The Dallas Mavericks conceded the next defeat at the Indiana Pacers because nothing went from the triple line. Giannis Antetokounmpo ends the Houston Rockets’ winning streak single-handedly, and the door and gates are open to madness in Charlotte.
Charlotte Hornets (15-13) – Sacramento Kings (11-15) 124:123 (BOXSCORE)
- Hornets games remain a roller coaster ride, and the Sacramento Kings guest appearance was no exception. Cody Martin walked between genius and madness, the forward hit a threesome in the last minute and sank the crucial point from the free throw line 5.5 seconds before the end (a possible three-point game was taken away after challenge).
- Sacramento had no time out and Martin actually fouled De’Aaron Fox with a take foul on the center line, leaving the Kings star to march to the line with a chance of victory. Fox, previously the Kings best scorer with 31 points and safe on the free-throw line (8/8 FT), showed nerves and forgave both attempts, the Hornets could hardly believe their luck themselves.
- The Hornets again acted with a rump group, with LaMelo Ball, Terry Rozier and Mason Plumlee there are another three starters in the corona protocol. Charlotte caught this collectively, five players scored at least 19 points, with rookie James Bouknight (24, 9/14 FG) setting a new personal record with six converted three-pointers.
- Defense was hardly played in this game, both teams could never break away. Miles Bridges (23, 8 assists) and Kelly Oubre Jr. (22, 4/10 threesomes) again provided some highlights, on the part of the Kings Terence Davis (19) was responsible. Marvin Bagley (15, 10 rebounds) played a double-double coming from the bench.
Indiana Pacers (12-16) – Dallas Mavericks (12-13) 106:93 (BOXSCORE)
- The Dallas Mavericks stay ice cold from a distance and that was (again) doom for the team of coach Jason Kidd in Indiana. The guests from Texas ended the game with a catastrophic three-man quota of 13.8 percent (4/29) and are the only team this season that has already stayed three times below 20 percent from downtown.
- Ex-Mavs coach Rick Carlisle’s reunion with Dallas was canceled, the 62-year-old tested positive after the game against the New York Knicks and was represented on the sidelines by Lloyd Pierce against the Mavs. He saw the hosts pull away in the fourth quarter. Three pointers from Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert made it 104: 93 just two minutes before the end, which was the preliminary decision.
- LeVert was also the top scorer of the Pacers with 26 points, in the first three quarters mainly Domantas Sabonis (22, 9/13 FG, 9 rebounds, 7 assists) had produced. The hosts’ bank also played an important role in the win, with Oshae Brissett and Kelan Martin standing out with their hustle. This group provided numerous offensive rebounds, second chances (19 counters in total) and a 12-0 run at the end of the third quarter.
- At the Mavs, Luka Doncic scratched a triple-double with 27 points (11/25 FG, 1/8 threesome), 9 rebounds and 9 assists, but fell again in the third quarter. The Slovenian bit his teeth, but was not able to put the stamp on the game afterwards. Kristaps Porzingis (22) had good phases, the same applied to the two bench players Tim Hardaway Jr. (15, but 1/9 threesome) and Jalen Brunson (14, 7 rebounds). Maxi Kleber (2, 0/3, 2 rebounds) stayed completely pale in 13 minutes.
Atlanta Hawks (13-13) – Brooklyn Nets (18-8) 105:113 (BOXSCORE)
- After the slip in Houston, the Nets are back on track and that was mainly thanks to a strong final quarter, in which Brooklyn kept the hosts at just 14 points. Kevin Durant did the rest at the front, the forward scored 31 points (12/22 FG, 6 assists, 3 blocks) in 38 minutes and hit once again with great confidence from the middle distance.
- Durant also knew how to convince in defense, but the decisive factor were the minutes of Nic Claxton (4, 4 rebounds), who was able to break the rhythm of the Hawks with his energy. Before that it was Bruce Brown (15) who could annoy Trae Young every now and then. The star of the Hawks put on 31 points and 10 assists, but also needed 27 attempts.
- The problem for the Hawks was the bank, which has been thinned out by the many failures (De’Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Onyeka Okongwu). Only Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari (13) scored a field goal, while returnees Cam Reddish (0/6) and Timothee Luwawu-Cabarrot (0/8) scored nothing. TLC was also overwhelmed with the task of defending Durant.
- Brooklyn stayed cold from the three-point line (6/23) and didn’t hit a single attempt in the fourth quarter (0/8), but the guests scored 66 points in the zone. James Harden had 20 points (8/17 FG) and 11 assists, LaMarcus Aldridge had 15 points. The best shooter for the Nets that evening was rookie Cam Thomas (11, 3/4 threesome).
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