Performances: Stratospheric Devin Booker and Jayson Tatum
Devin Booker scored 51 points in just three quarters against the Bulls, allowing the Phoenix Suns to win on his floor for the twelfth time out of thirteen (132-113). The fullback scored 25 points in the first half and 26 in the third quarter alone.
Even more remarkable than his point total, Booker impressed with his skill. He indeed shot 20 of 25 attempts, including six baskets on seven long distance. He is the second player in the past 25 years to reach the 50-point mark on 80% shooting in the first three quarters of a game, joining James Harden in 2017. It was the second consecutive all-doubles game. star at least 40 points. When his team won Monday in Sacramento, Booker had scored 44. With this fifteenth victory for six losses, the Suns climbed to first place in the west.
The Bulls never really existed in this game despite DeMar DeRozan’s 29 points and Zach LaVine’s 21.
In Boston, the remake of the Eastern Conference final in 2020 between the Celtics and the Miami Heat (2-4) turned to the advantage of the Massachusetts franchise (134-121). If all eyes were on the Prince and Princess of Wales sitting pitchside at TD Garden, it was Jayson Tatum the reigning prince tonight. The Celtics winger delivered an XXL performance with 49 points scored (11 rebounds) including eight baskets out of twelve three-pointers, becoming the youngest player in history to reach the bar of 900 career three-pointers.
Thanks to this card, the third with at least 40 points this season, the candidate for the title of MVP allows the best team in the league (18 wins for 4 losses) to ensure a fifth victory in a row, the fourteenth out of fifteen last matches.
Opposite, the Heat’s top scorers are Bam Adebayo (23 points), Max Strus (23 points including five three-pointers) and Tyler Herro (22 points, nine assists). With this defeat, Miami sees the end of a series of three consecutive victories.
Brooklyn in the positive for the first time this season
After 45 units against Orlando on Monday, Kevin Durant split 39 points last night against the Washington Wizards of Kristaps Porzingis (27 points, 19 rebounds), allowing the Brooklyn Nets to sign a third victory in a row. For the first time this season, the New York State franchise goes to a positive record of 12 wins for 11 losses. The Nets led by only three points at the start of the fourth quarter before inflicting an 11-5 on the Wizards. While Durant rested on the bench, Kyrie Irving took over, scoring 15 of his 27 points in the final quarter.
Washington has lost both games against the Nets this season in which Kevin Durant is averaging 33.4 points.
Utah ends five-game losing streak against Los Angeles Clippers
Thanks to 33 points and five assists from Jordan Clarkson, Utah recovers on its floor against the Clippers on a road trip. Rudy Gobert’s former franchise was also able to count on Collin Sexton’s 21 points, six rebounds and six assists and Lauri Markkanen’s 23 points and nine rebounds, ending five straight losses.
Despite a strong second quarter from the Californians who led 12-0, Utah regained the lead for good after the break, going 22-6 on the return from the locker room to the Clippers.
John Wall signed his best performance of the season with 26 points off the bench. On the French side, Nicolas Batum scored eight points two out of three behind the arc in 22 minutes, while Moussa Diabaté continues to show with 11 points in 16 minutes.