The Bulls beat the Lakers (115-110) on Sunday for their return to the floors of an NBA hit, like the United States, by a meteoric increase in the number of cases of Covid-19, having forced it to postpone five matches, including three that were to take place on Sunday.
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The Chicago franchise, which had missed two games due to the coronavirus, was able in particular to count on the return of DeMar DeRozan (38 pts), released from anti-Covid health protocols alongside three other players, to win against to the Lakers in a heated and close encounter.
Lonzo Ball scored 19 points, while Nikola Vucevic signed a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds.
LeBron James scored 31 points and Russell Westbrook 20, but they couldn't prevent the loss of a diminished team.
With six players in anti-Covid protocol, the Lakers had to compose without Anthony Davis, injured in the knee on Friday and who will be absent for four weeks, and their coach Frank Vogel, placed in anti-Covid protocol and replaced on the bench by his assistant David Fizdale.
The Suns, recording the return of Devin Booker, who had missed seven games after a hamstring injury, made short work of the Hornets (137-106).
The Phoenix franchise was a big spinner, with nine players scoring 11 or more points.
Devin Booker scored 16 points.
Chris Paul came very close to the double-double with 14 points and 9 assists.
DeAndre Ayton pulled off his double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
Three other games scheduled to take place on Sunday (Atlanta-Cleveland, Brooklyn-Denver and Philadelphia-New Orleans) have meanwhile been postponed, while the NBA suffers from a sharp upsurge in Covid-19 cases.
Toronto-Orlando, scheduled for Monday, and Brooklyn-Washington on Tuesday, have also been postponed.
Minimize postponements, avoid suspension
Over the past six days, more than 60 players have been placed on health protocol, including Hawks star Trae Young, three Nets stars Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, as well as Jarrett Allen, alongside four others. Cavaliers players, or Andre Drummond in Philadelphia.
Without counting Andrew Wiggins (Warriors), who will be, like Jordan Poole, forfeit against the Kings on Monday.
Teams are considering recruiting from the G League, the NBA's development league, to have enough players to field, the minimum requirement being 8.
According to the media outlet The Athletic, the Cavaliers thus plan to sign Luke Kornet (Maine Celtics) and Justin Anderson (Fort Wayne Mad Ants) for 10 days, if the NBA allows these exceptional recruitments.
Also according to The Athletic, Orlando wants to sign Freddie Gillespie (Memphis Hustle) for 10 days to compensate for his absences.
According to ESPN, the NBA and NBPA (NBA Players Association) are working on a plan that would make it mandatory to recruit additional players for teams affected by Covid.
The League remains committed to minimizing postponements and avoiding a season suspension, ESPN says.
Last season, a total of 31 games were postponed due to the Covid.
"Frenchies": Hayes tastes victory again
The Detroit Pistons ended a terrible streak of 14 straight defeats, beating the Miami Heat (100-90), who played without Jimmy Butler or Bam Adebayo, injured.
Killian Hayes (Pistons) scored 11 points, also posting 2 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 interception.
The Portland Trail Blazers of the untenable Damian Lillard (32 pts) beat the Grizzlies 105-100.
For the Memphis franchise, which remained on 5 straight wins, Killian Tillie took a small rebound in 10 minutes of play, while Yves Pons did not come into play. Frank Ntilikina (ill) was forfeited for Dallas , who lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves (111-105).
Results of the night:
Chicago
- LA Lakers 115 - 110
Minnesota
- Dallas 111 - 105
Detroit
- Miami 100 - 90
Phoenix
- Charlotte 137 - 106
Memphis -
Portland
100 - 105
Sacramento
- San Antonio 121 - 114