Harden abused Houston, Philadelphia defeated Utah

Ten games were played early in the morning (Wednesday through Thursday) in the NBA. The focus was on James Harden’s return to Houston, for the first time since the trade, and his team’s easy win over the bruised Rockets. Philadelphia and Joel Ambide showed those who still had doubts that it was worth counting them in the championship race with a win over Utah, which has the best balance in the league. Damian Lillard proved why he is considered one of the big winners in the league, and the Lakers without LeBron and Davis lost to Sacramento.

Houston (23:11) – Brooklyn (13:24) 132: 114

Philadelphia (12:24) – Utah (9:27) 123: 131 (after overtime)

Portland (14:20) – Golden State (17:19) 106: 108

Sacramento (21:14) – LA Lakers (13:24) 120: 123

Cleveland (22:14) – Indiana (18:16) 114: 111

Toronto (18:17) – Detroit (25:10) 129: 105

Orlando (23:13) – Atlanta (20:16) 115: 112

Minnesota (29: 7) – Charlotte (18:17) 135: 102

New Orleans (20:15) – Chicago (18:16) 128: 124

Dallas (16:18) – Oklahoma City (21:14) 78:87

For the first time since moving from the Rockets to the Nets, James Harden returned to Houston, and how to put it mildly – did not feel sorry for the bruised ex. The host lined up with only eight players due to injuries, and the guest took full advantage of that. Harden finished with a triple double for the second time in a row – 29 points, 10 rebounds and 14 assists (as well as 8 turnovers), and gave Houston a 12 straight loss. The locals are three losses away from comparing their longest negative streak in history set 20 years ago.

For Brooklyn it was the seventh straight win in a row, the longest in the club’s history, and the 10th in its last 11 games. The Rockets still managed to shrink to eight points with eight minutes left to play, but Harden responded with two quick threes and the Nets closed out an interest. John Wall (36 points) and Victor Oladipo (33) scored season records for the loser, both in very bad percentages from the field.

The 3,615 fans who came to the Toyota Center in Houston received Arden with mixed feelings. He got quite a few contempt whistles on his first touchdowns on the ball, but during a timeout in the first quarter when Houston aired a tribute video for him on the hall screens, there was excitement and encouragement towards the ex. Harden for his part came out of the timeout and thanked the fans.

In the previous game between the teams, Joel Ambide sat on the sidelines due to back pain – and Philly lost 134: 123. Early in the morning the player perhaps the best this season in the league played – and was simply phenomenal. The Doc Rivers giant finished with 40 points and 19 rebounds, and was responsible for a three-pointer, 5.9 seconds to the end of the fourth quarter, that sent the tackle into overtime (118: 118).

In the next five minutes he received assistance from Tobias Harris, who scored 11 of his 22 points. Ben Simmons added 17 points for the East leader. For Utah it is a second straight loss, and the nerves have played a major role for her. Donovan Mitchell finished with 33 points, but was sent off towards the end in a second technical overtime. “I don’t usually complain about referees, but they lost the game. We keep getting fucked, it gets ridiculous,” the jazz star said at the conclusion.

You said Blazers against the Warriors, you said a huge battle between Damien Lillard and Steph Kerry. The guest player may have been better with 35 points, but the Portland coordinator is the one who smiled at the end with a typical winning basket at three miles, 14 seconds to go. Drymond Green could still have sent the game into overtime, but committed a valid offense by penetrating the basket.

Lillard, as mentioned not on a big day, scored 22 in 6 of 17 from the field, but received assistance from Carmelo Anthony, who has played excellently recently and this time scored 22 points. Interesting statistic: Portland has a 2: 9 balance this season in games where Anthony scores 18 points or more. Rape Canter added a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.

Without LeBron James and Anthony Davis the Lakers are among the weakest teams in the league, and the fact that this morning they lost to the Kings, another weak team. Harrison Barnes’ big moves gave Sacramento the W. Dennis Schroeder and Monterey Harrell had a chance to win even earlier, but both missed.

Buddy the boy, who decided to play despite severe ankle pain, led the winner with 29 points. It was a total second victory for the host in its last 12 games. Diaron Fox added 23, and Barnes scored 20. Schroeder scored 28, Earl 26 and Kyle Kozma 25 for the visitors. Sixth loss in eight games for the Lakers, who dropped to third place in the West.

Such a result was certainly surprising on any other day of the year, however, it will not happen too many times this season that the weak Pistons will defeat an opposing team. But it happened mostly because the host played on a super-missing squad without Pascal Siakam, Fred and Anvolit, or G. Anonobi, Patrick Macau and Malachi Flynn, who went into the Corona Protocol, and without coach Nick Ners and most of his coaching staff for the same reason.

Wayne Ellington, who is hot with 8 of 11 for three and 25 points, it does not matter. Overall, Detroit scored excellently off the arc (20 of 41). The visitors’ substitutes were great and together provided 56 points (Rodney Magroger and Saban Ley 20 each). The opening guard, Dennis Smith Jr., finished with a triple-double of 10 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists. Norman Powell (36) And Kyle Laurie (21) stood out for the loser.

TJ McConnell will probably never forget this game. The Pacers guard set an incredible NBA record of nine steals in one half, recorded 10 steals per game (one less than Kendall Gil’s NBA record from New Jersey and Larry Cannon of San Antonio), and also finished with a triple-double that included in addition to steals – 16 points and -13 assists. McConnell, who generally came off the bench, was given 36 minutes and stood at 100 percent from the field (8 of 8).

The Pacers came back from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter (81:62), stopping a streak of four losses. Malcolm Brogdon led the scenes with 29, Domantas Savonis added 18. Colin Sexton scored 32 points and gave up 10 assists for the Cubs, who lost 26 balls and their four-game winning streak ended.

According to the result, one might have thought that this was a game played in Europe and not in the USA. Dallas played without its European star, Luca Doncic, who was rested – and still managed to win. In the absence of Doncic, its second leading player from the old continent, Christopher Forzingis, led with 19 points and 13 rebounds, Tim Hardway Jr. also scored 19 and Josh Richardson added 16. Dallas is in great momentum with 10 wins in its last 13 games, coming after a streak of six losses.

Shay Gilgamesh Alexander scored 15 for the Thunder, who recorded their worst night of the season in points and percentages from the field (33). It’s not that Dallas was amazing on offense (she missed 22 of her first 23 shots for three), but she just kept excellent.