What’s better than a clash between Riders and the netneck and neck in the standings, to properly attack the week after Christmas Day?
A poster during which the inevitable Kevin Durant (32 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Kyrie Irving (32 points, 5 assists) stood out, in order to respond to a huge Darius Garland (46 points, 8 assists).
Unfortunately for Clevelandthis was not enough to prevent brooklyn to glean a ninth consecutive success (125-117) and to settle on the podium of the Eastern Conference, instead of… the Cavs. At the end of a controlled and smoothly conducted game…
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
— Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Comprehensive Insurance. Reunion night for “KD” and “Uncle Drew”, former rival and former darling of the Ohio franchise. Excellent as the other, they did not miss each other and assumed their costume as Nets bosses. As soon as Jacque Vaughn’s men needed points to fend off the Cavaliers, they could count on Durant, untenable in the first and third quarters, or Kyrie, elusive in the second and fourth quarters. Great basketball offered by this All-Star duo which, 100%, confirms that it has little equivalent in the NBA.
— Darius Garland has tried everything, in vain. Author of his second biggest career total of points, the All-Star point guard honored his status. No doubt motivated by the return to town of his predecessor Kyrie Irving, with whom he got away with it all evening, Garland was undoubtedly the strong man of the Cavaliers. Unstoppable in shooting or penetration, he made his defenders experience an ordeal thanks, in particular, to his speed of execution. And, if the Cavs were able to hope to win until the end, it is largely due to the efforts of their 22-year-old player, whose last card dated back to mid-November.
— Brooklyn never shook too much. In the lead from start to finish or almost, the Nets once again took place collectively, under the leadership of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving (see above). Quickly in control (34-22 after a quarter), taking advantage of a good address and a ball that circulates well, as well as the loss of the opposing ball (= convincing defense), Jacque Vaughn’s men soared just before half-time, thanks to Kyrie Irving’s heat stroke, at the origin of an 18-4, Despite a slight relaxation at the end, the second period was controlled, for another authoritarian victory at the key.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ TJ Warren. Author of 23 points off the bench, to accompany his 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals, the Nets winger did what he was signed by the New York franchise this summer: simply score baskets. Very clean in attack (9/14 in shots, 2/4 in 3-pts and 3/3 in throws), in addition to being interesting in sequences in defense, the former Pacers player has shown that he has a nice card to play as the 6th man from Brooklyn. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the two best players in the squad, must have appreciated that Warren, still in the running-in phase, delivered such a performance…
✅ Top 15. To join the Top 15 of the most prolific scorers in history, taking the place of a certain Tim Duncan, Kevin Durant needed 13 points. He finally planted 19 more, continuing his ascent to the heights of this ranking, still dominated by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (but for how long?). In addition, thanks to his five 3-point baskets (out of the four initially required), “KD” also took the opportunity to overtake Kobe Bryant and become the 21st most prolific shooter in history.
⛔ Donovan Mitchell. Darius Garland may have been exceptional and heroic this night, but he could not count on a “Spida” of the big nights, at his side: 15 points, 5/16 on shots including 3/9 at 3-pts . In the first quarter, seeing the Mitchell / Garland duo make the rain and the good weather of the Cavaliers, we nevertheless imagined that the two men were going to release a big match, but the ex-back of the Jazz then extinguished and he never really managed to raise his head, with Ben Simmons on his back. Disappointing, because there was room to hope for better.
THE FOLLOWING
Cleveland (22-13) : trip to Indianapolis, on the night of Thursday to Friday (01:00).
Brooklyn (22-12) : trip to Atlanta, on the night of Wednesday to Thursday (01:30).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
