DeMar DeRozan scored 52 points against Milwaukee Bucks, setting a new franchise record. His Toronto Raptors win after extra time. The Portland Trail Blazers also win after an extra shift. The Los Angeles Lakers, on the other hand, are still in free fall.
After a long time, the Brooklyn Nets have once again won the second game of a back-to-back game. Allen Crabbe (15 points, 8 rebounds) became the man of the day in the crunchtime. 18 seconds before the end, the Guard turned two free throws to 98:95 to block the threesome of Evan Fournier (13) in the following sequence.
Orlando came once again to the Spalding, but the distance throw with the siren of D. J. came again. Augustin (3) didn’t find his way into the basket either, and Crabbe and his defense was the theme of the day:”I’ll concentrate more on it now,”admitted the Shooting Guard,”It’s just annoying when I hear people questioning my defense.”
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The Magic, on the other hand, led a tight game in the first half with up to eight points, but never managed to break away. After free throws by Aaron Gordon (20 points, 12 rebounds) the visitors were leading by three points just two minutes before the end, but Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (13) and Caris LaVert (15) turned the game in favour of the Nets again.
Rookie Jarrett Allen set a new personal record with 16 points (7/8 FG) and was the top scorer of the Nets. At Orlando, the complete Starting Five scanned in double digits. The replacement of the injured Nikola Vuvevic, Bismack Biyombo, played with 13 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks in a good double-double.
The new year couldn’t have got off to a better start for DeMar DeRozan. With 52 points (17/29 FG, 5/9 threesomes, 13/13 FT), the Shooting Guard set a new franchise record (previously Vince Carter, Terrence Ross 51 each) and helped his team to a fiercely contested win over a playoff rival. DeRozan was motivated by Michael Jordan’s final performance in Match 6 against Utah Jazz when the GOAT won the title with a jumper.
DeRozan looked at the tape before his monster performance:”I remembered my childhood when I wanted to have moments like this,”said the man of the day…”If you experience something like this, you have to make the best of it,” DeRozan also sent the game into overtime with two transformed free throws 37 seconds before the end (114:114). Malcolm Brogdon (15) had the last litter for the Bucks, but couldn’t get rid of him in time when defended by DeRozan.
“We wanted to put Khris Middleton or Giannis Antetokounmpo in position,”said Bucks coach Jason Kidd, explaining the strategy at the end of the game,”We had two options and Malcom was the security. We knew they were going to switch, but we just didn’t read the situation properly,” Toronto was superior in OT. Fred VanVleet (11) met a threesome and DeRozan let a jumper follow, which extended the lead (121:117). As a result, Milwaukee did not make it, even though Eric Bledsoe scored 11 of his 29 points in extra time.
In addition to Bledsoe, Antetokounmpo scored 26 points (9 rebounds, 7 assists) and Middleton contributed a further 18 points. “He was dangerous everywhere,”Kidd said.”His improved threesome made the game much easier for him.”
Beside the shooting guard Kyle Lowry also convinced with 26 points and 6 assists. Jakob Pöltl was allowed 17 minutes and scored 4 points (2/3 FG) and 2 rebounds.
Page 1: DeRozan sets a new franchise record with 52 points
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