The first: the Suns send Williams to the All-Star Game
After the captains and the other holders, we now know the name of one of the two coaches of the teams for the next All-Star Game, on February 20 in Cleveland. Phoenix’s victory against San Antonio on Sunday night (115-110) ensured Monty Williams, the Suns coach, a place on the bench for Team LeBron.
With 40 wins in 49 games, Chris Paul’s teammates (20 points, 19 assists on Sunday) can no longer be caught by Golden State by February 6, when the names of the two All-Star coaches will be officially announced (those having the best record in each Conference). ” I am aware of all the sacrifices made for me to be in this position, it was a collective effort », reacted Williams after the win over Spurs.
La perf : Karl-Anthony Towns en triple-double
Without Rudy Gobert (calf) and Donovan Mitchell (concussion protocol), Utah, which also lost Joe Ingles during the game (serious injury to the left knee), is in freefall in the Western Conference. Sunday evening, the Jazz conceded their fifth consecutive defeat on the floor of Minnesota (106-126) and the absence of the French pivot weighed heavily when facing Karl-Anthony Towns. The Wolves interior signed its second career triple-double (31 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), the first since 2016. A prize-winning shot from Jordan McLaughlin on a Towns pass late in the fourth quarter validated the triple-double of the pivot. Minnesota is eighth in the West, ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers.
The duel of the rookies: Cunningham winner against Mobley
After three and a half months of regular season, the title of rookie of the year should be played between Evan Mobley (Cleveland), favorite, and Cade Cunningham (Detroit). The two young players were opposed on Sunday evening and Cunningham emerged victorious from the duel (115-105), notably signing a decisive long-distance shot with 90 seconds to play at the end of the match. The number 1 of the 2021 draft finished in triple double (19 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists) after being held at 0 points in the first half. Mobley scored 18 points and grabbed 9 rebounds for Cleveland.
Declared: “I’m not going to shoot over two players if someone else is unmarked”
Since joining the NBA in 2018, Luka Doncic has been one of the newest superstars in the North American league. But the Slovenian is no less altruistic. Sunday night against Orlando (108-110), the leader of Dallas had the opportunity to equalize or win the match at the buzzer.
Pressed by two Magic defenders, and rather than forcing individual action, Doncic chose to out the ball for Reggie Bullock, who shifted Maxi Kleber, unmarked behind the three-point line. But the German’s shot ricocheted off the circle and Orlando won. ” I’m not going to shoot over two players if someone else is unmarked. I think it was the right choice and I will do the same again », assured Doncic after the defeat.