breath of fresh air at the Garden for the Lakers, LeBron fourth best passer in history

The Lakers, guided by LeBron James in triple-double mode, snatched a precious success after overtime at the Knicks (129-123), Tuesday in the NBA, while Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kawhi Leonard made the Bucks win against Charlotte and the Clippers at Chicago. Author of 28 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds, “LBJ” was paramount to the success of his team, which badly needs it to stay in the race for the play-offs, even if it remains 13th in the West. Especially since his double-step 19 seconds from the end of the “overtime” ended up extinguishing New York’s hopes of a comeback in his Madison Square Garden, carried by Jalen Brunson, excellent throughout (37 pts ).

He now lacks only 89 points to become the league’s all-time leading scorer ahead of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (38.387). The big moment is likely to come next week, in three or four matches.

In the meantime, at his side, he had two solid lieutenants who padlocked the interior, with Anthony Davis (27 pts, 9 rebounds) and the Japanese rookie Rui Hachimura (19 pts, 9 rebounds). Always as generous in the effort, for worse or for better, Russell Westbrook (17 pts, 8 assists) was able to keep lucidity in the overtime by creating favorable situations for the Lakers. New York side, still 7th in the East, Julius Randle did not deserve (23 pts, 12 rebounds) in a close match that Evan Fournier saw from the bench, unsolicited.

Antetokounmpo flexes muscles, Butler saves Miami

In Milwaukee, it was still necessary for Giannis Antetokounmpo to pull out the muscles (34 pts, 18 rebounds) to calm the inclinations of catchy Hornets, like LaMelo Ball author of a triple-double (27 pts, 11 assists, 10 rebounds). This fifth consecutive victory (124-115) for the Bucks had the taste of revenge because Charlotte, a poorly ranked team in the East (14th), had humiliated them (138-109) on their floor on January 6. It also allows them to consolidate their 2nd place.

Earlier, Miami won (100-97) in Cleveland, with experience and thanks to its leader Jimmy Butler (23 pts) managed to maintain a small gap in the last 90 seconds with a basket at half distance and two crucial free throws. Yet 90 seconds earlier, it was still the Cavs who led (93-92) after a successful shot from Donovan Mitchell (16 pts, 9 assists). But Bam Adebayo was able to put the Floridians back in front with two consecutive shots that hit home (18 pts, 11 rebounds). The Heat remain 6th but are getting closer to Cleveland (5th).

Finally, in Chicago, the Clippers (4th in the West) were able to erase 19 units behind in the middle of the second quarter to take the advantage at the end of the next one and not let go in the last, winning (108-103). Kawhi Leonard (33 pts), confirming in each match that he is close to a return to his best level after a rupture of the cruciate ligaments of a knee, was both the initiator of the comeback and the decisive man of “money-time” by stealing a ball from Zach LaVine (18 pts, 14 rebounds) five seconds from the buzzer, before scoring two free throws. He was well supported by Norman Powell (27 pts) productive off the bench, Nicolas Batum working usefully in the shadows (6 pts, 5 rebounds, 2 interceptions). On the Bulls side, who slip into 11th position in the East, Nikola Vucevic (23 pts, 14 rebounds) stood out.