New York showed resources
Even if they vegetate in the background of the Eastern Conference, the New York Knicks showed resources Thursday night at home. Against the Orlando Magic, the Knicks first played their first game without Marcus Morris, who was the season’s leading scorer. They also recovered from a ten point delay with only nine minutes left to play (80-90, 39th).
Their newfound skill (4 of 8 at three points, especially after posting a 2 of 12 during the first three periods) and their dominance on the rebound (12 against 6 in the fourth quarter) allowed them to turn the situation around and pull off the victory (105-103) at the end of a last confused action where Steve Clifford, the Magic coach, did not get the time-out he wanted before Evan Fournier messed up the ball for the twenty and his team’s first ball loss.
The evening was generally mixed for the two Frenchies on the floor. Fournier aligned 33 minutes, 16 points (3 of 7 shooting) and 3 rebounds but also three turnovers while Frank Ntilikina, Knicks side, held but only played 13’32 ”, the shortest playing time of his team, for two points, a rebound, an assist and two losses of ball.
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New Orleans resisted … Mokoka
The victory of the New Orleans Pelicans on the Chicago floor (125-119) offered a funny scenario late in the game. Having been up to 27 points behind (93-66, 32nd) and still twenty at the start of the last quarter, the Bulls have made a furious comeback thanks to their replacement.
Among them, the French Adam Mokoka who scored his first points in the NBA for his sixth game. The former Gravelines player even scored fifteen in just five minutes! But this jump was too late against Pelicans well led by Zion Williamson (21 points to 9 of 11 shooting) and JJ Redick (18 points).
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Portland ends up stronger than San Antonio
Traveling in Oregon, the San Antonio Spurs have long led the race on the floor of the Portland Trail Blazers, still six points ahead at the start of the last period (92-86). But it was the locals who finished this match best (125-117, final score) with the contribution of Gary Trent Jr, author of 12 points with a four out of four behind the arc in the last period. Damian Lillard finished the night with 26 points while Hassan Whiteside had 17 points and 23 rebounds.
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