Los Angeles (AFP)

Philadelphia fell at home in overtime to the Milwaukee Bucks (109-105), in the top of Wednesday night in the NBA which kept all its promises, and sees return to its height at the top of the Eastern Conference Brooklyn, winner at Indianapolis of the Pacers (124-115).

Its star Antetokounmpo struggled to get into working order.

Well marked by Ben Simmons, the Greek genius double MVP then transparent, scored only a misery of points (4) in a first half at the end of which the 76ers were well ahead (45-31).

Philly, yet still deprived of his pivot Joel Embiid injured in the left knee, even counted in this first act up to nineteen lengths ahead.

Then Milwaukee (3rd in the Eastern Conference) tightened the bolts in defense and came back.

And in overtime, Antetokounmpo came out of his box by scoring 10 of his 32 points.

"We never stopped playing, we came out with a great game in defense," said Antetokounmpo, who also took 15 rebounds in the game, of his side's comeback.

"We have always trusted each other, have never lowered our heads and always believed in ourselves."

Ben Simmons has long managed to muzzle Antetokounmpo and signed a triple double (13 points, 10 rebounds, 12 assists).

But he couldn't stop the Sixers, who lost in overtime to an ankle injury to Seth Curry, from falling at home and seeing their six-game winning streak halted.

- The Nets continue to win -

Result: the Brooklyn Nets, during an evening when all the top names in the East were engaged, came back tied with Philadelphia for 1st place thanks to a new victory, against the Pacers in Indianapolis (124- 115) where James Harden scored 40 points, took 10 rebounds and distilled 15 assists for a triple-double.

Despite the absence of Kyrie Irving, a groin hit and last-minute package, Kevin Durant, and a very poor start - the Pacers led 40-25 after a quarter - the Nets mainland rack up the successes by signing their fourteenth success in 15 games.

"Let's forget about my triple-double to hold back our efforts," said Harden.

"And more particularly this second part of the match where we did an incredible job in defense".

Bad news for Brooklyn: his coach Steve Nash suggested that Durant, on the flank for nearly a month, "in progress", would nevertheless remain absent for at least two weeks.

- Untenable Doncic in Dallas -

End of the series also for Miami, which remained on five victories: the Heat fell in Memphis against the Grizzlies winners by a short header (89-85).

Ja Morant scored a decisive basket at 1.2 seconds.

the buzzer to put his team in front of 87-85, while Miami had returned in the last quarter.

Miami remains 4th in the Eastern Conference, as Charlotte (5th) fell heavily in Denver, whose wide 129-104 victory allows her to return to the West over the Los Angeles Clippers, fourth.

The Clippers were indeed dominated in Dallas where the Mavericks were able to count on an untenable Luka Doncic scored 42 points.

As for the comfortable victory of Golden State in Houston (108-94), it was tarnished by the injury of Stephen Curry.

According to the Warriors, Curry, who fell heavily from falling heavily back after a three-point shot attempt in the third quarter, is suffering from a tailbone contusion.

He was nevertheless able to get up and painfully return to the locker room.

© 2021 AFP