The last championship runner-up ran on diesel in the under-ranked Hornets, whose lead peaked at 16 units in the second quarter.
Tatum had to move up a gear in the 3rd quarter to put the C’s back on track, scoring 17 of his 33 points (9 rebounds, 6 assists).
The winger, orphan of the other star Jaylen Brown, affected in the adductors, was able to count on the precious support of Malcolm Brogdon (30 pts) and the warrior Marcus Smart (13 pts, 12 assists).
On the Hornets side, only LaMelo Ball survived (31 pts, 9 assists).
Boston is doing an even better operation, as Milwaukee, still deprived of Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee), conceded a second consecutive defeat, in “back-to-back”, in Miami (111-95).
Like 48 hours earlier, the Heat were carried by the excellent address of Gabe Vincent, author of 27 points (11/14 on shots) including 21 in the first period, during which he planted his five banderillas in seven attempts.
The back, who was also a poison in defense, with five interceptions, was a little less present during the second act, Bam Adebayo (20 pts, 13 rebounds), Victor Oladipo (20 pts, 5 assists) and Jimmy Butler (16 pts) taking over for Miami, which climbs to 7th place thanks to this third success in a row.
Decisive Embiid
Lack of offensive impact and presence on the rebound (the Floridians captured 51 against 32): the “Giannis-dependence” of Milwaukee was once again felt.
Despite this setback, the Bucks retain their 3rd place in the East, ahead of Philadelphia, which snatched a success (118-117) from Utah, thanks to Joel Embiid. The pivot scored the winning basket five seconds from the buzzer, to total 30 points, one less than James Harden (11 assists) also decisive.
Cleveland (5th) for its part lost to Minnesota (110-102), where the expected and quite warm reunion between the two former Jazz stars, Donovan Mitchell who left for the Cavs and Rudy Gobert now with the Timberwolves, have turned short.
The second was indeed injured in the right groin and did not play the second period. The first, hardly in verve, was satisfied with 14 points.
It was in the last quarter that Minnesota forced the decision (33-22), in the wake of Anthony Edwards (26 pts), the bench players having been dominant with a contribution of 56 points. Here are the Wolves who are recovering in 6th place in the West.
In the heights of this conference stands Memphis, like Ja Morant who often succeeds in defying the laws of weightlessness.
The young star (23 pts), who could power the Top 10 on his own with his spectacular dunks, crushed a terrible one on Indiana player Jalen Smith, showing impressive elasticity in the air to avoid the against, after a cross dribble that had mystified another opponent.
At that time, the Grizzlies, also carried by Desmond Bane (25 pts), led by twenty points in this third quarter, and therefore had already won the match against the Pacers. The ninth in a row.