The Denver Nuggets, which dominate the NBA's Western Conference, suffered a surprise loss at home to the Chicago Bulls (117-96) on Wednesday, while the Boston Celtics, recently dispossessed of the first place in the East, stopped the hemorrhage against Portland (115-93).
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Nothing suggested a 20th defeat of the season for the franchise of double MVP Nikola Jokic, undefeated for eight home games, against the Bulls who posted a clearly negative record (29 v., 36 d. before the meeting).
But the Nuggets, who were still leading at halftime (52-51), sank after the break, notably conceding 36 points in the third quarter alone.
While Jokic had to settle for 18 points, Chicago was carried by the performance of Zach LaVine (29 pts, 12/18 shooting) and Nikola Vucevic (25 pts, 14 rebounds).
Denver, however, remains comfortably at the top of its conference, with eight victories ahead of Sacramento, 2nd.
The evening was more successful for Boston, 2nd in the East, which had to end a series of three defeats, on the occasion of the reception of Portland.
And it was mission accomplished for the C's, well led by Jayson Tatum (30 pts) and who answered present both in attack and in defense - the star of the Blazers Damian Lillard, very alone once again, had to be content with 27 stitches.
Above all, Boston quickly took the reins of the game never to let go this time.
"
We were ahead by about fifteen points in the second quarter and we managed to maintain this lead - which we hadn't managed to do lately
," said Jayson Tatum, after this 46th victory (21 defeats).
“
In the 3rd, we further increased our lead, and we did not let them come back into the match (…).
We had to get back on the right track
, ”he added, as the Celtics will now play six games away from their bases.
Durant injured in warm-up
Phoenix, too, assured Wednesday, dominating Oklahoma City even more widely (132-101).
But if the Suns regaled offensively, with 44 points for Devin Booker, their public could not attend the home premiere of Kevin Durant, who injured his ankle during warm-up.
A simple setback for the former Brooklyn player, while Phoenix receives again on Saturday (the Kings)?
"
We have to wait and see how
(the player's ankle)
responds to treatment
," Suns coach Monty Williams said.
In any case, no emergency criterion for the Arizona franchise, firmly anchored in 4th place in the West (37-29).
In the same position in the Eastern Conference, Cleveland also managed to win, in Miami (104-100), thanks in particular to Darius Garland (25 pts).
With this third success in a row, the Cavs have a brilliant record (42 v., 26 d.).
The evening was less prolific for Dallas, beaten in New Orleans (113-106), with a Luka Doncic in poor form (15 pts).
It was CJ McCollum who set fire to the floor by scoring 13 of his 32 points in the last four minutes, for a victory that gave some hope to the Pelicans (10th), in the hard since January.
The results of the night:
Boston
-Portland 115-93
Miami-
Cleveland
100-104
LA Clippers
-Toronto 108-100
Denver-
Chicago
96-117
Phoenix
-Oklahoma City 132-101
Washington-
Atlanta
120-122
New Orleans
-Dallas 113-106