Confirming its upward form, Atlanta, still carried by 36-point writer Trae Young, had the final say (129-121) for the Lakers, still missing LeBron James on Sunday in the NBA as the Clippers walked Charlotte (115-90).

This 7th consecutive success was in the “money-time” for the Hawks (10th in the East), when Young (also 12 assists and 5 rebounds) further raised the level of his game. restores the advantage (112-110) to his family, without LA managing to overturn it, despite the excellent performance of Malik Monk (33 points, 8/14 in the long distance, 10 rebounds, 5 assists).

Atlanta’s victory was also contributed by John Collins (20 points, 11 points) and Onieca Okongwu (16 points), the “X factor” off the bench with two important dunks in the last minutes, who finally returned, obviously. his level last season, when the Hawks reached the conference finals (lost to Milwaukee).

It is not only the Hawks who are forced to rise in the standings, because the Lakers, after this third consecutive defeat, are stuck in the 9th position of the West, which is also in the position of the playoffs for the playoffs.

They were not unworthy in this match, they were even ahead with 11 lengths in the aftermath of Anthony Davis (27 points) and Russell Westbrook (20 points, 12 assists). But the absence of James, who returned to Los Angeles to deal with a swelling in his right knee, weighed heavily at the end of the match, when he usually took charge.

The Clippers do the job in the absence of several players

In Charlotte, the Clippers showed excellent collective performance, with the persistent absence of stars Cowie Leonard (knee), Paul George (elbow) and Nicholas Batum (back).

More than half the points were scored from the bench (62 vs. 21 for the Hornets), Brandon Boston Jr. scored 19, as did attack leader Reggie Jackson.

The Lakers remain 7th in the West, as well as Charlotte in the East, where Chicago retains 2nd place after its victory (130-116) over Portland, in its 31st season, already the same total from last year.

The Bulls were very skilled (56.8% success), such as Nikola Vucevic (24 points on 15/11, 14 rebounds) and DeMar DeRozan (23 points, on 13/9, 10 assists), against the Blazers (10th in the West) is led by CJ McCollum (29 points).

Denver humiliates Milwaukee

The star duel between Nikolas Jokic and Giannis Antitokoumbo smiled at the Jokic Nuggets, easy winners (136-100) at the Bucks.

What will happen to the champion’s defender? Beyond this eighth defeat in 14 games, the content of Milwaukee basketball is in dispute, as Antitokunbo had recently lamented that the Bucks’ team “is playing badly at the moment”.

The Bucks (5th in the East) are not doing well at all, only the “Greek Freak” Antetokunbo who held the pre-eminent degree of double player (2019, 2020). But especially in the first half during which he scored 22 of his 29 points (9 rebounds), when Chris Middleton passed the match like a shadow (9 points, 7 assists).

In front of them was Djokic, a player with a great title, busy as usual for multiplication (18 points, 15 assists, 9 rebounds). His team, like Aaron Gordon (24 pts 7 rbds), tuned in with 62% success.

“Many of our children shot very well. “It’s a very, very good win for us,” said Nuggets coach Michael Malone, who finished 5th in the West in Dallas. rebound, 11). assists).

Elsewhere in the NBA:

Portand 116 Chicago 130
ORP: CJ McCollum scored 29 points
CHI: Nikola Vucevic had 24 points and 114 rebounds

Cleveland 105 – Detroit 115
KEY: Darius Garland had 24 points and seven assists
TED: Sadiq Bey got 31 points

Dallas 108-Orlando 110
LAD: Luka Doncic was first with 34 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
ENT: Tsuma Okeke and Franz Wagner scored 19 and 18 points respectively

Utah 106 – Minnesota 126
UTA: Bojan Bogdanovic got 23 points
MIN: Hattrick for Carl Anthony Towns with 31 points, eleven rebounds and ten assists

San Antonio 110 – Phoenix 115
THIS: Doug McDermott got 24 points
PHO: Devin Booker scored a total of 28 points