Los Angeles (AFP)

Leader of the Western Conference, the Utah Jazz signed against the Clippers (114-96) a ninth victory in a row in the NBA Wednesday, during an evening also marked by the success of Philadelphia against Houston (118-113).

- Gobert does the show for Jazz -

The French Rudy Gobert delivered a great performance on Wednesday, taking 23 points and 20 rebounds to his account to offer a comfortable victory to the Jazz, more than ever leader of the Western Conference with a record of 24 successes and 5 losses since the start of the season.

The Clippers know them a stop, after four successes in a row.

Well helped by the complete game of Donovan Mitchell (24 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists), the players of Salt Lake City have just beaten the gratin of the NBA in a big week.

After Boston on February 9, Milwaukee (then 2nd in conference), finalist of the final season Miami and frontman of the East Philadelphia conference all suffered the law of Jazz.

In the standings, Utah is ahead of the Lakers, defending champions who have two wins less, and the Clippers, deprived of Paul George, Kawhi Leonard and Nicolas Batum on Wednesday.

In the absence of the latter, no Los Angeles player has crossed the twenty points, but Lou Williams survived with 16 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.

The latter even managed to hoist the Clippers in the lead at half-time (51-46), before a second half of a one-way match (68-45 for the Jazz).

Fourth in the West after its victory against New Orleans (126-124), Portland remains a good distance from the Clippers, despite a game 43 points from Damian Lillard.

The number 0 of the Trail Blazers shared the title of most prolific player on Wednesday with Jerami Grant, whose performance did not prevent Detroit's defeat against Chicago (105-102).

- Philadelphia takes off again against the Rockets -

End of the bleeding in Philly: After three straight losses, the Sixers won Wednesday against the Houston Rockets, transcended by their trio Harris-Embiid-Curry.

The Cameroonian scored 31 points, intercepted 11 rebounds and delivered 9 assists, a hair's breadth from the triple-double.

For lack of statistical perfection, Embiid inspired his teammates Tobias Harris (24 pts, 15 rebounds, 5 assists) and Seth Curry (25 pts, 5 assists).

The return of Embiid, absent Monday during the loss (134-123) against the Jazz because of back pain, allowed his team to reassert its authority at the head of the conference, while Brooklyn (2nd, four victories of continued) became more and more threatening.

Wednesday night also confirmed the current good form of the Indiana Pacers (4th), winners 134-128 (ap) of Minnesota.

Finally, in a game between flagship teams of the NBA, the Golden State Warriors went to overtime to finally win 120-112 against the Miami Heat.

Dominators in the first two quarters, the Floridians wasted a 15-point advantage in the last two.

In "his" room in San Francisco, Stephen Curry delivered the coup de grace to Miami in overtime, scoring eight of the Warriors' last eleven points.

"Everyone's been missing shots from all four corners of the floor," said Curry.

"It makes you humble. But if you work hard, they'll come home eventually. And luckily, that's what happened," he breathed in relief.

Golden State is 7th in the West, while Miami remains stuck in 11th in the East.

© 2021 AFP