With Memphis in doubt, Golden State is back on the positive side
The series: Memphis returns fanny
It’s time for the Memphis Grizzlies road trip to end. In a climate burdened by the broadcast of – unbearable – images of the arrest that led to the death of Tire Nichols (30) in the city of Memphis on January 7, the Tennessee franchise ended the series of five matches outside the fifth part. loss, on the floor of the Minnesota Timberwolves (100-111). After both teams observed a moment of silence in memory of Nichols, the locals were the most effective in the beginning, led by the aggressiveness of Anthony Edwards (25 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists).
On the contrary, the Grizzlies seem to have no weapons to fight back, especially as they thrive without Desmond Bane, the team’s second best scorer (21.6 points), Steven Adams or John Konchar, who were all injured on the trip. And if Ja Morant did everything to keep his team in the game by validating a triple-double (27 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists), he proved too sad to hope to leave Minnesota with a victory.
“This is the journey of revelations, swept coach Taylor Jenkins. We learn a lot about ourselves, in the midst of time. I told the boys after the match that we were in good shape. We have about thirty matches left to play and this comes in a season to experience ups and downs. » Sunday, however, needed to succeed in the revival against the Indiana Pacers.
The French: Rudy Gobert contributed, 10 minutes for Ousmane Dieng
If he didn’t manage to prove a new double-double this season (he has 18), Rudy Gobert stood out in another way during the Wolves’ victory at home: by showing himself – it’s quite ordinary – difficult on defense (3 blocks), but above all by offering two “highlights” at the end of the match: a back dunk hit an alley-oop at the beginning of the fourth quarter, then a blind pass in the final minute on an offensive rebound. In the end, the pivot accumulated 7 points, 13 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 3 blocks in 31 minutes of play.
On the occasion of the reception of the Cleveland Cavaliers, deprived of Donovan Mitchell (groin), the Oklahoma City Thunder, winner (112-100), was able to offer ten minutes of play to Ousmane Dieng. For his second game since returning from injury (wrist fracture), the winger didn’t attempt a single shot and was content with one offensive rebound and one assist (for two stray balls).
35
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander finished as the leading scorer in the match between the Thunder and the Cavaliers with 35 points scored (12 of 21 shooting, 10 of 11 throwing, 8 assists).
The duo: Thompson and Curry made a “Splash” for Golden State
A statistic that will not surprise anyone, but has been rare this season: at home, against the Toronto Raptors (129-117 victory), Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson – nicknamed the “Splash Brothers” – scored 64 points between them. 35 units for the playmaker (13 out of 21 shooting, 7 assists, 11 rebounds), 29 points for the winger, author of 6 award-winning baskets (14 attempts).
$25,000
This is the amount of the fine (which is approximately €23,000) imposed on Stephen Curry for his mouthguard in the last part of the game against the Memphis Grizzlies in his previous outing. A gesture that also gave him an exception as his team won to the wire (122-120). This is also the amount of the penalty imposed on Joel Embiid (Philadelphia Sixars), for celebrating the basket against the Brooklyn Nets in the “Triple H” manner. An act considered rude.
If the Warriors waited for the last quarter (31-23) to get a second consecutive victory, the third in four outings, they could be especially pleased with the return to the positive in the West (25 wins -24 losses) , which they haven’t known since January 5 (20 wins-19 losses).
In particularly tight debates in the Western Conference, with the exception of the San Antonio Spurs (14 victories) and Houston Rockets (11), these two straight victories allowed the defending champion to climb to seventh place, a victory . for Dallas (26 v-24d) occupying the last direct qualification spot for the play-offs.
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Faller of the Orlando Magic at home (110-105), the Miami Heat chained a third win, which is synonymous with sixth place in the partially consolidated East (28v-22d), ahead of the New York Knicks (27v-23d).
