Los Angeles (AFP)
Philadelphia, more than ever leader in the East, won with the Lakers a duel between favorites long without much flavor, in the absence of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid, until a final a little more exciting, Thursday in the NBA.
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Green hurts the Lakers
It lacked the electricity that usually accompanies this type of shock at Staples Center, where the James / Davis duo lacked much more in LA than the only Embiid in Philly, winner (109-101).
It is the former Lakers gunner, Danny Green (28 pts), who played a bad trick on his former team by scoring 8 long-distance baskets, including the last 30 seconds from the end, to definitively repel Californians returned to two points after having counted 18 behind at the start of the money-time.
A good evening therefore for his return to Los Angeles, where he was able to recover before the meeting, like Dwight Howard, his NBA champion ring.
Opposite, Kyle Kuzma (25 pts, 9 rebounds) was the one who initiated the attempt to come back.
Vain since the Lakers, still 4th in the West, concede their 4th defeat in a row.
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Rebelote for the Clippers
Worn by Kawhi Leonard the day before (134-101) on the floor of the Spurs, LA chained another success in back-to-back (98-85) in San Antonio, without his star (foot), but relying on Reggie Jackson (28 pts).
Paul George (24 pts, 13 rebounds) also played an important role for the Clippers (3rd), who made the difference in the second half won 49 to 30, thanks to an iron defense, despite the absences of Marcus Morris, Serge Ibaka, Patrick Beverley and that, definitive, of Lou Williams, transferred earlier to Atlanta in exchange for Rajon Rondo.
Nicolas Batum was active (6 pts, 8 rebounds, 2 interceptions).
Side Spurs, who concede their 4th consecutive loss, DeMar DeRozan (23 pts) was deluded.
They remain 8th in front of Golden State (10th), still deprived of Stephen Curry (coccyx), and strangled in Sacramento (141-119) where DeAaron Fox broke his points record (44).
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Lillard always on time
It is not a basket behind the arc of which he has the secret, which this time gave the victory to Portland in Miami (125-122), but his three free throws, in the last second, resulting from a fault by Trevor Ariza.
One way or another, Damian Lillard frightens the defenses and almost always gets his way when the time strikes.
A "Dame Time" came to punctuate in the best way an evening hardly obvious in terms of address (22 pts, 6/19 on shots, 9 assists).
Fortunately for the Blazers, 5th in the West, tied with Denver, CJ McCollum took over in attack (35 pts, 8 assists).
For Miami, deprived of Jimmy Butler (sick) and Goran Dragic (back), the march was too high, even if Bam Adebayo released a great match (29 pts, 9 rebounds, 7 assists, 5 blocks), well helped by Tyler Herro (29 pts).
The Heat, in a delicate pass after this fifth setback, slipped into 7th position in the East.
The good news of the day remaining the arrival of Victor Oladipo (ex-Houston), who should bring offensively.
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Don't panic at the Knicks
In the other back-to-back of the day, the Knicks won another victory against Washington (106-102), more upset than the previous one (131-113).
They were indeed up to 17 lengths behind in the middle of the 3rd quarter, without ever losing foot.
The 6th man Alec Burks was decisive by scoring 15 of his 27 points in the final period.
Previously, it was RJ Barrett (24 pts, 10 rebounds, 5 assists) who allowed New York to stay in the game.
Opposite, the best scorer in the championship, Bradley Beal, made his match (26 pts, 9 assists) despite a weak shooting success (8/23).
Russell Westbrook, although close to the triple-double (13 pts, 18 rebounds, 9 assists), did much worse in terms of address, missing his eight shots in the second half (3/15 in total) and committing 8 losses. .
The Knicks are 5th in the East, the Wizards 13th.
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