A shock without its stars
The Los Angeles Lakers, without an injured LeBron James, ended a three-game losing streak with a 109-103 win over the defending champions Golden State Warriors on Saturday in San Francisco.
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The California shock suffered from the absence of its two biggest stars.
On the Lakers side, James, less than a week after becoming the leading scorer in NBA history, gave up (ankle), when Stephen Curry, on the Warriors side, is still absent, for an indefinite period (knee).
The Lakers relied on their German leader, Dennis Schroder, author of 26 points, their strong Japanese winger, Rui Hachimura, 16 points and their brand new recruit, D'Angelo Russell, who arrived from Minnesota, who returned a score sheet. stats of 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists.
In a rebounding game, the Warriors took the lead on a three-point shot from Jordan Poole midway through the fourth quarter, but Russell responded with two baskets, forcing a foul and converting his free throw on the second. .
It was a three-pointer from Hachimura which, five minutes from the end of the game, allowed the Lakers to take the lead once and for all.
The Heat win against Orlando
In another derby, in Florida this time, the Miami Heat snatched a second consecutive victory, beating the Magic 107-103 in overtime, in Orlando.
Jimmy Butler missed the winning shot in regulation time, but the Heat had enough resources to win in overtime.
Tyler Herro had 23 points, Butler 22 points and Gabe Vincent 20 points.
Asked about the suspenseful end of his team's match, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra insisted on the state of mind of his players: “
We showed a lot of courage.
We were trailing by ten points.
We had the impression that during the whole second half, we never managed to find our rhythm, but we didn't let go.
»
Harden returns to Brooklyn
This victory allows the Heat to come back on the heels of the Brooklyn Nets defeated at home 101-98 by Philadelphia, for fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
At the siren, Spencer Dinwiddie missed the opportunity to send both teams into overtime.
For his first game in Brooklyn since his transfer, at his request, to the Sixers last year, James Harden ignored the whistles of the public and scored 29 points.
Almost ten less than his pivot, Joel Embiid 37 points and 13 rebounds captured.
"
A ride home or the outside distractions, it just doesn't get to me
," Harden said.
"
I think our goal was to come here and win and we did a good job tonight
."
Jokic always higher
Denver's Serbian pivot, Nikola Jokic, double NBA MVP, scored his 20th triple-double of the season, and allowed his team to beat the Hornets 119-105 in Charlotte.
Jokic single-handedly made up for injured Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon, scoring 30 points, grabbing 16 rebounds and giving 10 assists.
In Cleveland, the Cavaliers chained a sixth consecutive victory by overcoming the Chicago Bulls 97-89.
