Orlando (United States) (AFP)

Milwaukee and Giannis Antetokounmpo had the last word against Boston (119-112) in the shock of the Eastern Conference, Friday at Disney World where James Harden, untenable, put the Rockets against Dallas for the resumption of the NBA season .

. Giannis sickens the Celtics

Favorite to his own succession for the MVP trophy of the season, Antetokounmpo held his place against Boston, one of the Bucks' contenders for a place in the finals, scoring 36 points (14/20 on shots, 15 rebounds, 7 assists) including 16 in the last very tight quarter.

After whistling an offensive foul, synonymous with exclusion for 6 fouls, the referees reviewed their judgment and he took the opportunity to complete his demolition business in the racket, helped by his lieutenant Khris Middleton (18 pts) author of a long range shot fatal to the C's.

The latter, most often behind in the score, have never given up like Marcus Smart (23 pts), excellent in his role as Kemba Walker substitute still a little tight (16 pts).

With this 54th success (12 losses), Milwaukee consolidates its first place. Boston remains 3rd.

. Harden in rocket mode

For those who would have forgotten, the league's leading scorer is called James Harden and "the bearded" was used to remind him against the Mavericks, his 49 points (14/20 on shots), 9 rebounds, 8 assists having largely contributed to the success of Houston after extra time (153-149). A score worthy of the All-Star Game which testifies to the almost systemic defensive absence of the two teams.

The other Rockets star Russell Westbrook responded with his 31 points (11 rebounds, 8 assists), while Robert Covington managed the tying basket to play five extra minutes, before planting a fatal banderilla at long distance during extra time. .

Dallas, who led by 11 points at the start of the last quarter, seemed to lack juice at the end of the game, despite an excellent game from his Latvian interior Kristaps Porzingis (39 pts, 16 rebounds) and the triple-double of his Slovenian jewel Luka Doncic (29 pts, 13 rebounds, 10 assists), also guilty of 8 loss of balls.

In the standings, Houston climbs to 5th place in the West, Dallas remains 7th.

. Portland nibbles on the Grizzlies

The play-offs of the Blazers, 9th in the West, starts well, with a victory snatched after extra time (140-135) against Memphis (8th) who now retains only two and a half wins ahead of him .

The probability that they will end up for a qualifying play-off - which will take place if the 9th finishes four wins from the 8th - is quite high, even if San Antonio (10th), winner of Sacramento (129-120), can still play the spoilsport.

CJ McCollum, author of 33 points (6 assists), was the strongman of the Trail Blazers, scoring two crucial three-point baskets in overtime. Damian Lillard scored 29 points (9 assists, 5 rebounds) and Carmelo Anthony 21 (7 rebounds).

Memphis, carried by the 33 points of Jaren Jackson Jr, believed to make the hardest by going up 13 points behind in the 3rd quarter. And it took a slip on the last action of regulation time of rookie Ja Morant (22 pts, 11 assists) for the Grizzlies not to win on this very engaged meeting where 84 free throws were shot in the total.

. Orlando takes it up a notch

Frenchman Evan Fournier, who appeared rusty during the preparatory friendlies, woke up at the right time for the Magic, scoring 24 points (10/15 on shots, 5 assists) in the success against Brooklyn (128-118), which allows Floridians to steal 7th place in the East from New Yorkers.

Despite a good start and the good performance of Frenchman Thimoté Luwawu-Cabarrot (24 pts), the Nets, deprived of many executives, collapsed in the 2nd and 3rd quarter (75-43), without being able to really pick up afterwards.

To console themselves, Brooklyn saw Washington, its only rival for the play-offs, fall against Phoenix (125-112).

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