NBA 2024: Denver Champions vs Boston, Booker's big performance, and Haslem's jersey retirement

2024-01-20 07:38:00

The match: Denver champions against Boston

It was the most anticipated match of the start of 2024 in the big league. Reigning champion, Denver traveled to TD Garden to challenge Boston, a serious contender for the Larry O’Brien Trophy next June. Undefeated at home this season with 20 victories in as many outings, the Celtics this time suffered the law of the reigning champions (102-100). Jamal Murray (35 points, 15/21 shooting) and Nikola Jokic (34 points, 12 rebounds, 9 assists) were once again the big men of the Colorado franchise.

“During the regular season we have to find motivation levers for the team, the fact that they had not yet lost at home really motivated us,” said the leader after the game. On the Cs side, this setback sounds like a little reminder. In delicacy behind the arc (1/8), Jayson Tatum sounded the revolt of his team in the last quarter (22 points), well supported by Derrick White who is always as reliable on both sides of the field (24 points). In vain. One thing remains certain: Denver and Boston have laid the foundations for what could be a great series in the NBA Finals in a few months.

The player: It was big, very big Booker

The Phoenix Suns are doing better and it shows. After going through a very bad spiral around the end of year holidays, the Arizonians seem to have found the right formula for four matches. Devin Booker found his formal clothes during his team’s authoritarian success against the New Orleans Pelicans, one of his favorite victims this season (123-109).

Incandescent from the first quarter with 25 points at 82% shooting, the rear continued its demolition operation to blacken the stats sheet brilliantly. Upon arrival, the number 1 of the Suns concluded his recital with 52 points at 18/30 shooting, 6/11 at three points. This is the sixth time that the former Kentucky player has scored more than 50 points in a match for his team. “He is merciless…”, said his coach Frank Vogel in a post-match press conference.

Emotion: Haslem’s jersey on the ceiling in Miami

Evening full of emotion in Florida. Legend of the Heat where he spent more than twenty seasons and won three titles, second most used player in the franchise, ultimate soldier of the Erik Spoelstra era, Udonis Haslem saw his jersey retired by the Floridians this Friday evening. The number 40 joined Chris Bosh’s 1, Dwyane Wade’s 3, Tim Hardaway’s 10, Shaquille O’Neal’s 32, Alonzo Mourning’s 33 and even the 23 removed in tribute to Michael Jordan.

There were many people attending the celebration for Mister 305. Alonzo Mourning, Goran Dragic and Mario Chalmers notably made the trip. Now vice-president of the Heat, UD did not experience the perfect evening from start to finish since Bam Adebayo’s gang lost by a small point against the Hawks despite the 25 personal units of Tyler Herro and Jimmy Butler ( 109-108).

The false start: unfortunate first for Siakam

The grand final, Indiana has dreamed of it since 2000 and the Reggie Miller era, and hopes to get closer with the arrival of Pascal Siakam. Two days after the announcement of his transfer from Toronto, the Cameroonian interior made his debut with the Pacers in Portland (118-115 defeat). He was even able to debut his new star duo with leader Tyrese Haliburton (21 points), back on the court after missing five games due to a hamstring injury.

A little lost in defense and author of an offensive foul for his first strong action, Siakam quickly found the target and scored his first basket in yellow with less than 3 minutes of play, before continuing from afar, for a total of 21 points too.