THE PRE-MATCH
The Houston Rockets’ defense will be put to the test tonight against the Los Angeles Lakers starting at 9 p.m. on RDS2 and RDS Direct.
The Rockets suffered their first loss in three games since resuming activity, losing 110-102 to the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
They won’t have to face LeBron James, however, who has a groin injury.
James, 35, was on the flank for a long time last season with pain there, which also caused him to miss a game in the current year in December.
His withdrawal for the duel against the Rockets is not problematic for the Lakers, already guaranteed to be seeded No. 1 in the West, in the playoffs to start on August 17, and whose remaining regular season games do not. present no particular issue.
The substitute back Alex Caruso, embarrassed by pain in the neck, is uncertain. Team other star Anthony Davis (ankle), along with Markieff Morris (hip), Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (ribs) and Dwight Howard (knee) should be up and running despite some pain.
Side Rockets, uncertainty hangs around Russell Westbrook, embarrassed by a pain in a quadriceps.
Houston, 6th in the West, “will not take any risks” with its star player, told the media his coach Mike D’Antoni, who is still waiting to see how he will feel just before the meeting.
“He thinks it’s not much, but you have to be sure that he is 100% to play,” he concluded.
The Lakers lost in their first game to the Toronto Raptors, before rebounding against the Utah Jazz. The California club then lost to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night.
The Bucks guaranteed to finish first
The Bucks, carried by the 66 points of the duo Giannis Antetokounmpo / Khris Middleton, reversed a compromised situation to defeat Miami 130-116, thus ensuring to finish in first place in the Eastern Conference.
Like last season, the Wisconsin team will be seeded No. 1 in the playoffs. A status which will have to be doubled this time by an accession to the finals, in order to indicate a progression, even if Toronto, the defending champion and his runner-up in the East, will be its most serious rival.
In the meantime, the Bucks have taken the best of the Heat (4th), one of the underestimated not to be underestimated and that he could find in the association semifinals, which however had up to 23 points in advance, despite the absences of Jimmy Butler (ankle) and Goran Dragic (foot).
Antetokounmpo and Middleton sparked a revolt in the second half, each scoring 33 points and contributing to the 18-0 inflicted on Miami in the money-time.
If the offensive potential of the Bucks was verified again at the best time, it was the tight defense shown by his players that pleased coach Mike Budenholzer.
“Overall our attention to detail in this industry was better,” he praised.
The Suns keep winning
Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds as the Phoenix Suns kept a record intact in the NBA bubble, winning 114-99 over the Indiana Pacers.
Undefeated in four outings at Disney, the Suns (30-39) are two games away from the Memphis Grizzlies (32-37), eighth-ranked holders in the West.
Between these two clubs are the Portland Trail Blazers (31-38).
If Team 8 has four games or less of cushion, at the end of the ranking matches, they will have to do battle with Team 9. The eighth-ranked team would seal a playoff spot with a gain; for the ninth-place team, it would take two in two games.
Devin Booker had 20 points and 10 assists, while Cameron Johnson provided 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Phoenix took control with 21 straight points, straddling the third and fourth quarters.
The Suns’ next game is on Saturday night against Miami, shortly after a Clippers – Blazers game. On Friday, there will be Memphis against the Thunder in particular.
Elsewhere in the NBA:
Pelicans 125 – Kings 140
NOP: Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram each scored 24 points
SAC: 35 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for Bogdan Bogdanovic
Clippers 126 – Mavericks 111
LAC: 29 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists for Kawhi Leonard
DAL: Kristaps Porzingis and Luka Donic amassed 30 and 29 points respectively
Trail Blazers – Nuggets
BY :
THE :
–
