After their loss in New York, the Cavaliers, without Donovan Mitchell, bounced back easily in Houston. They’re also taking advantage of the Nets’ loss to Detroit to stay in touch with them. The two franchises trail each other in the standings (Brooklyn fourth, Cleveland fifth) in the Eastern Conference.
The Clippers, they continued to improve and signed a fourth straight victory against the Spurs, after taking control at the beginning of the match without letting them go. This is now their best series of the season.
Brooklyn–Detroit Boston–New York Charlotte–Chicago Phoenix–Dallas
Houston-Cleveland: 95-113
Even without Donovan Mitchell, who was injured again late in the game in New York, the Cavaliers had no trouble dismissing the Rockets. The Texans also helped, turning over 22 balls and averaging 5/21 on 3-pts. Result: game folded at the break (48-74).
In the third quarter, after Jabari Smith Jr’s basket, JB Bickerstaff’s team asserted and scored 10 points in a row. The difference then exceeds 30 points. Stephen Silas’ men finished the quarter on an 11-3 run, which could not be fooled as Darius Garland and Cedi Osman would score from behind the arc at the start of the final action and easily slip away to victory.
Houston / 95
Shots
Bounces
Players
minimum
Shots
3 points
LF
Or
D
T
p.d
party
Int
bp
CT
+/-
Points
Score
J. Smith Jr.
19
6/9
0/1
2/5
0
5
5
1
4
0
4
2
-11
14
12
K. Martin Jr.
27
6/7
1/2
1/3
1
5
6
2
2
1
1
0
-9
14
19
A. Sengun
30
6/10
0/0
2/3
1
5
6
7
4
2
4
2
-11
14
22
J. Christopher
19
2/5
0/0
3/3
1
0
1
0
1
0
2
0
-21
7
3
J. Green
28
2/9
2/6
0/0
0
1
1
3
2
1
3
0
-23
6
1
B. Fernando
15
2/4
0/0
0/0
1
5
6
1
2
0
0
1
-11
4
10
U. Garuba
—
/////
/////
/////
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
0
T. Eason
25
8/13
0/3
2/3
5
6
11
3
3
0
3
1
-5
18
24
B. Marjanovic
6
2/3
0/0
0/0
1
2
3
1
0
0
0
0
+2
4
7
Mr. Mathews
20
0/2
0/2
1/1
0
2
2
0
1
0
0
0
-4
1
1
D. Nix
21
1/4
1/2
0/0
0
2
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
3
3
T.Washington Jr.
29
4/10
1/5
1/2
0
3
3
3
1
1
3
0
+3
10
7
Total
39/76
5/21
12/20
10
36
46
24
20
5
22
6
95
109
Cleveland / 113
Shots
Bounces
Players
minimum
Shots
3 points
LF
Or
D
T
p.d
party
Int
bp
CT
+/-
Points
Score
E. Mobley
33
6/17
0/3
9/10
5
5
10
3
3
1
3
2
+17
21
22
I. Okoro
26
2/5
1/2
0/1
1
0
1
2
1
0
0
0
+3
5
4
J. Allen
35
6/10
0/0
2/2
1
9
10
1
2
3
1
0
+23
14
23
D. Garland
33
9/16
5/8
3/3
2
2
4
9
1
4
1
0
+17
26
35
C. LeVert
32
4/10
2/6
2/2
0
1
1
5
2
2
1
0
+20
12
13
D. Wade
23
5/8
4/7
1/3
1
2
3
1
2
1
1
2
+10
15
16
Mr Diakite
3
0/2
0/1
0/0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-4
0
-2
L Stevens
11
2/3
1/1
0/0
0
2
2
0
0
0
0
0
-3
5
6
C. Osman
24
4/10
1/6
1/1
0
2
2
1
3
0
1
0
-1
10
6
R. Rubio
17
2/7
1/2
0/0
1
2
3
7
2
1
1
0
+12
5
10
R. Neto
3
0/0
0/0
0/0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
-4
0
0
40/88
15/36
18/22
11
25
36
29
16
12
9
4
113
133
LA Clippers–San Antonio: 138-100
After dominating the Lakers with a very solid performance, the Clippers did it again against the Spurs. Using the same elements at the beginning of the game, a defense in place and outside shots to hurt. Already 16 points ahead after twelve minutes of play.
Gregg Popovich’s squad would not get back into the game, held back by 18 award-winning baskets by the Clippers. It was a walk in the park for Paul George (35 points) and Kawhi Leonard (27) who shot 24/35 together. Fourth straight win for Nicolas Batum (9 units) and his teammates, fourth straight loss for the Texans.
