Outside the lines, 24.3/Editor: Ziv Steiner
A six-game NBA season kicked off last night (Sunday) and continued into the night.
The focus was on Milwaukee's performance against Oklahoma City, and the loss that further complicated Golden State.
The Lakers recorded a nice victory over Indiana that brings them even closer to the play-in.
Last night's and tonight's games:
Detroit (12:59) - New Orleans (27:44) 114:101
LA Clippers (26:44) - Philadelphia (32:39) 121:107
Miami (32:39) - Cleveland (28 :43) 84:121
Milwaukee (25:46) - Oklahoma City (21:49) 93:118
Minnesota (22:49) - Golden State (34:36) 110:114
LA Lakers (32:39) - Indiana (32:40) 145:150
This is what it looks like when the Bucks are healthy.
Yannis/Reuters
Milwaukee (25:46) - Oklahoma City (21:49) 93:118
The Bucks may be far from first place in the East and still not meeting expectations, but on a given night when all the stars are fit - they can be threatening and dominant for any opponent.
This realization dawned on OKC just in the middle of a game, after a big blitz in the second half that gave Milwaukee a big win that sends a message to the Celtics and the rest of the league heading into the playoffs.
For the first time since February 3, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton played together, and it looked scary.
Giannis finished with 30 points and 19 rebounds (a season high), Middleton produced his second career triple-double with 11 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, Lillard finished with 11 as well, but Milwaukee showed its strength as a team, with seven players in double figures And a strong and efficient defense that limited Shea Gilges Alexander to only 12 points (5 of 12 from the field).
Josh Giddy finished as the leading scorer with 19 along with 9 rebounds and 8 assists, Jaylen Williams added 18 - but the Thunder remained half a game away from Denver, which was established at the top of the Western Conference without playing.
Minnesota (22:49) - Golden State (34:36) 110:114
The Warriors continue to get involved in the play-in battles, and even the 10th place does not seem guaranteed.
The game actually started in a promising way for Golden State, which started better and led by 12 in the first half, but the Timberwolves slowly bit away at the advantage, and then came the questionable decision of Steve Kerr - who disqualified Steph Curry for long minutes from the end of the third quarter - and brought him back only behind, When it's already cold and out of business.
Kerry finished with 31 points, but also missed a 3-pointer that could have forced a tie with a minute and a half left on the clock.
Bottom line, the Warriors have a one-game lead over Houston, and when they are already two and a half wins away from the ninth-place Lakers, the 10th and final play-in spot becomes the goal.
Anthony Edwards excelled for Minnesota, which came within half a game of the Thunder, with 23 points including clutch free throws.
Naz Reed added 20 along with 12 rebounds.
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The face says it all.
Kerry/Reuters
L.A. Lakers (32:39) - Indiana (32:40) 145:150
Third consecutive victory for the Lakers, the biggest beneficiaries of tonight's results.
The important victory gives LeBron and his teammates a bigger advantage over the Warriors in ninth place in the West, leaving them within reasonable distance of Dallas and Sacramento who occupy the 7th-8th places.
For the first time since 1971, four different Lakers players scored 25 or more: Anthony Davis was above them all with 36 and 13 rebounds, LeBron James provided 26 and 10 assists, Spencer Dinwiddie shone with 6 of his own and Austin Reaves also starred with 25 and 8 assists.
It was enough for the win despite a late comeback by the Pacers, who came close in the last quarter but not enough.
Pascal Siakam stood out for the loser with 36 and 12 rebounds.
Miami (32:39) - Cleveland (28:43) 84:121
After three consecutive home losses, the Heat exploded mainly with the help of the replacements, who provided a combined 59 points and helped the escape that arranged a long garbage time in Florida.
Haywood Highsmith starred with 18 points, Bam Adebayo (16 rebounds) and Jimmy Butler scored 15 each, and the victory returned them to a tie with Philadelphia in the battle for seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
The Cubs, on the other hand, continue their free fall with their seventh loss in 10 games.
Evan Mobley finished with 15 points, but Cleveland is only half a game ahead of third-place New York.
Nice win.
Davis and LeBron/Reuters
A jarring loss for him against the ex he slandered.
James Harden/Reuters
L.A. Clippers (26:44) - Philadelphia (32:39) 121:107
James Harden left Philadelphia in very harsh tones in the summer and also defiled its boss Daryl Murray.
Tonight he met her for the first time, he was weak in everything related to shooting and Nahal Mafela was jarring for him and for his team, which allowed New Orleans, who had won earlier, to narrow the gap from her in fourth place in the West by only one game.
The last quarter opened with only a 5-point lead for the guests, but Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris led a crazy 0:13 run that gave the guests an 18-point lead, which even the Clippers could not erase.
Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris led with 24 points for Philadelphia, which continues to try to scrape together victories until its big star Joel Embiid returns, probably only in the playoffs.
Cameron Payne was the X-factor with five three-pointers and 23 points off the bench.
On the other hand, James Harden handed out 14 assists, but missed all six shots he took from outside the arc and finished with 5 of 13 from the field.
Kawhi Leonard (20) and Paul George (18) led the hosts, but scored in bad percentages as George also added 5 turnovers compared to 1 assist.
Celebrate Detroit.
Zion Williamson/Reuters
Detroit (12:59) - New Orleans (27:44) 114:101
New Orleans is fantasizing about fourth place in the West, where L.A. is currently.
Clippers and she got a very comfortable opponent to get a fifth win in six games.
Weak Detroit showed up for this game without its star Cade Cunningham while on the other hand the Pelicans relied on Zion Williamson (just be healthy) who led them to an easy victory with 36 points, 6 assists and 7 rebounds.
CJ McCollum added 23 for the guests, who led 10:29 already in the first quarter and decided the game very early.
Chimzi Meto and Malachi Flynn scored 17 points for the Pistons, who are "fighting" with Washington for the "title" of the worst team in the East.
More on the same topic:
New Orleans Pelicans
Los Angeles Lakers
Los Angeles Clippers
Philadelphia Sixers
Milwaukee Bucks