Despite 35 pts from Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves, leaders of the Western Conference, fell Monday evening in New York (112-106), where the British OG Anunoby was rather prominent for his first match with the Knicks ( 17 pts, 6 rebounds).
Transferred from Toronto, Anunoby arrived in New York only on Sunday evening, less than 24 hours before the match. “Even during the match, (my teammates) were telling me ‘go here, do this’,” admitted the 26-year-old Briton. “They helped me a lot, I’m grateful to them.” The top scorer of the evening, however, was his teammate Julius Randle, with 39 points.
Anunoby’s debut pushed Evan Fournier to the bench. Opposite, Rudy Gobert was helpless against the Knicks despite his double-double: 15 rebounds (the best total of the match) and 10 points but with a pitiful 3 out of 8.
Fifth success in six matches for the Utah Jazz at home against Dallas, thanks in particular to a triple double from Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench (20 pts, 10 rebounds and 11 assists).
The score, 127-90, testifies to the domination of Jazz against the Mavericks of Luka Doncic, who remained within the limits of his talent (19 pts, 14 assists).
The Detroit Pistons, who ended a series of 28 consecutive defeats on December 31 by beating Toronto, did not bounce back from this success on Monday in Houston, where they logically lost 136-113.
Last in the Eastern Conference, with three wins for 30 losses, the Pistons are doing even worse than the Wembanyama Spurs, in the Western Conference, who also occupy last place with five wins for 27 losses.
Denver, the reigning NBA champion, quietly dominated Charlotte 111-93 to hang on to third place in the Western Conference, with 24 wins like Minnesota, but three more losses.
Jamal Murray was the Nuggets’ top scorer (25 pts), ahead of Michael Porter (22 pts). Nikola Jokic, the Serbian twice crowned MVP of the season in the NBA, was satisfied with 13 pts and 11 rebounds.
Pascal Siakam carried the Toronto Raptors by passing 36 points to the visitors from Cleveland, to snatch a difficult victory 124-121.
The Cameroonian, in great form at the turn of the year, had already scored 35 points against Detroit on December 31. Toronto, however, remains in 12th position in the Western Conference.
The 30 points, 18 rebounds and 11 assists of Milwaukee Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo were not enough. The Bucks lost in their home arena against the Indiana Pacers 122-113.
Among the winners of the evening, Tyrese Haliburton was the most prominent man. The 23-year-old point guard came within a hair’s breadth of a triple-double, with 26 pts, 11 assists and nine rebounds.
The Bucks remain second in the Eastern Conference, still two victories behind leader Boston.
Monday’s games: LA Clippers – Miami 121 – 104Toronto – Cleveland 124 – 121Phoenix – Portland 109 – 88Denver – Charlotte 111 – 93Utah – Dallas 127 – 90Houston – Detroit 136 – 113Milwaukee – Indiana 113 – 122New York – Minnesota 112 –
