Clippers and Nuggets follow up
Respectively 3rd and 4th in the West, Los Angeles won a 4th consecutive victory against Houston (126-109) and Denver an 8th success in a row at the expense of San Antonio (121-119).
Without Paul George or Rajon Rondo, spared for this back-to-back, the Clippers relied on the talent of Kawhi Leonard (31 pts, 8 assists).
Reggie Jackson added 26 points (7 assists).
In Colorado, Nikola Jokic managed him the 54th triple-double of his career (26 pts, 14 assists, 13 rebounds), very valuable to overcome Spurs, who could have considered a better fate if DeMar DeRozan (24 pts, 12 assists) had scored on the buzzer.
San Antonio remains 9th in the West, ahead of Golden State beaten by Washington (110-107).
Stephen Curry's 32 points were insufficient against Russell Westbrook's 21st triple-double of the season (19 pts, 14 assists, 14 rebounds) and the incredible final streak of Bradley Beal, author of 6 of his 20 points during the last six seconds of the game.
Zion, getting stronger and stronger
He is predicted unchallenged domination, but he already combines the future with the present: Zion Williamson has again demonstrated all his potential, to allow New Orleans to beat Philadelphia (101-94).
His 37 points (15 rebounds, 8 assists) including 14 in the last quarter, were preponderant.
And his performance, he did not produce it in front of anyone, since opposite stood Joel Embiid, one of the contenders for the title of MVP (most valuable player), limited to 14 points for his third game, back knee injury.
37 points.
15 rebounds (career high).
8 assists (ties career high). @ Zionwilliamson goes off.
# WontBowDownpic.twitter.com / rT9ymuCPMF
- NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2021
“He's as physically endowed as possible.
He's a real player.
He has the size, the speed and the agility to do penetrating actions, ”reacted admiringly Tobias Harris (23 pts) about Williamson.
With this setback, the Sixers failed to join Brooklyn in the lead in the East, but kept their distance from Milwaukee (3rd), beaten (127-119) for the third time in a row by Charlotte (4th).
It must be said that the Bucks were totally helpless without their reigning double MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo for the fourth game in a row (knee), Jrue Holiday (knee), Donte DiVincenzo (hip), Brook Lopez (back), Khris Middleton (knee) and PJ Tucker (calf).
Tatum and LaVine in eruption
Jayson Tatum scored 53 personal best points, as did Zach LaVine, who scored 50, but one won Boston against Minnesota (145-136) after extra time, when the other was not enough to prevent Chicago's defeat at Atlanta (120-108).
The Celtics winger notably managed 18 points in the last quarter and the overtime of five additional minutes, well helped by Jaylen Brown (26 pts) and Marcus Smart (24 pts, 8 assists, 6 rebounds).
“It was an evening that I will always remember.
First game at 50 points and in addition we won ”, commented the hero of Boston, still 7th in the East, in front of New York which also needed an extension to defeat Memphis (133-129), and behind Atlanta (5th).
53 POINTS FOR JAYSON TATUM @ jaytatum0 reaches a career high and scores the most @celtics points since Larry Bird to power Boston in OT!
pic.twitter.com/70sOxa8Lab
- NBA (@NBA) April 10, 2021
Because the Hawks led by an excellent Trae Young (42 pts, 9 assists, 8 rebounds) and strong of a solid collective, like Clint Capela (22 pts, 10 rebounds) and Danilo Gallinari (20 pts), have had the last word on the performance of LaVine, who notably managed 25 points in a row in the second quarter alone.
“Zach was incredible in the first half, we had to change our plans slightly.
We made sure to be more aggressive on him then by depriving him of balls, ”explained the Italian.
Read also
Left free by New York, Poirier joins Real Madrid
