Brooklyn continues in victory, Milwaukee and Utah in defeat
The Nets won a fifth success in a row, carried by Kevin Durant vindicting the fate in Toronto on Sunday, while defending champion Milwaukee and Utah, cador of the West, conceded a second consecutive loss, respectively in Washington and Orlando. .
On June 10, 2019 with the Raptors, « KD » ruptured his left Achilles tendon during game N.5 of an NBA final that the Warriors would then lose. Since his return to the prosecution in December 2020, he had not yet turned back that of the Raptors, relocated to Tampa (Florida) last season due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
He sparked for his return to cursed soil with 31 points scored (11/18 on shots, 7 assists, 7 rebounds, but also 7 stray balls), allowing Brooklyn to win (116-103).
“The last time I was here it was one of the most difficult times of my career,” Durant said, adding “it’s good to come back and play and see the fans again,” some of whom had had to. the time the bad taste to rejoice over his injury.
Opposite, inside Pascal Siakam was also making his comeback, after missing the first ten matches of the season, due to an operation on his left shoulder. He scored 15 points in 25 minutes. “My legs were heavy and I was out of breath after three minutes,” he said.
With this victory (7-3), which also owed a lot to James Harden (28 pts, 10 assists, 8 rebounds), the Nets climb to 3rd place in the East, alongside Washington who has the same record, after their prestigious victory at the expense of Milwaukee (101-94), the first in their last nine encounters.
– Stratospheric rubio –
Bradley Beal was the great craftsman with 30 points (8 assists) and Kyle Kuzma contributed (15 pts, 10 rebounds) for the Wizards who triggered the avalanche in the 3rd quarter (33-19).
Opposite, Giannis Antetokounmpo unsuccessfully pulled out the muscles (29 pts, 18 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 interceptions) in the absence of Khris Middleton (Covid-19).
Tenth, the Bucks (4-6) continue to skate at the start of the championship, unlike Cleveland, the surprise team of the conference (6th) which gleaned a 4th straight victory in New York (126-109) thanks to Ricky Rubio. On the stratosphere at Madison Square Garden, the Spaniard planted 37 points (10 assists), a personal best, including an 8/9 which says « Allelujah » behind the arc, further explaining the excellent overall address (54, 3% success).
Rookie Evan Mobley, drafted in 3rd position this summer, also shone (26 pts, 11/15 on shots, 9 rebounds).
Side Knicks, Julius Randle was not unworthy (19 pts, 7 assists, 7 rebounds) and Evan Fournier did what he could (15 pts, 3 rebounds, 2 interceptions).
In Orlando, the Magic, untenable in the last quarter (32-15), like Cole Anthony (33 pts), played a nasty trick on Jazz who thought they had quietly won the match and finally lost it (107-100), despite a Rudy Gobert still dominant in the racket (21 pts, 15 rebounds, 4 blocks).
Utah (7-3) leaves Golden State to make the break (8-1) in the lead in the West after its easy victory against Houston (120-107). Stephen Curry did not have to force his talent (20 pts), leaving the scoring for once to Jordan Poole (25 pts).
The Clippers, meanwhile, are back in positive (5-4) thanks to their success over Charlotte (120-106) with Paul George in the spotlight (20 pts, 9 rebounds, 8 assists) and Nicolas Batum, still a supporter. the least effort (16 pts, 6 assists, 3 interceptions).
