NBA: Lakers overwhelmed by Cavaliers, a super Fontecchio is not enough in Miami

Nine games were played on NBA night. In what may have been LeBron James’s last return to Cleveland, the Los Angeles Lakers were overwhelmed by the Cavaliers, who won by as many as thirty points (129-99): six players in double figures for the Cavs including Donovan Mitchell, top scorer with 25 points. For the Miami Heat, on the other hand, the best Simone Fontecchio of the season (23 points, 5 rebounds, two assists and a stoppage) was not enough in the Florida derby against the Orlando Magic, who won 133-124 thanks to a 31-point, 12-rebound Paolo Banchero.

In the high-stakes challenge in the West, it is the San Antonio Spurs who get the better of the Houston Rockets (111-99): a spacey performance by Victor Wembanyama who scores 28 points, captures 16 rebounds and also puts up 5 stoppages giving the Spurs a victory that is worth the lone second place in the standings. The Eastern Conference is also moving in the upper echelons with the overtaking of the New York Knicks against the Boston Celtics: the former, in fact, rout Toronto (119-92), the latter fall under the blows of the Atlanta Hawks (106-117).

Important victories also for the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves: the former crush the Utah Jazz (140-124) thanks to Steph Curry’s 27 points and Moses Moody’s 26; the latter, dragged by a 31-point, 5-rebound, 4-assist Julius Randle, overcome the Dallas Mavericks (118-105). Minnesota moves up to sixth place, which would be worth direct access to the playoffs, while Golden State is eighth, in the middle of the play-in zone.

Finally, the Charlotte Hornets also won, who routed the Memphis Grizzlies (112-97) thanks to Brandon Miller’s 26 points, and the Indiana Pacers, who beat the Chicago Bulls (113-110) in a sprint with a Pascal Siakam 20 points and 5 assists.