The results of the night in the NBA
Cavs @ Celtics : 117-120
Hornets @ Nets : 115-116
Nuggets @ Grizzlies : 122-110
Pelicans @ Mavs : 91-132
Thunder @ Spurs : 104-110
Jazz @ Lakers : 118-124
All matches of the night count towards the NBA Cup.
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– The Cavs' invincibility ended last night in Boston, after 15 consecutive victories to start the season. Cleveland had the merit of fighting to get back into the game after being down by 21 points and came back to -4 with 24 seconds remaining, but Jayson Tatum (33 pts, 12 rebounds, 7 asts), excellent, and his teammates held on to offer their audience the scalp of the undefeated leader.
Donovan Mitchell (35 pts) and Evan Mobley (22 pts, 11 rebounds) did their best – Darius Garland missed out completely (3/21!) – but throughout the match the collective superiority of the Celtics was affirmed, as was their ability to score from 3 points (22 winning baskets).
– Dalton Knecht made an impression with the Lakers last night. The rookie, who started against the Jazz, scored 37 points and guided Los Angeles to a 6th consecutive victory. Knecht relied on his main skill, shooting, and tied the record for 3-point baskets scored by a rookie in a game (9). JJ Redick's players needed that, but also a sharp LeBron-AD pair (26 pts, 12 asts for James, 26 pts, 14 rebounds for Davis).
The Lakers are still undefeated at home after this great evening for Dalton Knecht, who is slowly getting back into the race for the Rookie of the Year title.
– The surprise of the night came from San Antonio, where the Spurs, although deprived of Victor Wembanyama and Devin Vassell, beat the Thunder (110-104). Keldon Johnson (22 pts), Harrison Barnes (20 pts) and Chris Paul (14 pts, 11 asts) are at the origin of this small feat against the band Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (32 pts) and Jalen Williams (27 pts), but he's the rookie Stephon Castle who achieved the most striking action of the end of the match with a counter on “SGA” 22 seconds from the end.
– The Nets overcame a very bad first quarter (-14) against Charlotte to finally win by one point. The end of the match was hot and Brandon Miller missed the 3-point shot to equalize at the last second. Cam Johnson was in a great evening (34 pts) and Dennis Schröder delivered 12 assists to finish with a double-double.
Tidjane Salaün made a big move off the bench with 11 points in 15 minutes at 2/2 (and 6/7 on the line), but also 8 rebounds and the best +/- of his team (+17). Moussa Diabaté brought 7 rebounds in 16 minutes.
– Without Nikola Jokic, still out of the team for personal reasons, the Nuggets managed to get back to winning ways (122-110) and take revenge for their recent defeat against Memphis. Jamal Murray (27 pts), Michael Porter Jr. (24 pts, 10 rbds), Christian Braun (19 pts) and Russell Westbrook (12 pts, 14 asts, 10 rebounds) were in sight for Denver, with Westbrook signing the 200th triple-double of his NBA career.
On the Grizzlies side, Saints Aldama equaled his points record (28 pts).
– Unsurprisingly, Dallas largely beat New Orleans (132-91). Luka Doncic was back after his absence and the Slovenian played just half an hour and had time to score 26 points. The Mavs already led by 15 points at the end of the first quarter and there was no suspense in this meeting. Klay Thompson (19 pts) and Kyrie Irving (18 pts) made their contribution to push the Pelicans a little further, who have lost in 11 of their last 13 matches.