NEW YORK (UNITED STATES) (ITALPRESS) – Nba night with all 30 teams on the court ahead of the All Star Weekend break. The neck-and-neck battle for the league’s best record between Oklahoma City (44-9) and Cleveland Cavaliers (44-10) continues. The Thunder climbed back from -21 and got the better of the Heat 115-101 with 32 points and 9 assists by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander centering their seventh win in a row and stretching over Memphis, which, deprived of Morant, succumbed 128-114 to the Clippers (25 points by Leonard and 18 apiece for Harden and Powell). The Grizzlies now have to watch their backs against Denver, which extends its winning streak to 8 games: 132-121 over Portland, and if Nikola Jokic’s 25th triple-double of the season is hardly news (26 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists), the same cannot be said for Jamal Murray’s 55 points, in his best career performance. Triple-doubles also for Amen Thompson (18 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds) and Houston success over Phoenix (third knockout in a row, Durant’s 37 points not enough), while the new Lakers of LeBron (18 points) and Doncic (16 points) sink under the blows of Markkanen (32 points in Utah’s 131-119 win over the Yellowviola). Bad stop for Minnesota, outscored 103-101 by the Bucks still lacking Antetokounmpo as well as Lillard while Irving shouldered the Mavs (42 points) and with the contribution of former Thompson (17 points) put his stamp on the 111-107 win over Golden State (25 points for Curry, 21 for Butler). A 33-point Zion Williamson does not prevent the Pelicans from losing to Sacramento (119-111) where Ellis posts seven triples and closes with 27 points while Sabonis makes his presence felt in the pitturato (16 points and 15 rebounds).In the East, as mentioned, Cleveland leads, winning its eighth game in the last nine at the expense of Toronto (131-108 with 21 points by Mitchell, for the Raptors 27 points by the returning Barrett) but tries to keep up with Boston. At TD Garden Tatum (32 points and 14 rebounds) and Porzingis (29 points) drag the Celtics in the 116-103 win over San Antonio, withstanding a comeback in the Spurs’ finale (23 points for Fox, 17+13 for Wembanyama). A basket by Brunson (36 points) with 11″1 to go in overtime allows New York to edge it 149-148 over Atlanta, but the Knicks also have Towns (44 points) to thank. The Hawks’ winning streak ends after three games despite 38 points and 19 assists from Trae Young. Indiana also wins in overtime after being down by 19 (134-130 over Washington, 31 points and 10 rebounds for Toppin), second match in two days between Detroit and Chicago and second win for the Pistons (128-110) with 29 points by Cunningham, for Simone Fontecchio 6 points (1/2 from two, 0/1 from three, 4/4 at the free), 5 rebounds, two assists and one lost ball in 15 minutes. Orlando builds in the second half the victory against Charlotte (102-86, 24 points for Banchero), the direct clash for a place in the play-in between Brooklyn and Philadelphia goes to the Nets: 100-96, 22 points for Russell.- photo Ipa Agency -(ITALPRESS).
