In the Conference top, Memphis was joined in second place by Sacramento. The Grizzlies, who should find their leader Ja Morant on Monday March 20 after his suspension ended, did not see the light of day in Miami (138-119). Led at the break (63-51), they then sank body and soul and conceded 42 points and sixteen additional lengths in the third quarter (105-77) ended 14-0 in favor of the Heat of Bam Adebayo ( 26 points) and Tyler Herro (24).
The Tennessee franchise returned 42 points in the last quarter but Miami had no trouble winning and securing its place in the play-off. She suddenly knocks on the door of sixth place directly qualifying for the play-offs with a success behind Brooklyn.
Memphis are three wins and three losses since Ja Morant was retired on March 4. Jaren Jackson Jr (25 points, 9 rebounds) was the Grizzlies’ strongman in Florida.
New triple double for Domantas Sabonis
Sacramento takes advantage of this weak time in the season for Memphis to claim the place of runner-up to Denver in the Conference. The Kings won in Chicago with a three-point basket almost at the final buzzer (seven tenths) from De’Aaron Fox (117-114). The playmaker of the Californian team scored 32 points, and carries at arm’s length with Domantas Sabonis, author of a new triple double (14 points, 17 rebounds, 10 ists) a franchise in full revival, very close to qualify for the play-offs for the first time since 2006.
The Kings were led by ten points (48-58) at the break but seem to have the sacred fire. ” We played badly but we find a way to win this game commented coach Mike Brown after this ninth success in eleven games.
Chicago, which is stalling in its attempt to hang the dam, had equalized at 114 thanks to a four-point action from DeMar De Rozan (33 points) eleven seconds from the end. Before Fox folded the game.
The Lakers do not chain
Without LeBron James or Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers remain a very ordinary team. On Wednesday, they missed a good opportunity to strengthen their position in the race for the play-offs. As they remained on four wins in five matchesthey have indeed bowed to Houston, dead last in the Western Conference (114-110) without really having the opportunity to win.
The resting of Anthony Davis, beaming the day before in New Orleans (35 points-17 rebounds in a 123-108 success) to spare his right foot, did not help a team which shot at 38% success , like Austin Reaves (24 points, 6 of 17 on shots) and D’Angelo Russell (18, 6 of 14).
The Rockets relied on Kevin Porter Jr (27 points including 18 in the first half) to obtain a second success in a row after the nice coup on Monday against Boston (111-109).