Regular season: San Antonio returns to victory, Denver can thank Murray
Mathieu WARNIER, Media365, published on Friday, December 09, 2022 at 08:18
While Jamal Murray grabbed the win for Denver on the floor of Portland, San Antonio got out of its black streak by hosting Houston.
This is what Spurs fans have been waiting for since November 12. After accepting defeat in its last eleven games, the Texas franchise found a smile in the derby against the Houston Rockets. In a matchup between the two worst teams in the Western Conference, the Rockets got off to the best start, leading by five at the end of the first quarter. A crossover between the two formations continued for the full twelve minutes before returning to the locker room, with Jalen Green (14 points), signaling himself at the buzzer with a long distance shot to allow the Houston franchise to take the lead in rest An increase that Jabari Green’s teammates (23 points) were able to defend when returning to the floor but, little by little, the Spurs took control, first passing the ten-point mark and leading by thirteen lengths to twelve minutes. end of the meeting. Led by Keldon Johnson (32 points, 7 rebounds) and Tre Jones (26 points, 5 assists), the San Antonio franchise broke away from the scoreboard to lead by 20 units in more than six buzzer minutes. An air pocket then allowed the Rockets to pull back to eight lengths but the damage was done. The Spurs smiled again (118-109) and returned to their victim of the day thanks to this seventh victory in 25 games.
Murray saved the Nuggets
The Nuggets are doing great. After taking losses in their last three games, Colorado’s players know how to have the resources to seize victory on the floor of the Portland Trail Blazers. Oregon players, led by a good night Damian Lillard (40 points, 12 assists), quickly took control of operations, led by six units after the first quarter they started shy. But, unable to make a difference in the score, the Blazers remained vulnerable and the Nuggets found solutions to get up and continue thanks to a 10-0 in the middle twelve minutes before half-time. . Undeterred so far, Portland’s players tightened the game to reach half-time with a small score early on. Back on the floor, Bruce Brown (10 points) allowed the Nuggets to get back on the scoreboard … but it only lasted 24 seconds. From then on, the Blazers dominated, going into the final quarter with a ten-length margin. An advantage that was quickly squandered against the wrath of the Nuggets. From there, the two teams went blow for blow and it was nine-tenths of a second from the buzzer that Jamal Murray (21 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists) lit up the game. The Nuggets won by the slimmest of margins (120-121) and bounced back after a down time.
The Heat are moving forward
What also happened to the Miami Heat when they hosted the Los Angeles Clippers. From the first quarter, the two formations set the tone of the meeting, with a gap that did not reach the bar of ten points despite the generosity of Nicolas Batum’s teammates (11 points, 5 rebounds). Indeed, the Clippers led by eight units after the first twelve minutes. However, after reaching this ten-length lead, the Californians lost their footing and saw their mattress melt like snow in the sun, finding themselves trailing by just three lengths after for three minutes. Neither wanted to let go and the Heat, with just three players on the bench to ensure rotation, were leading by two slim points. Back on the floor, the two teams never stopped playing a cat and mouse game with space not lost, leaving all possibilities open for the final quarter. In this small game, the Floridians ended up making the difference in the final eight minutes for a five-unit victory (115-110), ending a two-game losing streak. For the Clippers, this loss was a minor setback against a diminished opponent.
BASKETBALL – NBA / REGULAR SEASON
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Miami Heat -Los Angeles Clippers: 115-110
> N.Batum (LAC): 11 points on 4/8 shots (including 3/7 three-pointers) and 0/1 free throws, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 interception, 1 fight, 1 turnover ball and 2 fouls in 32 minutes
> M.Diabaté (LAC) did not play.
San Antonio Spurs -Houston Rockets: 118-109
Portland Trail Blazers – Denver Nuggets : 120-121
