Los Angeles Lakers knock out without Luka Doncic, Durant beats Curry

Eighteen games were staged last NBA night. The Boston Celtics (53-25) took the lead in the last quarter against the Toronto Raptors (43-25) and won 115-101, dragged once again by their two leaders: 26 points for Jaylen Brown and 23 (with 13 rebounds) for Jayson Tatum.

The Cleveland Cavaliers (49-29) had to sweat more than expected, but in the fourth period they folded the Indiana Pacers 117-108: 38 points for Donovan Mitchell and 28 for James Harden, against Micah Potter’s 21 (with 12 rebounds) and Obi Toppin’s 21 off the bench. The Orlando Magic (42-36) also struggled, but overcame the New Orleans Pelicans 108-112 with Paul Banchero’s 23 points and 16 rebounds and Desmond Bane’s 27; for the Pelicans 32 from Saddiq Bey.

Heavy win for the Charlotte Hornets (43-36), who routed the Minnesota Timberwolves (46-32) 108-122 thanks to LaMelo Ball’s 35 points and Miles Bridges’ 25; for Minnesota 26 by Julius Randle. It was all easy instead for the Oklahoma City Thunder (62-16), who overwhelmed the Utah Jazz (21-58) 146-111 by sending seven men into double figures: top scorer Chet Holmgren with 21 points, followed by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 20, while for Utah came 34 from Brice Sensabaugh.

Hit by the Dallas Mavericks (25-53), who surprise the Los Angeles Lakers (50-28) 134-128 complicating the race for third place in the West: starring Cooper Flagg with 45 points. LeBron James’ 30 points, 9 rebounds and 15 assists, Luke Kennard’s triple-double (15-16-11) and Jaxson Hayes’ 23 off the bench were not enough for the Lakers (without Doncic). In contrast, the Los Angeles Clippers (40-38) dominated the Sacramento Kings (21-58) 109-138 (71 points already in the first two quarters): 26 for Kawhi Leonard and 25 off the bench for John Collins, while the Kings needed only 21 from Devin Carter. Finally, success in the last minute for the Houston Rockets (49-29), who beat the Golden State Warriors (36-42) 116-117 thanks to Alperen Sengun’s decisive basket with 4 seconds left before the buzzer; Kevin Durant’s 31 points were also decisive, while Stephen Curry, who started from the bench, finished with 29.

NBA night results
Boston Celtics-Toronto Raptors 115-101
Chicago Bulls-Phoenix Suns 110-120
Brooklyn Nets-Washington Wizards 121-115
Milwaukee Bucks-Memphis Grizzlies 131-115
Cleveland Cavaliers-Indiana Pacers 117-108
New Orleans Pelicans-Orlando Magic 108-112
Minnesota Timberwolves-Charlotte Hornets 108-122
Oklahoma City Thunder-Utah Jazz 146-111
Dallas Mavericks-Los Angeles Lakers 134-128
Sacramento Kings-Los Angeles Clippers 109-138
Golden State Warriors-Houston Rockets 116-117