The Golden State Warriors are still unstoppable and are serious in the last quarter against previously strong Timberwolves. Meanwhile, the Mavericks take an annoying home defeat by the Knicks, Utah surprisingly loses to Memphis at home. Toronto beats Phoenix in the style of a top team.
For a quarter of the time it was an open affair at Disneyland, but then the guests took control and didn’t give it up as the game progressed. Although the Magic worked again on their comeback at the beginning of the fourth quarter after three jumpers by Terrence Ross, but L.A. had the answer – in person of Lou Williams
The reigning Sixth Man of the Year once again lived up to his name, putting on 28 points from the bench, hitting each of his five attempts from downtown. Three in a row it was in the fourth quarter, after which the game was finally decided. The lead was 25 points again and about six minutes before the end the garbage time started in Orlando.
For the Magic it was already the fourth defeat in a row, after the start of the season was still balanced. Nikola Vucevic (22 points, 11 rebounds) and Evan Fournier (19) sold well, but lacked support. With the Clippers it looked completely different again – L.A. lived again from his balance.
In addition to Williams, four other players scored double-digit points, with Tobias Harris laying down 21 points and Boban Marjanovic (10, 11 rebounds) and Montrezl Harrell (10 and 12) laying up double doubles respectively.
This trip to the division rivals the Pacers had probably imagined a bit more relaxed, but the Bulls showed just at the beginning again that they at least offensively already have a lot of potential. After the first quarter it was 37:22 for Chicago and Indiana did not get defensive access at all, especially Rookie Wendell Carter and Zach LaVine caused them big problems.
In the second quarter the guests turned this around again and dominated with 38:21, but it was not so clear. In the second half, no team was able to break away, it developed a gripping final phase. And Chicago could have won the game.
30.5 seconds before the end, Antonio Blakeney was responsible for the action of the game – he hit a threesome and also drew a foul from Darren Collison. The free-throw was in place, the game was even – now Indiana was under pressure. In fact, Collison himself made up for his mistake and scored to the final score at 18.5 seconds from time; LaVine, Justin Holiday and Blakeney all got away with more throws, but none of them found their goal and Indiana got away with a black eye.
Topscorer of the game was Victor Oladipo with 25 points and 14 rebounds, Myles Turner with 18 points and 6 blocks. In the Bulls, Blakeney was the best man with 22 bench points, LaVine 20 and Holiday 19.
The initial euphoria in Dallas has slowly vanished, at the latest after this game: Dallas had already suffered his sixth defeat in a row at home against the not exactly high-calibre New Yorkers and, above all, defensively did not paint a good picture again. The Knicks scored 33 points in the first and third quarters – the third quarter then also brought the decision. Dallas himself only scored 18 points and followed a gap that the Mavs couldn’t make up.
The young players of the Mavs could at least partially convince: Dennis Smith scored 23 points, but also 6 turnovers, Luka Doncic delivered 18 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists, Dorian Finney-Smith convinced with 19 points from the bench. From the veterans, however, came little, just Harrison Barnes struggled with his litter (4/14 FG). Maxi Kleber was in 13 minutes from the bench with 9 points (4/7 FG) and 3 rebounds still a bright spot.
In the Knicks this role was mainly played by Allonzo Trier – the undrafted rookie, who is employed by the Knicks on a two-way contract, had 23 points (8/10 FG) from the bench to make various teams look bad, who had waived him in the draft. Otherwise, the Knicks bribed by depth: Six other players landed in Double Figures, rookie Mitchell Robinson came to 13 points and 10 assists.
But the Mavs also made it too easy for their guests. “Questions about the offense are insignificant to me at the moment. I’m about the defense. We have already allowed 55 percent shooting again, that happens far too often. That way it won’t work and we know that we can do it better,” coach Rick Carlisle analyzed.
Page 1: Mavericks cash home bankruptcy against the Knicks
Page 2: Golden State Warriors celebrate seventh victory in a row