NBA – Bulls come back in force, NBA seeks best option against Covid

The match: A winning comeback for the Bulls

The Bulls beat the Lakers (115-110) on Sunday for their return to the floors of an NBA hit, like the United States, by a meteoric increase in the number of cases of Covid-19, having forced it to postpone five matches, three of which were to take place on Sunday. The Chicago franchise, which had missed two games due to the coronavirus, was able in particular to count on the return of DeMar DeRozan (38 pts), released from anti-Covid health protocols alongside three other players, to win against to the Lakers in a heated and close encounter.

Lonzo Ball scored 19 points, while Nikola Vucevic signed a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. LeBron James scored 31 points and Russell Westbrook 20, but they couldn’t prevent the loss of a diminished team. With six players in anti-Covid protocol, the Lakers had to compose without Anthony Davis, injured in the knee on Friday and who will be absent for four weeks, and their coach Frank Vogel, placed in anti-Covid protocol and replaced on the bench by his assistant David Fizdale.

The comeback: Booker resumed in peace

The Suns, recording the return of Devin Booker, who had missed seven games after a hamstring injury, made short work of the Hornets (137-106). The Phoenix franchise was a big spinner, with nine players scoring 11 or more points. Devin Booker scored 16 points. Chris Paul came very close to the double-double with 14 points and 9 assists. DeAndre Ayton pulled off his double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds.

The stat: 14

Even if Cade Cunningham did not flare up (4 pts but 10 pds), the Detroit Pistons ended a terrible series of 14 losses in a row, by beating the Miami Heat (100-90), who played without Jimmy Butler nor Bam Adebayo, injured. Saddiq Bey is no stranger to it with his 26 points.

The perf: Hield caught fire at the end

On his floor, Sacramento offered San Antonio (121-114). And can thank Buddy Hield once again. The back took matters into his own hands in the last quarter. Author of a nice 7 of 9 with three points, he scored 18 of his 29 points during the last 12 minutes. As a boss.

The player: Lillard stops the Grizzlies

The Grizzlies remained on five straight wins. But that was before crossing paths with a found Damian Lillard. Perfectly supported by Norman Powell (28 pts), the leader of Portland planted 32 points (9 of 19 shooting), took 5 rebounds and delivered 5 assists to guide the Trail Blazers to success (100-105). Dillon Brooks’ 37 points didn’t change that.

The Blues: Hayes shows himself

Often too discreet offensively this season, Killian Hayes signed a meeting a second meeting in a more successful row. After his 8 points and 10 assists against Houston, the former Choletais, long annoyed by faults, scored 10 points in 21 minutes during Detroit’s success over the Miami Heat. In Memphis, Killian Tillie played 10 minutes (1 rb).

The info of the night: How the NBA is activating against the Covid

Three other games scheduled to take place on Sunday (Atlanta-Cleveland, Brooklyn-Denver and Philadelphia-New Orleans) have meanwhile been postponed, while the NBA suffers from a sharp upsurge in Covid-19 cases. Toronto-Orlando, scheduled for Monday, and Brooklyn-Washington on Tuesday, have also been postponed.

Over the past six days, more than 60 players have been placed on health protocol, including Hawks star Trae Young, three Nets stars Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving, as well as Jarrett Allen, alongside four others. Cavaliers players, or Andre Drummond in Philadelphia. Without counting Andrew Wiggins (Warriors), who will be, like Jordan Poole, forfeit against the Kings on Monday. Teams are considering recruiting from the G League, the NBA’s development league, to have enough players to field, the minimum requirement being 8.

According to the media outlet The Athletic, the Cavaliers thus plan to sign Luke Kornet (Maine Celtics) and Justin Anderson (Fort Wayne Mad Ants) for 10 days, if the NBA allows these exceptional recruitments. Also according to The Athletic, Orlando wants to sign Freddie Gillespie (Memphis Hustle) for 10 days to compensate for his absences.

According to ESPN, the NBA and NBPA (NBA Players Association) are working on a plan that would make it mandatory to recruit additional players for teams affected by Covid. The League remains committed to minimizing postponements and avoiding a season suspension, ESPN said. Last season, a total of 31 games were postponed due to the Covid.

The results

• Chicago – LA Lakers: 115-110
• Minnesota – Dallas: 111-105
• Detroit – Miami: 100-90
• Phoenix – Charlotte: 137-106
• Memphis – Portland: 100-105
• Sacramento – San Antonio: 121-114