The New Orleans Pelicans strengthened their leadership in the West on Friday by defeating some downward Phoenix Suns while the Milwaukee Bucks achieved an ‘in extremis’ victory against the Dallas Mavericks and the Philadelphia 76ers suffered more than necessary to submit the Los Angeles Lakers.
PELICANS 128 – SUNS 117
The sixth victory for these unleashed New Orleans Pelicans came against the Phoenix Suns, who appeared as second in the West, and at the hands of a stellar Zion Williamson (35 points on 13 of 17 shooting and 7 rebounds).
Deandre Ayton (25 points and 14 rebounds) and Chris Paul (24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists) were the best of the Suns who have lost three consecutive games and in which Devin Booker had a day to forget (14 points with 5 17 on shots).
The Spanish Willy Hernangómez was again left without playing in the Pelicans while the Puerto Rican José Alvarado had 20 points, a rebound, 2 assists and 3 steals in 25 minutes.
MAVERICKS 105 – BUCKS 106
A Brook Lopez score with less than 10 seconds left and perfectly crafted by coach Mike Budenholzer gave the Milwaukee Bucks a fantastic down-the-clock victory over the Dallas Mavericks.
Luka Doncic had 33 points, 6 rebounds and 11 assists and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who was fouled out in the fourth quarter, had 28 points and 10 rebounds for a Bucks team that has won four straight games.
SIXERS 133 – LAKERS 122
Despite leading by 18 points with 10 minutes to go and 9 with just 35 seconds left, the Philadelphia 76ers had to go into overtime to defeat the Los Angeles Lakers after a wild end to the fourth period.
Joel Embiid contributed 38 points and 12 rebounds for Philadelphia while Anthony Davis, with many foul problems, added 31 points and 12 rebounds for a Lakers whose recovery has slowed down and who have lost three straight games.
JAZZ 108 – TIMBERWOLVES 118
In his first game back in Utah after his trade this summer, Rudy Gobert (22 points and 13 rebounds) was key in the Minnesota Timberwolves’ victory over the Jazz.
D’Angelo Russell (30 points) was the top scorer for the Wolves and Malik Beasley (23 points) stood out in some sad Jazz from the perimeter (13 of 44 on three-pointers).
NETS 120 – HAWKS 116
With emotion until the end, the Brooklyn Nets led by Kevin Durant (34 points) and Kyrie Irving (33 points and 11 rebounds) defeated the Atlanta Hawks and already have six victories in their last seven games.
Instead, Trae Young’s Hawks (33 points and 9 assists) have lost three straight games and have been embroiled in recent days in an alleged controversy between Young and coach Nate McMillan.
GRIZZLIES 114 – PISTONS 103
Taking advantage of the Suns’ doubts, the Memphis Grizzlies, who have accumulated five consecutive wins, snatched second place in the West from Phoenix after getting rid of the Detroit Pistons who are now bottom of the East.
Ja Morant (15 points, 6 rebounds and 12 assists) was one of six Memphis players with over 10 points and Bojan Bogdanovic (19 points) led a group of seven Pistons with double-digit scoring. .
Spanish Santi Aldama had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 18 minutes for the Grizzlies.
CAVALIERS 95 – KINGS 106
The Sacramento Kings continue to amaze in the NBA and this Friday they took a prestigious victory on a field as complicated as that of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Domantas Sabonis (18 points, 18 rebounds and 6 assists) was a giant in the area against some Cavaliers in which the main reference was Caris LeVert (22 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists).
HORNETS 102 – KNICKS 121
Julius Randle (33 points and 7 rebounds) took the helm for the New York Knicks in their comfortable victory against the Charlotte Hornets who have lost their last four games and remain in the bottom of the East.
Terry Rozier (24 points and 6 rebounds) stood out in a Hornets that only made 6 of 26 in triples.
PACERS 121 – WIZARDS 111
The Washington Wizards can’t find consolation and, after their promising start to the season, they now have five consecutive defeats, the last one against the Indiana Pacers, who have become one of the pleasant surprises of this season.
Buddy Hield (28 points) led a Pacers that neutralized the good performances in Washington by Kristaps Porzingis (29 points and 9 rebounds) and Kyle Kuzma (27 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists).
MAGIC 113 – RAPTORS 109
After a dismal 5-20 in their first 25 games, the Orlando Magic have had the joy of adding two consecutive victories: on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Clippers and this Friday against the Toronto Raptors in which the Spanish Juancho Hernangómez was low for a sprained right ankle.
Franz Wagner (34 points) and Pascal Siakam (36 points, 9 rebounds and 7 assists) were the best for the Magic and Raptors, respectively.
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NBA Summary: Pelicans reign in the West, Bucks take Dallas and Sixers defeat Lakers