The Heat were hot: leading by 26 points at the end of the first period, after taking advantage of the opposing defensive wanderings and an insolent address behind the arc (11/16, 15/33 finally), the Floridians fell asleep.

And in the wake of LeBron James (33 pts, 11 rebounds), supported by Russell Westbrook, very clean (24 pts, at 9/15, 9 assists, 9 rebounds), LA got closer to four units in the last minute , without however forcing fate.

On the Miami side, deprived of Kyle Lowry and Tyler Herro, Jimmy Butler was in triple-double mode (20 pts, 12 assists, 10 rebounds) and Duncan Robinson did what he knows how to do best, play snipers at long distance (6/11, 25 pts).

The Heat steals leadership from Brooklyn, which fell to Minnesota (136-125), despite Kyrie Irving (30 pts).

The Nets lacked serious defense and the Wolves (52.2% success) took advantage of it, like Anthony Edwards (25 pts), D'Angelo Russell (23 pts, 10 assists) and Karl- Anthony Towns author of 15 of his 23 points in the last quarter.

The Bulls could have taken the opportunity to return to the lead, but still would have had to avoid sinking in Orlando (114-95) where only DeMar DeRozan floated (41 pts), in vain.

Chicago slips to 3rd position, three rows ahead of Philadelphia, easy winner in San Antonio, thanks to Joel Embiid (38 pts, 12 rebounds).

Luminous Doncic-Morant duel

In 7th place remains Charlotte, although beaten (113-91) at home by Atlanta, still 12th but which confirms its awakening, with this fourth success in a row ahead of many Trae Young (30 pts).

It was in Washington that the card of the day took place, namely 51 points planted (10 rebounds, 7 assists) by Jayson Tatum, during the victory (116-87) of Celtics going back to 8th place.

The Knicks (11th) recovered after three consecutive losses at Madison Square Garden, to the detriment of the Clippers (110-102), thanks in particular to RJ Barrett (28 pts, 14 rebounds).

In the duel between Frenchies, the New Yorker Evan Fournier (14 pts) was more prominent than the "Angeleno" Nicolas Batum (6 pts, 3 assists).

In the West, the Warriors (2nd) narrowly won against Jazz (4th), not without thanking the hoop, on which the ball rolled and then bounced outside?

after Bojan Bogdanovic's buzzer shot (21 pts).

Without Klay Thompson (knee), nor Draymond Green (lumbar) and despite a Stephen Curry in a big breakdown of address (13 pts, only one winning shot scored in 13 attempts, 6 assists), Golden State got away with it in s relying on a good defense and Jordan Poole (20 pts).

Opposite, he also missed Donovan Mitchell for the offensive impact, Rudy Gobert being limited to 12 points, while continuing to dominate the rackets (18 rebounds).

Suddenly, the Warriors take a little distance on Memphis (3rd), defeated (104-91) in Dallas (5th), after a high-flying face-to-face between Luka Doncic (37 pts, 11 rebounds , 9 assists, 3 interceptions) and Ja Morant (35 pts, 13 rebounds, 6 assists).

In Denver, finally, no 5th triple-double in a row for Nikola Jokic (34 pts, 9 rebounds, 8 assists), who nevertheless carried the Nuggets (6th) to victory (117-111) against Detroit.

© 2022 AFP