Three days after the clash between Markieff Morris (Heat) and Nikola Jokic (Nuggets), which earned the latter, reigning MVP, a suspension match for violently pushing the former in the back, in retaliation for a big foul suffered, the disciplinary committee of the league is experiencing a busy week.

There was in the end no blow, but it waltzed severely on the floor of the Jazz between the two pivots, when the Frenchman tackled the arms of the American who had just pushed him, when he was withdrawing. towards his camp.

We were four minutes from the end of a match that the Pacers dominated and would win (111-100). And a few seconds earlier, Gobert (19 pts, 11 rebounds) frustrated at having been countered at the limit of regularity by his rival, had caught him in his fall by the shorts. Falling in turn, Turner (13 pts, 9 rebounds) took revenge by getting up, all leading to a skirmish.

"He fouled me, I fell and pulled him down. It was also a foul. Then he pushed me in the back and in the end nothing happened (... ) We weren't going to fight. The guys have to stop acting like they were going to fight. It's cool for the cameras, but we know that two seconds later there will be 20 security guards ", a wanted to play down the French, triple best defender in the League.

"Batman" appears at the Clippers

Around them, a melee was indeed quickly formed.

The team-mates of "Gobzilla", Donovan Mitchell (26 pts) and Joe Ingles, who pushed a referee in his tracks, were also excluded for their reaction considered too vehement.

Deprived of these three strong men in full money-time, Utah could not reverse the situation and conceded its first defeat of the season at home, slipping to 3rd place in the West (8-4).

Indiana (5-8), who relied on an excellent Malcolm Brogdon (30 pts), climbed to 12th in the East.

In Los Angeles, the Heat, beaten after extra time the day before by the Lakers, was again narrowly by the Clippers (112-109).

Miami Heat v Los Angeles Clippers RONALD MARTINEZ GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP

An interception by Nicolas Batum, on the final throw-in, poorly executed by PJ Tucker, three seconds from time, ensured the sixth consecutive success for the Californians, now 6th (7-4).

The French winger was imperial in defense (6 pts, 6 rebounds, 3 blocks, 2 interceptions) and Paul George played his usual role in attack (25 pts).

Side Heat (7th), where Jimmy Butler was lacking (ankle), Bam Adebayo was omnipresent (30 pts, 11 rebounds), just like Kyle Lowry (25 pts, 5 assists).

But like Tyler Herro, passed by behind the arc (0/6, but 23 pts all the same), the Florida long-distance address was too bad (9/41, 22%).

Finally, in Philadelphia, the absence of Joel Embiid (Covid-19) was again felt for the Sixers who conceded a third loss (115-109) in a row against the Raptors.

Gary Trent Jr (20 pts) and Fred VanVleet (32 pts, 7 assists, 6 rebounds) had two consecutive lethal baskets behind the arc, in the last 70 seconds.

The franchise of Pennsylvania (8-5) remains 4th, that of Ontario (7-6) climbs to 8th position.

© 2021 AFP