Los Angeles (AFP)
Philadelphia consolidated its first place at the top of the Eastern Conference on Saturday by beating Brooklyn, on a night when the Lakers, reigning NBA champions, suffered to beat Detroit.
Led by the untenable Stephen Curry (57 points), the Golden State Warriors could also have celebrated a victory, but ultimately bowed their backs against Dallas.
- In the East, Philly is the best -
Good operation for the Sixers: by beating the Nets 124-108, the players of Doc Rivers have both consolidated their status as leaders of the Eastern Conference and pushed back a rival for the title, admittedly deprived of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on Saturday.
Joel Embiid (33 points and nine rebounds), Tobias Harris (21 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists) and Ben Simmons (16 pts, 12 rebounds and 8 assists) were the main architects of the 17th victory in 24 matches this season of Philadelphia.
Opposite, James Harden came close to the "triple double" (26 points, 10 assists, 8 rebounds).
But in the absence of Durant, ruled out under NBA health protocol, and Irving (sprained right index finger), the Nets failed to tell the difference and are 4th (14 v-11 d).
Milwaukee, who largely beat Cleveland on Saturday (124-99), is second (15v-8d) and Boston third (12v-9d).
- Curry is shining, but Dallas is smiling -
The match between Dallas and Golden State offered an epic duel between Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry.
The Mavericks, largely dominated Thursday by the Warriors (147-116), took their revenge by winning on the line 134-132.
In Curry's 57-point recital, Luka Doncic answered with 42 points, equaling his career best total.
"What a basketball festival tonight," Dallas coach Rick Carlisle marveled.
"Curry and Doncic were impressive, both teams played with a lot of heart and joy," he added.
Author of eleven three-point baskets, the Golden State star brought the Warriors one point behind the Mavericks, while there were ten seconds left before the buzzer.
But six seconds from the end, the German Maxi Kleber replied to him to give an irreversible lead of four points to the Texans, penultimate of the Western Conference (10 v-14 d).
- The Lakers at the end of the suspense -
In the last game of the evening, the Lakers won in overtime (135-129) against the Detroit Pistons.
At Staples Center, the defending champions took their revenge on the Michigan franchise, which had inflicted a clear defeat on them ten days ago (107-92).
But the Californians were hot after letting a seventeen point advantage slip away.
It was finally at the end of the second extension that they completed the Pistons, the last of the Eastern Conference (5 v-18 d).
LeBron James (33 pts, 5 rebounds and 11 assists) and Anthony Davis (30 pts, 5 rebounds) are often illustrated.
In the opposing camp, Jerami Grant (32 pts, 6 assists) and Josh Jackson 28 pts, 8 rebounds) also shone.
In the Western Conference standings, the Lakers are second (18 v-6 d), still ahead of Utah (18 v-5 d).
Fifth (13 v-10 d), the Spurs dominated the Houston Rockets 111-106 on Saturday.
© 2021 AFP