Without their leader Chris Paul, absent for at least six weeks due to a thumb injury, the end of matches are more difficult to manage for the Suns, when the score is tight.
Illustration with winger Jay Crowder (16 pts), who, after bringing his own to three units (117-114) then grabbed a rebound on the next action, panicked and sent the ball into touch, two seconds from the term, to the chagrin of Devin Booker, very active (30 pts, 7 rebounds, 7 assists).
Mitchell (26 pts) was the top scorer for Utah, which remains 4th after this eighth success in nine games, impeccably supported by Jordan Clarkson (22 pts).
As for Gobert, he fought a big battle inside (16 pts, 14 rbds, 3 blocks) against DeAndre Ayton (23 pts, 7 rbds), when Crowder did not strike him a bad blow on the neck.
“We have so much talent, it’s hard to make us lose when we play like that,” commented the French pivot.
Do not panic among the Suns, solid leaders in the West, since they retain the same lead over their dolphin Golden State, defeated at home (107-101) by Dallas (5th).
The Warriors can blame themselves. Controlling the game for three quarters, in the wake of Stephen Curry (27 pts, 10 assists), they led by 21 points, before squandering this advantage in the last twelve minutes.
“What to do ?”
Luka Doncic was decisive (34 pts, 11 rebounds), well supported by Spencer Dinwiddie (24 pts) who put the Mavs in front of the score for the first time in the match, three minutes from time.
In 8th place remain the Clippers, who won a 3rd very close victory in a row in Houston (99-98), relying on Reggie Jackson (26 pts).
In the East, the Joel Embiid/James Harden duo, very complementary, allowed Philadelphia to hang a third success in a row on the New York floor (125-109).
If the Cameroonian pivot was dominant inside (37 pts, 9 rbds, 4 counters), “The Beard” (the bearded man) split him with a triple-double (29 pts, 16 assists, 10 rbds ), also defending very well (5 interceptions).
“We can’t be stopped. What to do? James is a great passer and obviously I also monopolize a lot of attention. So you have to choose, stay on me or on him. And if we are contained, we have team-mates who will be free with open shots,” Embiid said.
The threat they represent offensively has been such that the Knicks have often failed to send them to free throws. Bad idea, because Embiid finished with a 23/27 and Harden with a 10/10. The Sixers, who also relied on Tyrese Maxey (21 pts), scored a total of 39 free throws, the biggest total of the season.
Opposite, Evan Fournier has long been the embodiment of New York resistance (24 pts), showing skill behind the arc (6/11), but without weighing in a money-time controlled by Philly.
The Sixers consolidate their 3rd place. The Knicks, after this 5th setback in a row, remain stuck in 12th position ahead of Indiana who beat (128-107) Boston (6th).
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