With 57 seconds to go, the Cameroonian pivot (25 pts, 9 rbds), who had just put his team back in front with two crucial shots, finished his great work of potential MVP, inflicting an authoritarian counter to the Slovenian prodigy who came to try the penetration of the last chance.

The latter (24 pts, 10 rbds, 8 assists) did not deserve, nor Kyrie Irving (23 pts). But their duo, supposed to make Dallas a contender for the title, has for the moment rather smells of huge fiasco.

Despite their sense of urgency, the Mavs (11th) were unable to capitalize on the twelve-point lead in the first period. However, they badly needed a second victory in a row to hope to return to the top 10.

And to make the evening even more gloomy, the Thunder, just in front of them, beat Detroit (107-106) thanks to a tap dance... at the buzzer of Jalen Williams (27 pts).

"We still have the opportunity to qualify, so we must not give up," said Doncic, when Irving lashed out at "the big mess" reigning "right now" in Dallas. Atmosphere.

Sacramento in the playoffs

With five games to go until the end of the regular season, to say the noose is tightening is a mild understatement. Especially since the Lakers and Utah, also engaged in this breathless race, won.

Dallas Mavericks v Philadelphia 76ers © Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

L.A. was able to count on Anthony Davis (38 pts, 10 rbds) to beat the Bulls. LeBron James contributed (25 pts), for his return as a starter, within the "purple and gold" solidly anchored to 8th place, after this fourth success in five games.

The Jazz (12th), meanwhile, ended a four-game losing streak, winning in San Antonio (128-117), thanks to Talen Horton-Tucker (41 pts), to follow the Mavs and still believe in their pale star.

Much higher, the Clippers (5th), without Kawhi Leonard or Paul George, but with Russell Westbrook block and skillful as rarely (36 pts, 13/18, 10 assists), offered themselves a convincing victory in Memphis (141-132). Ja Morant (36 pts, 9 assists) couldn't prevent the Grizzlies' first loss (2nd) in eight games.

For its part, Sacramento (3rd) was able, as expected, to compost its ticket for the playoffs, strangling Portland (120-80). The Kings ended a 17-year drought, the longest for a franchise in league history.

51 points for Holiday

In Phoenix, Kevin Durant was finally able to make his debut in front of his new audience, three weeks after spraining an ankle in the warm-up. Less accurate than usual (5/18), he finished with 16 points in the win against Minnesota (107-100), to which Devin Booker (29 pts) contributed.

In the East, Jrue Holiday stole the show from Giannis Antetokounmpo, scoring 51 points that greatly contributed to the victory of the leader Milwaukee in Indiana (149-136). The back, who broke his personal best, was skilful (20/30) but also hardworking (8 assists, 8 rbds).

Minnesota Timberwolves v Phoenix Suns © Christian Petersen/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP

At his side, the "Greek Freak" was not to be outdone, with a big triple-double (38 pts at 14/18 shooting, 17 rbds, 12 assists) to his credit, the Bucks enjoying hitting the mark almost twice out of three (62.4%).

In the fight for the top 6 directly qualifying for the play-offs, New York (5th) has moved closer to this goal by beating (101-92) Miami (7th), which is moving away from it and seems more and more promised to the playoffs. Especially since Brooklyn (6th) defeated Houston (123-114).

The Knicks relied on their valuable replacement Immanuel Quickley (24 pts), but fear they have lost for a moment Julius Randle, who severely twisted his left ankle.

© 2023 AFP