NBA: Game Winner No.2! Butler rescues the Sixers again

The Philadelphia 76ers have brought in Jimmy Butler – for the second time since his trade the All-Star decided a game by game winner. In addition: There is a new leader in the Western Conference, and Kawhi Leonard celebrates a curious premiere.

The pistons still have some problems with early games. As has been the case with lunchtime games this season, Detroit started at home against the Suns with little esprit, much to the surprise of coach Dwane Casey: “We have to drink some coffee in the morning to wake up earlier,” said the Coach of the Year. “Wake up a little early, do a 6:00 shootaround, something to get us off to a better start.”

For three quarters the match against Phoenix was completely balanced, but the slow start didn’t pay off for Detroit, because in the end their class prevailed: With a 15:3 run the Pistons took off in the last quarter thanks to three from Langston Galloway, Reggie Jackson Stanley Johnson and didn’t look back anymore.

The hosts did not rely on a gala performance of Blake Griffin this time, the Power Forward came on 16 points and 11 assists and was therefore only one of six players in Double Figures; top scorers were Jackson and Andre Drummond (16 rebounds) with 19 points each.

The best scorer in the match was Devin Booker with 37 points, although he remained invisible for a long time in the second half. No.1-Pick Deandre Ayton scored 25 points (11/13 FG) and 13 rebounds. However, the Suns have only won one of their ten away games so far.

It was only the fourth game for John Collins this season after injury, but the Big Man was able to impressively show against Charlotte why he is considered to be the hopeful in Atlanta next to Trae Young: He not only showed his class with 23 points and 11 rebounds, but he also delivered the decisive play at the defensive end. Shortly before the clock ran out, he blocked Kemba Walker at his potential game winner.

“We knew he’d go right and probably try a step-back,” Collins said. “He chose the floater, and I timed the block perfectly.” There was not much to add. Thanks to Collins’ action, the Hawks were finally able to declare their defeat series of ten games over.

The final phase of the event was the same as Walker’s used evening. The second best scorer of the current season came to 22 points and brought Charlotte 48.2 seconds before the end with 1 point in the lead, but in the next attack he lost the ball and hit only 7/23 FG in total. 4.6 seconds before the end it was Kent Bazemore (20 points) who took Atlanta into the lead with a layup.

In addition to the veteran and Collins, Deandre Bembry and Taurean Prince were the most popular Hawks with 16 points each, Young scored 18, but only six of his 18 litters. Malik Monk was the best man in the Hornets, who ran without Tony Parker, Bismack Biyombo and Willy Hernangomez, with 26 points from the bench. Marvin Williams scored 20 points.

It was precisely for these situations that the Sixers set up the trade for Jimmy Butler. For the second time since the deal, the Swingman made the decision for his new team – even if he played it down afterwards: “To be honest, anyone could have made this throw,” said Butler. “They have a lot of faith in me, but I have even more faith in them. They brought us back into the game in the first place.”

Indeed, the Sixers struggled over three quarters enormously with the Nets and were at times even with 20 points behind. But the final phase belonged to the guests – above all Butler (34 points, 12 rebounds) and Joel Embiid (32 and 12) could not be controlled in the last quarter. A jumper from Spencer Dinwiddie brought Brooklyn into the front again 26.8 seconds before the end, but only with one point. Then followed the performance of Butler.

Similar to Charlotte, the All-Star dribbled the ball onto the right wing and climbed up to the stepback trio, which flew through the cage at 2.3 seconds on the clock. Brooklyn couldn’t get rid of a throw because Ben Simmons intercepted a pass from DeMarre Carroll. It was the fifth victory in the sixth game for the Sixers, even if they had to fight for it for a long time – and Butler was not only elementary thanks to his trio: “The TVs will show the throw, but I hope they also show that he is a few seconds more on the ground to secure a Loose ball,” commented coach Brett Brown.

Four players scored double digits alongside Embiid and Butler, with Rookie Landry Shamet attracting attention with 16 points from the bench. In the Nets, the two Guards D’Angelo Russell (38 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists) and Dinwiddie (31) played great games, but both could not prevent the third defeat in a row.

Page 1: Game Winner No.2! Butler rescues the Sixers again

Page 2: Knicks shock Memphis – Clippers at the top!