Damian Lillard, the leader of the Portland Trail Blazers, and the Atlanta Hawks were very visible Sunday, in an evening tinged with emotions, following the sudden disappearance of Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash, at 41. Lillard was the most prolific scorer of the NBA day, with 50 points (14/23 shoots including 8/12 three points) in his team’s victory over the Indiana Pacers (139-129). The Portland player even signed a double-double, as he also distributed 13 assists.
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CJ McCollum also stood out among the Blazers with 28 points. On the Pacers’ side, Jeremy Lamb (28 pts) and Domantas Sabonis (27) were the most productive. The latter even managed a triple-double, with 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Indiana ran behind the score in the first quarter (36-27) and could never come back, even being twenty points behind (100-80, 32nd) in the third quarter.
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The Atlanta Hawks, the last in the Eastern Conference, have let themselves go against the Washington Wizards (152-133), another poorly ranked team in the East (11th). At the break, Atlanta was already leading 78-72. The Hawks escaped in the third quarter, after passing a 41-30 to their opponent, and Washington was unable to come back. Trae Young shone through the Atlanta ranks, with 45 points and 14 assists. Among the Wizards, Bradley Beal was the best performer (40 points). Ian Mahinmi, he played 15 minutes, for eight points, three rebounds and one assist.
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Four other French people played on Sunday. Frank Ntilikina (New York) and Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot (Brooklyn) were opponents. The first scored 11 points (plus three rebounds and two assists) in 18 minutes. The second was satisfied with three minutes of play, scoring three points. It was the New York Knicks, who won (110-97).
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Evan Fournier scored 11 points with the Orlando Magic, but his team lost at home to the Los Angeles Clippers (112-97). Kawhi Leonard shone with the LA franchise (31 points, 14 rebounds). Finally, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns (114-109), despite Devin Booker’s 36 points. Elie Okobo played seven minutes without registering a point and taking a rebound.
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