Now without CJ McCollum, traded to New Orleans, and still deprived of Damian Lillard (abdominals), Portland was able to count on the contribution and energy of his replacements. Faced with apathetic Lakers in defense, Keljin Blevins (26), Lillard’s cousin, scored two award-winning shots to put the Blazers back in the lead at the start of the last quarter (82-78, 37th).
Tag:
Basket
Dennis Schröder signs for a season with the Boston Celtics
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Dennis Schröder announced it on his Instagram account: for the 2021-2022 season, he will wear the Boston Celtics jersey. The 27-year-old point guard, who spent a year at the Los Angeles Lakers, was free from any contract.
According to ESPN, he has just signed a contract in Boston for 5.9 million dollars (regarding 5 M€), well below what the Lakers offered him. Also according to the American sports media, the player had indeed refused during the season an extension of 80 million dollars (around 68 M €) over four years in Los Angeles, to hope to get a better offer during transfers.
“It’s one of the best franchises in NBA history and it will be an honor for me to wear the green and white jersey to do what I love. I will give my all in every game for this city.”, promised Schröder on his social network.
Last season, Schröder scored 15.4 points per game in the jersey of the Lakers, crowned in the summer of 2020 before his arrival, but eliminated in the first round of the 2021 play-offs by the Phoenix Suns. The German arrives in a team where the position of leader was vacant, following the departure of Kemba Walker to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the former club of Schröder.
NBA: Phoenix dominates San Antonio and sends Monty Williams to the All-Star Game, Minnesota sinks Utah
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
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 once morest 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 following 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 once morest 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) following 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 once morest 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 once more », assured Doncic following the defeat.
Los Angeles Clippers beat Utah Jazz to advance to Conference Finals
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the Utah Jazz (131-119) on Friday, following trailing 22 points at the break (72-50). By four wins to two, the Californians edged out the best team in the regular season and advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time in club history.
Four straight wins once morest Utah
In more ways than one, it is a real feat achieved by the Clippers who are certainly still far from a first NBA championship title, but who broke a spell, they who had attached a sign to their backs for a long time of losers, by dint of making ambition rhyme with disappointment in the play-offs.
Mann flies with 39 points
And, like the previous game at the Jazz, the Clippers played Friday’s game without their best player, Kawhi Leonard, injured in his right knee and whose absence is indefinite. This tour de force was notably due to Terance Mann (24), established for the occasion and who walked on the water with 39 points (15/21 in shooting including 7/10 at three points).
The back of the Clippers was the executioner of the Jazz, who had nevertheless started the meeting well and therefore clearly led at the break, in the wake of a Donovan Mitchell, overmotivated and very effective, since he also scored 39 points , thanks in particular to a 9/15 behind the arc.
Batum takes part in the qualification
But the Clippers were able to react with tenfold pride and inflicted a 41-22 on their opponent in the third quarter, before driving the point home in the last 12 minutes (40-25), finding in Paul George (29 points ) and Reggie Jackson (28 pts) decisive offensive weapons. Nicolas Batum also contributed to the victory and the qualification of his team, scoring 16 points and taking seven rebounds.
Opposite, apart from Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson and Royce O’Neale brought 21 points each, but it took more to snatch a seventh game. Rudy Gobert, for his part, scored 12 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. He will have to wait at least one more season before experiencing a conference final in his NBA career.