Booker and Suns nail Pelicans, Grizzlies thunder
Leading by 17 points at the break, the Phoenix Suns, sublimated by Devin Booker (58 points!), defeated the New Orleans Pelicans (118-111) in a night that was remembered as a surprise defeat in the NBA on Saturday. Grizzlies vs. Lightning (115-109).
In Arizona, the Suns deficit even reached 24 points early in the third quarter, but Booker turbocharged and scored 36 points in the second period.
Unprecedented stratospheric performance of the Phoenix rear end? In late November, he scored 50-plus points (51) against Chicago. In his eighth NBA season, the Michigan native becomes the sixth youngest player in the league to reach 12,000 points at age 26.
Opposite Zion Williamson didn’t deserve it, scoring 30 points, but New Orleans couldn’t resist a Phoenix comeback that trailed by just five at the end of the third quarter. .
And if the Pelicans have beaten the Suns twice recently, the Louisiana franchise has a third straight loss that slightly tarnishes their excellent start to the season with an 18-11 record.
Devin Booker and Suns fans cheer after a player makes a basket during an NBA game against New Orleans in Phoenix on December 17, 2022 / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
Fortunately, the damage for “New Orleans” is limited to the standings, as the leader Memphis (19-10) also lost to Oklahoma, which surprised everyone after a seven-game winning streak.
– Ja Morant passes –
Ja Morant, the author of a triple-double in the clash against the Bucks two days ago, missed this time (6 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists) during a game cut for him: the Grizzlies star received a red card a little earlier. Timeout after receiving two technical fouls for unflattering comments to the referees.
Memphis already trailed (61-40) at that point and could not raise the bar despite Dillon Brooks’ six three-pointers (32 points).
For an OKC side without Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Josh Giddey, Lou Dort and Isaiah Joe scored 24 and 23 points, respectively, to help the Thunder snap a five-game losing streak.
Milwaukee Bucks’ Jrue Holiday drives past Utah Jazz’s Lauri Markkanen during an NBA game in Milwaukee on December 17, 2022 / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
In Cleveland, in the “Cavs-Mavs” duel, the last word was given to the first thanks to Jarrett Allen’s winning dunk (100-99), and this is the fifth success in as many overtimes for Cleveland this season!
Earlier, Donovan Mitchell (25 points) looked for fake passes from Milwaukee to keep the Cavaliers (20-11) in a solid third place in the East.
But that didn’t interfere Saturday night, as the Bucks (21-8) didn’t flinch against the Utah Jazz (123-97), despite the absence of their big star Giannis Antetokounmpo with a knee injury.
– Mexican ambitions –
On the West Coast, Kawhi Leonard had time to find the rhythm with 0/4 shooting in the first quarter, but finally with 31 points – this season’s record – allowed the Clippers to prevail over the Washington Wizards (102-93) . LA remains on track in the standings (7th, 18-14).
Further south, Mexico returned to the NBA in a matchup between the Miami Heat and San Antonio Spurs in front of over 20,000 spectators.
It was the Spurs who got off to the best start, but the Floridians stepped up defensively in the final half to win 110-101.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during the game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Sacramento Kings, December 7, 2022, in Milwaukee / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/Archives
Jimmy Butler scored 26 points as NBA commissioner Adam Silver endorsed Mexico’s League ambitions.
“Looking at the success we’ve had in Canada, in the North, since the early ’90s, it makes perfect sense to me to want to grow in the South as well,” Silver said before the meeting. “I don’t have a detailed schedule at this stage (…), but there is no doubt that we will seriously look at Mexico City in the future,” he added.
