DeMar DeRozan, MVP candidate?
In any case, the Bulls winger marked the spirits, signing a second "
buzzer beater
" in a row in two days, a first in NBA history.
Larry Bird had achieved the feat in 1985 for the Celtics, but had a day off between the two games.
After scoring a last-second 3-point against Indiana the day before, DeRozan did it again on Saturday with another award-winning buzzer shot that gave the Bulls the victory.
“
I don't know if I'm dreaming or if it's real now,
” he said after the meeting. “
I'm there to take matters into my own hands whenever the moment comes and I'm ready, that's all I can do.
"
Thank God, we have DeMar DeRozan in our team,
" summarized Zach LaVine, author of 35 points in the meeting, alongside Nikola Vucevic (22 pts, 12 rebounds) and Coby White (20 pts).
"
DeMar's shot was still incredible,
" said coach Chris Fleming, who replaces head coach Billy Donovan, absent due to Covid.
“
With three seconds on the clock and guys glued to him, he had the presence of mind to look down and see where his feet were to take that shot.
Incredible shot,
”said Fleming.
DeRozan ends the evening with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists, in a meeting that has long been to the advantage of the Washington franchise, carried by Bradley Beal (27 pts, 17 assists) and Kyle Kuzma (29 pts, 12 rbds).
The Chicago franchise consolidates its first place in the East (24 wins, 10 losses), at the expense of the Brooklyn Nets, defeated by the Clippers (116-120).
Yet largely understaffed, the Los Angeles franchise was able to count on Eric Bledsoe (27 pts), Terance Mann and Reggie Jackson (19 pts each), to win against the Nets, who failed to capitalize on the triple-double of James Harden (34 pts, 12 rebounds, 13 assists) and the 28 points of Kevin Durant. "
We got what we deserved,
" summed up Nets coach Steve Nash. “
It's disappointing for all of us. A very easy game to win that we let slip.
"
In Milwaukee, the Bucks made short work of the Pelicans (136-113), carried by an intractable Giannis Antetokounmpo, who ended the meeting with 35 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists. This is the first time in his career that he has aligned such a statistical line. “
I try to stay aggressive the whole game,
” said the 2019 and 2020 MVP. “
I look my best when I'm aggressive. I can create open shots. As long as I enjoy playing, I can create special moments,
”he added. With his 27th career triple-double, the “
Greek Freak
” is only one unit behind Michael Jordan's total. "
I'm so focused on what we need to do that these moments go by - not unnoticed, it's a big compliment to be mentioned with these guys - but you brush them aside
, ”he said. -He underlines.
With this victory, the 400th in career for coach Mike Budenholzer, the reigning NBA champions win their sixth straight game and consolidate their third place in the East (25 wins, 13 losses).
In the West, the Warriors won against the Jazz (116-123), well helped by a Stephen Curry who chained the 3 points, with 6 successful shots out of 12, including a decisive basket with 1 min 25 of the term, to give air, and 5 points in advance, to the franchise of Golden State.
The leader ends the game with 28 points and 9 assists.
Andrew Wiggins scored 25 points, Otto Porter Jr. 20.
For the Jazz, which remained on six consecutive victories, Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, Bogdan Bogdanovic and Jordan Clarkson each scored 20 points.
With 19 rebounds, Rudy Gobert misses the double double-double by one.