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Joel Embiid on the ball
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IMAGO/Eric Hartline/IMAGO/USA TODAY Network
The decisive throw came just before the final siren: The Boston Celtics narrowly won the top game in the Eastern Conference of the North American basketball league NBA on Saturday (local time).
The team beat the Philadelphia 76ers 110-107.
Jayson Tatum became the match winner for the currently best team in the league – his three-pointer with two seconds to go meant victory.
The Celtics winger had 18 points, 13 rebounds and six assists.
At Philadelphia, Joel Embiid played well with 41 points - and just before the end of the game he even had the opportunity to turn the result in favor of his team.
Embiid had just 1.3 seconds left to force an overtime equalizer at 107-110.
Embiid got the ball passed and almost threw one hand off his own free-throw line – inside.
But the center's spectacular attempt from over 21 meters came just too late.
When Embiid hit with his throw, many fans cheered – not the basketball player himself, he disappeared relatively quickly in the dressing room.
"It's frustrating to lose that kind of game," Embiid said.
He didn't care about the spectacular litter of the year.
"I'm not interested.
He didn't count.
I guess it's a good highlight for everyone, social media and stuff like that," said the 28-year-old.
The Orlando Magic around the German internationals Franz and Moritz Wagner lost their first game after the All-Star break.
Orlando lost 108:121 (52:51) at home to the Indiana Pacers.
“After we missed a few shots and didn't get what we wanted, it affected our defense as well.
We can't let that happen," said Franz Wagner about the second half, in which the Magic fell behind decisively.
The winger led his team with 21 points, his brother Moritz had eight points.
Daniel Theis was not used by the Pacers.
Memphis Grizzlies clearly beat Denver Nuggets
The German center Isaiah Hartenstein got the fifth win in a row with the New York Knicks.
At 128:106 (73:52) the Knicks had no problems with the New Orleans Pelicans, New York was already 16 points ahead after the first quarter.
Hartenstein had four points and ten rebounds.
In the Western Conference, the Memphis Grizzlies clearly won the duel between the currently best two teams.
In the top game, the Grizzlies beat the Denver Nuggets at home 112-94 (66-42).
The Grizzlies held a 29-point lead at times in the first half.
Ja Morant led the hosts with 23 points.
With 94 points, the Nuggets recorded a season low.
They remain in first place in the West, ahead of the Grizzlies, with six more wins.
ara/dpa