Without Kevin Durant, who will miss them for at least two weeks with a sprained right knee, the Nets did more than resist against the Celtics, but the latter were able to make the difference on defense in the last quarter , to win (109-98).
The finalist of the last championship also had one of his stars missing, in the person of Jaylen Brown, hit in an adductor.
And without his attacking buddy, Jayson Tatum was not in his usual standards (20 pts, 11 rebounds), although finishing as his team's top scorer, the fault of an address at half mast (7/22).
It is collectively that the C's were stronger, with five other players at least 11 points, including the precious Malcolm Brogdon (16 pts), and also by beefing up their game a little at the end,
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On the Brooklyn side, Kyrie Irving made a correct copy (24 pts), well supported by TJ Warren (20 pts) and Joe Harris (18 pts), Ben Simmons continuing to amaze with his ability to achieve excellent sequences (13 assists, 9 rebounds, 2 interceptions) without scoring a point (0/3).
With this 5th success in a row, Boston increases its lead at the top of the standings ahead of Brooklyn, which remains second, because Milwaukee (3rd), deprived of Giannis Antetokounmpo, suffering from left knee, was also beaten, in Miami (108-102) .
Two days after being the hero of the Heat in the snatch victory against Oklahoma City, Jimmy Butler (17 pts, 11 rebounds) left the spotlight to Gabe Vincent (28 pts, new personal best).
Bam Adebayo (24 pts, 12 rebounds) also contributed greatly to the victory of the Floridians (8th), yet off to a bad start since they were 15 lengths behind in the first period, overtaken by the then dashing Bucks like Jrue Holiday (24 pts, 11 assists).
But without Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Grayson Allen or Joe Ingles, the 2021 champion was not armed enough to hold out over time.
In Philadelphia, the Sixers were quite complete, but they came across a player in a state of grace, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who gave them a lot of trouble by scoring 37 points (at 10/16, 8 rebounds, 6 assists , 2 blocks), dominating the success of Oklahoma City (133-114).
The 24-year-old back, who is taking a big step this season (4th best scorer in the league), was able to pull off some classy moves, like this dribble, on the verge of walking, which mystified Tyrese Maxey (17 pts), and to almost single-handedly contain Philly's comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, certainly helped by Josh Giddey (20 pts).
Opposite, the awakening of Joel Embiid was thus too late, although effective (30 pts, 10 rebounds), James Harden for his part not having been undeserved (24 pts, 15 assists).