Prolific match at Chase Center, strong comeback from LeBron James, Rudy Gobert emerges victorious from the duel against Wembanyama… the summary of the NBA night.
The Dallas Mavericks of Luka Doncic, author of a new triple-double, got the better of the Golden State Warriors of Stephen Curry, in a spectacular match, Sunday in the NBA, while LeBron James and the Lakers defeated the Memphis Grizzlies .
3 Point Festival at Chase Center
48! This is the record number of three-point shots made by the «Mavs» and the Warriors during a very prolific duel at the Chase Center, ultimately won by the Texan franchise (143-133). Obviously, Stephen Curry is no stranger to this orgy of long-range shooting. The three-time MVP scored 7 (out of 13 attempted), scoring 26 points. And, more broadly, Golden State won this battle by coming home… 27 three-point shots!
But the Californian franchise, which has been slow for several weeks and which is awaiting reinforcement from German leader Dennis Schröder, fell on a huge Luka Doncic, the Slovenian validating his 9th triple-double with more than 40 points (13 assists and 11 rebounds). “No team failed. They already had 18 three-point shots (successful) at halftime, and we were still ahead (81-74, Editor’s note), it’s crazy.exclaimed Doncic. “It was a fun match to play. Very prolific. But very physical too”he added.
“This guy never ceases to amaze me”for his part commented Klay Thompson, about his Slovenian teammate. “He never rushes, goes at his own pace. “He makes scoring 45 points look like child’s play.”. It was this same Thompson who scored the 45th three-point shot of the match – on a pass from Doncic of course -, with 4 min 32 sec remaining, breaking the record of 44 baskets established in February 2023 by Sacramento and the LA Clippers and matched just two days ago by Phoenix and Utah.
“Legendary. But it’s time to do legendary things in Dallas.reacted the former Warriors, adding “believe in this team” of the Mavericks, 4th in the West after this 17th victory (9 defeats). Golden State continues to slide with this 11th defeat in 25 matches.
Winning return for «LBJ» against Memphis
After missing two matches due to a painful foot, LeBron James made a winning return, scoring 18 points (8 assists and 8 rebounds) during the Lakers’ victory against the Grizzlies (116-110). But the almost forty-year-old – he will be 40 on December 30 – was not the only one to shine since Anthony Davis was the author of a high-flying double-double (40 pts, 16 rebounds).
The road is still long for LA, 10th in the West (14-12), when the Grizzlies remain 2nd (18-9) despite this setback which interrupts a series of four victories.
Celtics win but lose Porzingis (again)
In the federal capital, Jayson Tatum (28 pts, 12 rebounds) and his troop did the job, winning without trembling 112-98 against the weak Wizards, who recorded a 21st defeat in 24 games.
But Boston, solid 2nd in the East behind Cleveland, once again lost its interior Kristaps Porzingis, injured in a heel. The Lithuanian, who was returning from an ankle injury, left in the second quarter, after spending only 11 minutes on the floor. He has only played seven games this season.
Gobert’s Wolves beat Wembanyama’s Spurs
In San Antonio, the Franco-French duel between Rudy Gobert and Victor Wembanyama turned to the advantage of the first, Minnesota winning by a wide margin 106-92. “Wemby”in double-double, was not unworthy (20 pts, 12 rebounds, 5 assists) but he was rather clumsy at long distance, and the Spurs missed their start (-9 at the end of the first quarter) .
On the Wolves side, the efforts of Gobert (10 pts, 9 rebounds) were added to those of Anthony Edwards, 26 points, and Jaden McDaniels (12 pts, 11 rebounds), allowing Minnesota to stay on track at the ranking (6th, 14-11). San Antonio is 11th in the same Western Conference with a balanced record (13-13).
