Martin Luther King Day in the NBA traditionally becomes a celebration of games that start very early (for them) and last throughout the day. Although yesterday (Sunday) and tonight we did not get too many big fights, but one can not ignore the humiliating defeat of Boston, the historic night (which ended in a loss) of Luka Doncic, and two hot teams threatening the Lakers in the West.
For tonight’s results:
LA Clippers (4:10) – Indiana (5: 8) 96: 129 Boston (4: 8) – New York (8: 6) 105: 75 Dallas (6: 6) – Chicago (8: 5) 117 : 101 Denver (7: 6) – Utah (4: 9) 109: 105 Sacramento (9: 5) – New Orleans (7: 5) 128: 123
It’s already a matter of routine that we get crazy results this season in the NBA. This time we got another one, in a game that opened Martin Luther King Day in the best league in the world. Boston, the leader of the East, was defeated 105-75 at home by the New York Knicks.
The Knicks climbed to a double-digit lead as early as the first quarter (17:28) and closed out an interest with a resounding 50:75, 12 minutes to go. Yes, Boston scored just 50 points in three quarters! Kamba Walker, who has not played since the Celtics’ loss to Miami in the Eastern Conference Finals in ‘Bubble’, made a new debut – and one he would not really want to remember.
A remake that he would not really want to remember. Walker
(Photo: AFP)
Even in the Garden did not forget the day of Martin Luther King
(Photo: Reuters)
Walker scored 3 of 13 from the field en route to 9 points, but the game story is probably Boston’s percentage off the arc. 7 of 46 for three. Yes, that means only 15 percent. Without Jason Taitum, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics (4: 8 balance) with 25 points. Marcus Smart was the other player to score for the loser in double digits (10).
The great Julius Randall stood out for the Knicks (8: 6) with 20 points, 12 rebounds and 4 assists. R.J. Barrett added 19, 11 and 3 respectively.
The memes, as you understand, were not long in coming
In his third season only in the NBA – 21-year-old Luka Doncic has more triple-doubles than Michael Jordan in his entire career. The Slovenian superstar scored his 29th tonight after just three quarters, but the Mavericks (6: 6) suffered a rather surprising home loss.
Another triple-double – and a loss. Doncic
(Photo: AP)
The Bulls led throughout the evening, including 52:67 at the break and did not allow the host to come back too much. Doncic finished with 36 points, 16 rebounds and 15 assists in 38 minutes – the seventh player in history to record a triple-double with at least 30 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists. Laurie Markanen (29) and Gareth Temple (21) went on to win the game (8: 5).
Forces it was not. Seven players scored in double digits, with Marcus Morris finishing with a season-high 20 points, and suddenly the Clippers with a streak of four wins. Lou Williams, who is used to getting off the bench and contributing on the offensive side, was absent and Morris took responsibility in his place with no less than four threes. Overall, the host scored 19 of 39 from outside the arc, nearly 50 percent.
Luke Kenard also contributed 20 points (five threes), and the balance continued as Paul George (20 points) and Kwai Leonard (17 points) did not force themselves on the game – and can be understood after this one-sided display that did not even force them to make an effort.
A third quarter of 20:39 put an end to all the Pacers’ comeback dreams, and by the end the gap even widened. Doug McDermott contributed 23 points to the loser, Domantas Savonis added 19 points and 14 rebounds.
That way without noticing, Utah connects with her and has already counted five straight wins. Jordan Clarkson provided a great evening for 23 points from the bench, Donovan Mitchell added 18 points of his own and the Jazz overcame the team they lost in the first round of the playoffs last season after a crazy series that ended in a great 3-4.
Rudy Guber, the $ 200 million man, provided a routine double-double of 15 points and 13 rebounds in a game in which Mitchell simply had a hard time finding the ring and scored a bad percentage (7 of 20 from the field). Despite this the guest’s big star scored a big minute shot to end the game and even provided his friends with 7 assists.
Nikola Jukic continued to be Nikola Jokic, this time scoring 35 points, 14 rebounds and 9 assists, with Jamal Marie contributing 30 points of his own. The problem is that apart from them no one was able to get into things.
Sacramento – New Orleans 128: 123
A close battle in California, at the end of which New Orleans came out victorious and interrupted a streak of five losses. Zion Williamson was great with 31 points on 13 of 15 from the field, Brandon Ingram (22 points) and Eric Baldesso (21 points) also contributed on the offensive side, and the Pelicans showed character in money-time in a game where they already led by 19 points.
D’Arone Fox gave it his all, finishing with 43 points and 13 assists, but came out undefeated. Marvin Bagley III, the man who will forever be the one because the Kings gave up Luka Doncic, provided 26 points and 10 rebounds. Buddy the boy contributed 18 points to the loser.