Philadelphia’s Cameroonian pivot Joël Embiid, crowned best NBA player last year, achieved the 6th triple double of his career to lead his team on Monday to a crushing 138-94 home victory against LeBron James’ Lakers.
“We just try to play winning basketball. When my teammates are unmarked, I make sure they have easy shots, it makes the game easier for me too,” commented Embiid after the Sixers victory, author of 30 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists. Alongside him, Tyrese Maxey scored 31 points. For the Lakers, James (18 points, 5 assists) and Anthony Davis (17 points, 11 rebounds) were more discreet. LeBron James also had a contrasting evening, becoming the NBA player with the most minutes played in history (66,298) while suffering the worst defeat of his career (44 points difference).
In the low-ranked duel between Washington and Detroit, two teams with 2 wins and 14 losses before facing each other, it was the Wizards of the American federal capital who won 126-107, thanks in particular to Kyle Kuzma (32 points, 12 rebounds, 8 assists). With this setback, the Pistons continue their series of 14 consecutive defeats, the worst in the NBA ahead of that of Victor Wembanyama’s Spurs (12 defeats in a row).
With their B team, the Nuggets, reigning champions, won 113-104 in Los Angeles against the Clippers. Without their Serbian pivot Nikola Jokic nor the interior Aaron Gordon, both slightly affected and left to rest, and still deprived of Jamal Murray, injured in the hamstring, Denver was notably able to count on the leader Reggie Jackson (35 points, 13 assists) and veteran interior DeAndre Jordan (21 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists).
In Indianapolis, Tyrese Halliburton’s Pacers (33 points, 9 assists) were surprised by Portland 114-110, carried by three players with more than 20 points (including Jerami Grant, 34 points). The Trail Blazers had won only one of their last 10 games before this meeting.
In the last game of the evening, Utah won 114-112 at home against the New Orleans Pelicans, including 19 points from their rookie leader Keyonte George.