The Nets thus chain a fifth victory in a row (119-116), well led by a Kyrie Irving author of 32 points in total, including this victorious shot.

Brooklyn's other star, Kevin Durant, added 28 to help his team continue their streak of nine wins in ten games.

Opposite, the 39 units of Fred VanVleet, the best total of the match, were not enough for the Raptors, tied a few seconds from the end thanks to two free throws from Scottie Barnes.

Just before Kyrie Irving snatched victory on the wire and allowed the Nets to stay in contact with Cleveland, third in the Eastern Conference.

The Cavs retain their place on the podium alone thanks to 41 points from Donovan Mitchell, who propelled them to victory on the floor of the Indiana Pacers (118-112).

On that of Philadelphia, it was Joel Embiid who made the law, piling up 34 points and 13 rebounds for the Sixers, who fell from the defending champion despite the absence of Tobias Harris, injured in the back.

James Harden has not been idle, bringing 27 additional points accompanied by 9 assists to assist his pivot.

Five in a row for the Magic

Golden State, without its master to play Stephen Curry, released injured in the shoulder Wednesday against Indiana and forfeited indefinitely, had made the best start and led by two points at the halfway point.

Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets surrounded by Kevin Durant (d) and Yuta Watanabe during the NBA game against Toronto on December 16 in Toronto © MARK BLINC / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

"They shot a lot from the start, playing at a very high pace," Embiid said.

"But we didn't panic, we knew they weren't going to be able to maintain this pace all the time, and that at some point it would calm down," he added.

The Californian franchise, also deprived of Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green, made a start to the season far from its standards, with 14 wins for 16 losses, including 13 away.

In Boston, the best record in the NBA with 22 wins and 8 losses, Orlando created a surprise by winning by eight points (117-109).

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown got the job done as usual for the Celtics with 31 and 26 points respectively, but came up against an in-form Magic team on a five-game winning streak.

Rookie Paolo Banchero recorded another fine performance at 20 units, behind the 25 of Moritz Wagner, Orlando's offensive leader.

This meeting marked the return of an essential defensive element of the Celtics, Robert Williams, author of 9 points and 5 rebounds.

He hadn't played yet this season due to knee surgery in September.

The Knicks with style

The Atlanta Hawks balanced their record by winning at home against the Charlotte Hornets (125-106), led by 31 points from Trae Young and 28 from Bogdan Bodganovic.

In Detroit, the De'Aaron Fox-Domantas Sabonis duo took a well-oiled Sacramento collective to victory against the Pistons (122-113).

Seven Kings players, trailing by eight points at halftime, scored more than ten points to turn the tide in the third quarter.

The New York Knicks have meanwhile signed a sixth success in a row, with style, against Chicago (114-91).

LeBron James with the Los Angeles Lakers against Denver in the NBA on December 16, 2022 in Los Angeles © RONALD MARTINEZ / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

RJ Barrett led the way with 27 points, helped by Jalen Brunson and Quentin Grimes (22 points each), respectively authors of six and five successful three-point shots on the 17 scored by the Knicks.

The Los Angeles Lakers of LeBron James, lagging behind in the West (12th), also imposed themselves with style against the third in the Conference, Denver (126-108), who remained on three victories.

But their success was tarnished by the injury to the right foot of Anthony Davis, who left his teammates at half-time.

© 2022 AFP