 2nd place in the East, the first victory of Zion Williamson with the Pelicans: the meetings gave their share of lessons.

. "The show must go on"

After consultation between players, franchises and the NBA, the eight Sunday games were maintained.

In Denver, where the Nuggets hosted Houston, a minute of silence was observed, before countless "Kobe, Kobe!" are chanted by the public.

In New Orleans and San Antonio, which hosted Boston and Toronto respectively, the players voluntarily stopped playing for the first 24 seconds, in reference to the number worn by Bryant in his second half of his career. In Orlando, we also broke the 8 second rule, in reference to its first number.

In New York where the Knicks welcomed neighbor Brooklyn, the facades of Madison Square Garden were adorned with the gold and purple colors of the Lakers and a black and white portrait of the basketball player was displayed on the giant screens.

. Leonard still wearing the Clippers

Kawhi Leonard shone again, with 31 points and 14 rebounds, to allow the Clippers to win (112-97) in Orlando. It is the eighth consecutive game that the rear has exceeded 30 points; his average is even 35 points on this streak.

The men of Doc Rivers remain third in the West behind Utah and the Lakers whom they will find Tuesday for their third duel "angelino", after having won the first two, in an atmosphere that we imagine in advance very charged with emotions .

. Raptors transform into dolphins

And here is Toronto which, without making any noise, is positioned in second place in the East, thanks to its seventh success of rank obtained in San Antonio (110-106).

Cameroonian winger Pascal Siakam dominated with 35 points (including 30 in the first period) and 8 rebounds. Fred VanVleet scored him the three-point basket that showered Texas hopes in the last minute.

With this second defeat in a row, the Spurs see Memphis, their competitor for a ticket to the play-offs, escape to eighth place after his victory against Phoenix (114-109).

. Denver continues against Houston

The Nuggets won their second row victory (117-110) against the Rockets, deprived of James Harden's thigh injury.

Nikola Jokic was essential with a triple double (24 assists, 12 rbds, 11 assists). Opposite, Russell Westbrook managed 32 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and 10 ... loss of balls.

Denver is 4th in the West, Houston 6th.

. Lillard stays on the "Kobesphère"

Stratospheric since his 61 points Monday against Golden State, chained by 47 Thursday against Dallas, Damian Lillard spent 50 in defense of Indiana, beaten (139-129) in Portland.

The rear who shot 60.9% success (including 8/12) long distance, also made 13 assists, a titanic performance that would not have displeased Bryant. Like that of Trae Young, the young Atlanta star, who wore a number 8 flocked jersey like the idol and managed 45 points and 14 assists in the success against Washington (152-133).

. Zion finally wins

The victory, for Zion Williamson, is since three games to finally be able to show his talent and his power on the floors, three months after his knee operation which delayed his debut in the NBA.

After two defeats, he was able to taste the collective success, prestigious in addition, against Boston (123-108), one of the customers in the East. His 21 points and 11 rebounds in 27 minutes were precious.

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