Los Angeles (AFP)

As "Black Mamba" knew how to be, Zach LaVine was "clutch" with Chicago and Eric Gordon was prolific with Houston, Monday in the NBA still in death shock Kobe Bryant, like Chris Paul (Oklahoma City) too annihilated to play.

. Houston extinct Utah

Without their two stars, James Harden (thigh) and Russell Westbrook (household), the Rockets played one of their best games of the season, to win at the Jazz (126-117).

We are hardly exaggerating, but the Texan collective has shown that it can be reliable if the ball is more divided, even if the one who really carried the team was Eric Gordon with his 50 points and 6 rebounds. His personal best has enough to give ideas to coach Mike D'Antoni.

Utah side, only Donovan Mitchell existed offensively (39 pts), while Rudy Gobert, however in great shape for two weeks, was more discreet (12 pts, 14 rbds).

With this first defeat in five games, the Jazz slips to 3rd place in the West. Houston remains 6th.

. Heat joins Raptors

In Miami, where a minute of silence was observed in memory of Bryant, the Heat quietly won the Florida derby at the expense of Orlando (113-92).

A success which raised him again to second place in the East, shared with Toronto, on the eve of receiving Boston.

Bam Adebayo, well off at this rate to be designated player with the best progression (MIP), achieved a triple-double (20 pts, 10 assists, 10 rbds). Jimmy Butler (19 pts, 7 assists) and Duncan Robinson (21 pts 6/9 long distance) were helpful.

Orlando, where Evan Fournier distributed more than usual (8 assists, 9 pts), accuses his 4th consecutive defeat, but remains 7th.

. Dallas wins over emotion

In Oklahoma City, if the Thunder star Chris Paul did not find the strength to play, the game eventually regained its rights and Dallas won (107-97).

Luka Doncic led his team to victory with 29 points, 11 rebounds and 5 assists, remaining 5th in the West. OKC remains 7th.

Among the Mavs, whose boss Mark Cuban, decided to remove the flocked jersey of 24, the emotion was very strong before the match, especially as one of the coaches of the young teams, God Shammgod was a friend of 30 years old of Bryant and had taught some basics of basketball to his daughter Gianna, who died with his father on Sunday.

. LaVine, "LaVictoire"

Zach LaVine, who had decided to wear the number 8, that of Bryant at the beginning of his career, took time to enter this match won in extremis by Chicago at the expense of San Antonio (110-109).

"It's hard to play in these circumstances, but I think it's something he would have wanted," said the point guard who scored 14 of his 23 points in the last quarter before the game. This money-time so dear to his idol.

He did not give up when registering his two free throws 2.1 seconds from the buzzer to offer the Bulls victory, before paying tribute to the deceased star.

"There will never be another Kobe Bryant. It has had an impact on people, on and off the court. The kids who grew up in the 80s dreamed of becoming Michael Jordan. We all wanted to be like Kobe . "

The results of the North American Basketball Championship (NBA) after the matches played on Monday:

Miami - Orlando 113 - 92

Utah - Houston 117 - 126

Chicago - San Antonio 110 - 109

Minnesota - Sacramento 129 - 133

Oklahoma City - Dallas 97 - 107

Detroit - Cleveland 100 - 115

© 2020 AFP