The fight for leadership in the Western Conference stayed one more day with the Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Clippers and Denver Nuggets without giving ground and exhibiting their winning power with less than 10 games left until the end of the regular season.
While in the Eastern Conference, the big winners were the New York Knicks, who extended their winning streak to eight consecutive victories, the best there is currently in the NBA, and the Miami Heat that seeks to reach the level of play that led them to be runner-up in the league last season.
Houston Rockets 89 – Utah Jazz 112
The Jazz, despite the loss of its franchise player, guard Donovan Mitchell, arrived in Houston and with point guard Jordan Clarkson as leader who contributed 22 points and Australian forward Joe Ingles, who contributed another 21, the NBA leader it was showcased by beating the homeless Rockets 89-112, who have the worst record in the league.
The Jazz (44-15), which have won four of their last five games, made the 23-point margin the most uneven win for Utah over Houston since a 118-91 blowout on Dec. 6, 2018.
Philadelphia 76ers 113 – Phoenix Suns 116
Joel Embiid was THIS CLOSE to sending it to OT in incredible fashion. pic.twitter.com/gw6eFGiml8
– NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2021
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The Suns triumph was more complicated in their visit to the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, where the Sixers, leaders of the Eastern Conference, were waiting for them and in the end they left with an important victory of 113-116, thanks to the combined 47 points they received. They gave veteran point guard Chris Paul and Hispanic guard Devin Booker.
Paul scored 28 points, including five triples, Booker had 19 and forward Mikal Bridges reached 18 points that allowed the Suns (42-16) to remain second in the Western Conference and leaders of the Pacific Division, with record 19-7 on the road, the best in the NBA.
Toronto Raptors 114 – Brooklyn Nets 103
Although Embiid with a double-double of 38 points and 17 rebounds ended up leading the Sixers (39-19), who continue to lead the Atlantic Division and in the East after the Brooklyn Nets (39-20) also lost visitors. 114-103 against the Toronto Raptors, having again the absences of forward Kevin Durant and guard James Harden.
Cameroonian power forward Pascal Siakam contributed 27 points and nine rebounds, English forward OG Anunoby scored 25 points and the Raptors dominated from the third period of the game that left them with the fourth consecutive win.
The point guard Kyrie Irving had a double-double of 28 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists with three recoveries of the ball as leader of the Nets, who in the end could not avoid the defeat, which prevented them from regaining the leadership of the Eastern Conference.
Los Angeles Clippers 117 – Memphis Grizzlies 105
The Clippers also continued with significant casualties, but they had guard Luke Kennard, who surpassed his season-best record with 28 points and after coming back 18 points led them to a 117-105 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The victory was the Clippers’ third in a row (42-19) and the tenth in 11 games despite the absences of their starters, forwards Kawhi Leonard (foot discomfort) and Paul George, along with the point guard and Reggie Jackson, who they had a day off.
Portland Trail Blazers 105 – Denver Nuggets 106
25 PTS, 9 REB, 5 AST from Jokic helps the @nuggets outlast Portland for their 4th straight W! #MileHighBasketballpic.twitter.com/JdefBJeugv
– NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2021
As something that has already become familiar, Serbian center Nikola Jokic was once again the decisive player and savior of the Nuggets, contributing 25 points, including three key free throws in the final stretch of the game that they won on the road 105-106 to the Portland Trail Blazers.
Power forward Michael Porter Jr. also maintained the status of a surprise winner and with 17 points, all in the first quarter, he also helped what was the fourth consecutive victory for the Nuggets (38-20), who remain fourth in the Western Conference.
Despite his team’s loss, point guard Damian Lillard, who had 22 points for the Trail Blazers, after hitting a triple in the first quarter outpointed Jason Kidd for 10th on the league’s all-time 3-point list. NBA.
Lillard also joined Oscar Robertson as the only two players in NBA history with more than 1,500 points and more than 400 assists in each of his first nine seasons.
New York Knicks 137 – Atlanta Hawks 127
The Knicks also boasted of having the longest winning streak currently in the league, eight straight wins, even though they had to reach overtime to beat the Atlanta Hawks 137-127, thanks to power forward Julius Randle’s double-double ( 40 points and 10 rebounds).
The Knicks, with a 33-27 record, remain in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and are two and a half games behind the Milwaukee Bucks (35-22), who are third and rested.
While the Hawks (32-27), although starting point guard Trae Young was injured and lost, they remain leaders in the Southeast Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
San Antonio Spurs 87 – Miami Heat 107
18 PTS, 7 REB, 11 AST from @JimmyButler guides the @MiamiHEAT to their 3rd win in a row! pic.twitter.com/NnjoVnqZam
– NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2021
Their most direct rivals are once again the Miami Heat (31-28), who had pivot Bam Adebayo (23 points) and forward Jimmy Butler (18 points, 11 assists) as leaders who led them to the victory of the visitors (87- 107) against the San Antonio Spurs, third in a row.
Dallas Mavericks 127 – Detroit Pistons 117
Luka fills it up in the @dallasmavs W! #MFFL@ luka7doncic: 30 PTS, 10 REB, 9 AST pic.twitter.com/F7UbzaReZa
– NBA (@NBA) April 22, 2021
Slovenian point guard Luka Doncic contributed a double-double of 30 points and 10 rebounds, Latvian center Kristaps Porzingis added 19 points and the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Detroit Pistons 127-117 to cut a four-game losing streak in their field and remain leaders. in the Southwest Division with a record of 31-26).
Washington Wizards 118 – Golden State Warriors 114
While guard Russell Westbrook silenced Stephen Curry with his 27th triple-double (14 points, 20 rebounds, 10 assists), 173 as a professional, and the Washington Wizards beat Golden State Warriors 118-114, their sixth straight win. .
Other night markers
In other results of the day, Cleveland beat Chicago 121-105, Indiana beat Oklahoma City 122-116 and Sacramento beat Minnesota 128-125, the team with the second-worst record in the league.
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