OKLAHOMA CITY (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Not even the defending champions can stop the Thunder. In what for many could be the final for the title, Oklahoma City once again reaffirms its ambitions: 105-92 against Boston, 15th win in a row (franchise record) and an increasingly solid West lead, with just 5 losses in 35 games. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leads his team with 33 points and 11 rebounds, extending a streak that has lasted now for more than a month: it has been since December 1 that OKC has not known defeat, except for the one in the NBA Cup final with Milwaukee, which, however, does not count statistically in the regular season. Tatum (26+10) and Brown (21 points but 0/7 from the field in the second half) are not enough for the Celtics, who also lose ground to Cleveland, increasingly the leader in the East. Darius Garland (25 points) and Jarrett Allen (19 points and 11 rebounds) put the stamp on the 115-105 win over Charlotte that extends to 10 games the winning streak of the Cavs, unbeaten since Dec. 8 in Miami, with the only home loss on the season out of 19 games coming at the hands of Atlanta last Nov. 27. Remaining in the East, Orlando surrendered 105-92 to Utah (27 points for Sensabaugh), paying for a poor shooting streak (36 percent) while the challenge between the league’s two worst teams was won by New Orleans, which beat Washington 110-98 (25 points for McCollum, triple double for Murray with 14 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds). In the West, OKC’s main antagonist is confirmed as Houston, which gets the better of the Lakers 119-115 (33 points for Green, 23 points and 16 rebounds for Thompson), but the man of the match is Fred VanVleet, who on the last play of the game, at 118-115, intercepts a ball intended for LeBron James (21 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists) and makes 1/2 from the lunette, just enough to close the score. For the Yellowviola, Davis also scored 30 points. Big blow at the Chase Center for Sacramento, on its fourth consecutive success: although deprived of Fox, the Kings overwhelm 129-99 Golden State, 26 points and 12 assists for Monk, 22+7 in addition to 13 rebounds for Sabonis, among the Warriors 26 points of the usual Curry.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
