NBA – The Clippers celebrate the return of Kawhi Leonard by pushing the Lakers, the Sixers to the mat

The game: The Clippers win the Los Angeles Derby

The Clippers got scared. In control following returning from the locker room, they conceded a 12-2 to let the Lakers go back in front at the start of the fourth quarter. But they still found the resources to win and thus start their season with a victory. A successful first outing for Kawhi Leonard and his teammates. The All-Star winger celebrated his return to competition following more than a year away. Coming off the bench, he scored 14 points including 6 at the end of the game to ensure the success of his team.

The Lakers were more solid in Game 2 following their season-opening loss to the Warriors on Tuesday night. They defended better. But their first weakness remains the same as in the first game: they are unable to put in outside shots, even wide open. Reggie Jackson and Luke Kennard each put in a long shot just following the purples and golds regained the lead.

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For their part, the players of Darvin Ham missed their 8 attempts behind the arc in the money time. And so they let their rivals slip away to victory. They finished 9 of 45 from three-pointers in that game. Bonnie Walker IV was one of the satisfactions of the evening with 26 points on the clock. A length longer than Anthony Davis. LeBron James scored 20 points. The Clippers showed off their squad depth with 6 players at more than 10 points including 15 for John Wall.

The player: Giannis Antetokounmpo already well-legged

It was without Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton that the Bucks started the season last night. Enough to put even more pressure on Giannis Antetokounmpo. But the superstar did not disappoint his family. As always or almost. His 21 points, 13 rebounds, 8 assists and 3 blocks allowed Milwaukee to narrowly win once morest Philadelphia (90-88). The double MVP, boiling from the start, put his team on the right track by scoring 10 points without missing a single shot (4 of 4) during a first quarter controlled by the Wisconsin franchise (30-24) .

The Sixers came back to score despite a well-muzzled Joel Embiid (15 points to 6 of 21, 4 stray bullets). Already author of 35 points in the first game of the season on Tuesday, James Harden came close to a triple-double by finishing with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists. He notably planted 16 points in the last 12 minutes to put Philadelphia back in control of the game. Moment chosen by Wesley Matthews to stun the Sixers with a decisive three-pointer 23 seconds from the siren. A long shot that restored the advantage to the Bucks, this time for good.

“If the ball lands in Wes’s hands, you’re pretty sure he’s going to put it.“Notes Brook Lopez. Harden had the opportunity to respond to Matthews and win his own but he missed his last attempt. Philadelphia therefore lost for the second time in two games once morest a direct competitor in the East .

The French: Nicolas Batum discreet

Aligned for only 10 minutes, Nicolas Batum did not take a single shot. He finished with 0 points. However, he grabbed 5 rebounds.

The image: Patrick Beverley promises the playoffs to Lakers fans

The kind of sequence that can quickly become a running gag and turn once morest Beverley in a few months. Because in the game, the Lakers are still far from being a serious candidate for the playoffs.