Stats & Highlights | Nikola Jokic is giant, Kevin Durant stunning, Chicago depressing
December 19, 2022
The Hornets fell on too hard, much too hard. Nikola Jokic was huge with an XXL triple-double: 40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists. Kevin Durant, author of 43 points, including 26 in the third quarter against Detroit, is not bad either.
The Bulls can’t say the same. Their defense sank in Minnesota, with 150 points in the teeth. With a seventh defeat in nine matches, Billy Donovan’s players are really in trouble.
Boston–Orlando Indiana–New York Toronto–Golden State LA Lakers–Washington
Detroit–Brooklyn: 121-124
Kevin Durant (43 points) knocked the Pistons down. The latter had a 17-point lead at the break but in the third quarter, the Nets star dominated the Detroit team alone: 26 points scored, against 25 for the Pistons.
Durant then starts the final quarter on the bench, leaving Kyrie Irving to make the gap. The Nets will take free throws in the last moments, against Killian Hayes (10 points, 8 assists) and his band, and win. Bojan Bogdanovic had the equalizer, but missed. Sixth straight victory for Brooklyn.
The Bulls defense totally sank. Without Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns by his side, Anthony Edwards took care of everything with 37 points and 11 assists and he made the difference late in the third quarter. The guard scored six points in a 9-1 Minnesota run.
Above all, he stole a ball on a throw-in before scoring at 3-pts, at the buzzer. There are then 16 points difference and Chicago will not come back in the last act and record a fourth defeat in a row.
Carried by Nikola Jokic’s 20 rebounds in the first period, the Nuggets are ahead at the break. The pivot then scores 11 points in the third quarter and Denver takes off.
The Hornets will resist until the end. LaMelo Ball brings them down to just three points in the final minutes. Jokic is still doing the job, passing or scoring, to give Denver some air. With huge triple-double (40 points, 27 rebounds and 10 assists), he sealed the victory of his team in free throws. Eighth straight defeat for Charlotte.
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