Four games were played tonight (Sunday through Monday) in addition to the classic between Washington and Brooklyn, with Nikola Jokic at the center providing a huge performance that halted Utah’s winning streak. Back on Sunday night, the Clippers reached Madison Square Garden and put together a third straight win.
Denver (8:12) – Utah (5:15) 117: 128
The Nuggets came to devour the hottest team in the NBA that came to this game with 11 straight wins. The host scored 15 of 17 (!) Off the arc in the first half, and these insane percentages gave it a 54:79 advantage at the break. Nikola Jukic scored 33 points in his first 19 minutes on the floor.
The Joker added another 14 points to reach 47 points in 37 minutes and equal his career high. The Serbian star, who is fantasizing about the MVP title, added 11 rebounds and 5 assists that helped Denver stop Utah and remind her what happened in the bubble last summer.
Donovan Mitchell who remembers the bubble well came back after two games, finishing with just 13 points on 25% from the field. Boyan Bogdanovic led the loser with 29 points. She hopes to recover from Tuesday and Wednesday against weak Detroit. Between Monday and Tuesday, by the way, the same Detroit will meet Denver.
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New York Knicks (12: 9) – Los Angeles Clippers (5:16) 129: 115
It was tough, but the Clippers can be encouraging. After getting back two days ago Paul Paul and Leonard who came out of the NBA Health Protocol, Tyrone Lou’s team looked good and maintained second place in the West. 42 points shared by the two plus 18 by Reggie Jackson helped the team from Los Angeles escape in the final quarter and raise their balance to 5:16.
New Yorkers can draw optimism from the close battle with one of the strongest teams in the league and from the ability of Julius Randall. The excellent forward continued his high ability of the season, scoring 27 points and adding 12 rebounds, but that was not enough for his team, which will try to correct in the pair of games in Chicago on Monday and Wednesday.
The Clippers will stay in New York because Kwai and his teammates are expecting a fascinating game against the Brooklyn Nets star battery this coming Tuesday.
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Indiana (11: 9) – Philadelphia (6:15) 119: 110
Even without Joel Ambide when she meets one of the toughest rivals in the East, Philadelphia proves she has plenty to sell. The East leader was already 16 points behind in the final quarter, then Doc Rivers decided to move to a regional defense that gave his team momentum. The Sixers won the decisive quarter 15:37 and opened a 2.5-game gap from Brooklyn.
Tobias Harris continued his fantastic season with 27 points, and Ben Simmons added 21. Dwight Howard recorded a handsome double-double of 11 points and 15 rebounds. On the other side Malcolm Brogdon scored 25 and Domantas Savonis 21.
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Toronto (12: 8) – Orlando (13: 8) 102: 115
The Magic’s season is only getting more complicated. Steve Clifford’s wonderful season opener has long been a thing of the past, and after losing Merkel Poltz, Ark Gordon Gordon injured his ankle and at this point the severity of the injury is unknown. The loss to the Canadians was Orlando’s third in a row.
Pascal Siakam put up one of his best games this season with 30 points and 10 rebounds, and Kyle Laurie helped with 12 points and 15 assists to break the team’s losing streak that stood at 3. From there, Toronto is a lone game away from eighth place.
Minnesota (14: 5) – Cleveland (11: 9) 104: 109
Not every day Minnesota wins a basketball game and today it happened. The Wolves’ great second half (43:54), especially in the defensive part, set them up for their first win after three losses. Senior rookie Anthony Edwards and Malik Beasley led with 23 points each. DiAngelo Russell contributed 19 points and 5 assists.
On the other side Andre Drummond recovered from his weak game against the Knicks (4 points), scoring 25 and dropping 22 rebounds. Darius Garland and Colin Sexton scored 17 and 16 points, respectively.
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