ORLANDO (USA) (ITALPRESS) – Cleveland continues to lay down the law in the East, Boston chases while Luka Doncic is the great protagonist of the Lakers’ victory in the first challenge as ex against Dallas.Eighth consecutive success for the Cavs, who studded Orlando with triples (19/32) and passed at the Kia Center for 122-82, with 20 points from Jerome and 17 apiece for Strus, Mobley and Hunter. Banchero (26 points) was the best for the Magic, who instead closed from the arc with 5/28, losing the matchup sharply. Instead, the Celtics’ winning streak comes to 6 games, as they overcome 111-101 Toronto (24 points for Brown and 22 for White) and consolidate their second place in the Conference even if distant from Cleveland (48-10 vs. 42-16), while Milwaukee, defeated 100-97 in Houston, slips to fifth. A 27-point, 10-rebound Antetokounmpo was not enough for the Bucks to extend their streak to five games, with the Rockets dragged by Green (25 points) and Sengun (23 points). The Texans are fifth in the West, behind the Lakers where Doncic does not let emotions overcome him in his first as a former against Dallas: 19 points, 15 rebounds and 12 assists and a 107-99 yellowviolet success. LeBron James also did his part (27 points including 16 in the last quarter) and for the Lakers it was their 13th win in 16 games. For the Mavericks, however, 35 points from Irving and 22 from Thompson. Spectacular battle between Memphis and Phoenix, which was resolved in overtime in favor of the Grizzlies: 151-148 with the decisive 7-0 partial in overtime. Morant (29 points and 8 assists), Jackson Jr. (28 points) and Bane (25+9) stamp a victory that allows Memphis to hook Denver in second place in the Western Conference while the Suns – sixth knockout in the last seven outings – remain out of the play-in zone despite five players scoring at least 20 points. Play-in that remains a concrete goal for Golden State: historic night for the Warriors, the 128-92 win over Charlotte is number 3,000 in franchise history, a milestone achieved only by four other teams (Boston, Lakers, New York and Philadelphia). Closing out the picture of the games played on the night was New Orleans’ 109-103 victory over San Antonio with 24 points by Murphy III and 18 by Williamson.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
