Nets 98 – Sixers 101
The Sixers won in James Harden’s first game in Brooklyn since leaving the Nets. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were no longer in front, although all their substitutes, who did a good job and made things very difficult for their opponent. So much so that there was no extra time because Spencer Dinwiddie’s triple final was canceled after it was found that it had gone out of time. Joel Embiid finished with 37 points and 13 rebounds and James Harden, who was booed in the introduction and the first minutes of the game and left a message to his former franchise and teammates (“There was a lot of dysfunction, I did not ask for the transfer for nothing . Now I don’t think he’s crazy anymore”), he reached 29 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists.
Hornets 105 – Nuggets 119
The Nuggets snapped a four-game losing streak on the road in a winning place, Charlotte. The Hornets, with a lot of eyes on the draft, lose their seventh game in a row despite losing two of their best players in Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon. Despite that, they did have Nikola Jokic and that is often enough. The Serbian made another triple-double (30+16+10) and they already have 20, doubling the second on the list, Doncic with 10. The center is the fifth player in history to reach 20 triple-doubles in a season. Oscar Robertson (5 times), Russell Westbrook (4), Wilt Chamberlain (3) and James Harden (1) have done it before.
Magic 103 – Heat 107
“Experience”. Both coaches, the winner and the loser, referred to this word as the key to the result of the final. The experience of Miami in the face of the inexperience of Orlando, which two and a half minutes from the end of the fourth quarter went up by 9 points. The Heat knew how to play their game until forcing extra time, which Paolo Banchero could have avoided with a layup, but Bam Adebayo’s defense made him miss. Then, in extra time, the visitors were clearly better. Tyler Herro, with 23 points, was the leading scorer.
Wizards 127 – Pacers 113
The Wizards saw the ring as a group with their best shooting percentage of the course, 64%, which for many minutes was on the verge of being the best in their history. During three quarters they scored with 70% effectiveness, but with the game already settled and the entry of the less common players (up to 13 players played) dropped a little. It was also the best score of the season at halftime for the capitalists, when they went to the locker room winning by 80-57. Bradley Beal, top scorer of the match with 32 points.
Hawks 125 – Spurs 106
The San Antonio Spurs are now just a half game behind the league favorite Houston Rockets after losing their 12th straight game in Atlanta. It is the worst streak for the Texans franchise since the 88-89 season. The Hawks remain eighth in the East after a big game from Trae Young, who had a career-high 17 assists and scored 24 points. De’Andre Hunter also had the same score.
Knicks 126 – Jazz 120
The New York Knicks continue their good streak of play and results to beat the Utah Jazz who are going downhill and without brakes. Gone is that spectacular and unpredictable beginning of the school year. Those from Salt Lake City are already eleventh, outside the play-in, and with the moves made at the close of the market, the direction is clearly something to think about next year. Those from the Big Apple, however, continue to fight to enter the playoffs directly. They are seventh in the East, a game and a half behind the Heat. Regulars Jalen Brunson (38 points) and Julius Randle (31) shined tonight. But so did newly landed Josh Hart, who made an immediate impact on his new team’s game: 11 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals in 26 minutes.
Cavs 97 – Bulls 89
The Cleveland Cavaliers reacted in time to turn around a game that had turned them upside down in the third quarter, when they ended up losing 48-61. But from that moment on they put together a 43-17 run that put the game on the table. It is their sixth consecutive victory at home, with which they keep pace with the top three in the East (4.5 wins from the leader, Boston, and 1 from the third, the Sixers) and distance their immediate pursuer, the Nets. (2.5 wins now). Donovan Mitchell, with 19 of his 29 points in the second half, and Jarret Allen (23-10) were the best.
Warriors 103 – Lakers 109
Promising debut for D’Angelo Russell with a Lakers who win a close game in San Francisco on the second night without LeBron James. Read the chronicle here.
Kings 133 – Mavs 128
De’Aaron Fox steals the show from the two Mavs stars in their first game together. The Kings guard scored 26 points between the last quarter and overtime in a key victory for Sacramento. Read the chronicle here.