Doncic, Giannis, Wembanyama and Cunningham shone on the NBA day
Cade Cunningham registered this Monday a 46-point triple-double to lead Detroit Pistons’ seventh straight win and monopolized the NBA’s spotlight on a day also marked by the 38 points from Luka Doncic in Charlotte, the 37 of the Frenchman Victor Wembanyama in Chicago and the 30 of Giannis Antetokounmpo in Dallas.
It was a night of comebacks in the NBA. Detroit Pistons managed to recover after trailing by 13 points at home in the fourth quarter against Washington Wizards. He tied the game with an agonizing triple by Daniss Jenkins and he took it in overtime by 137-135 to increase its balance to 9-2, the best in the East.
Detroit has seven consecutive victories, while the Wizards have only won one game out of eleven this season.
Cade Cunningham recorded a triple-double of 46 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists, as well as 5 steals, and eclipsed CJ McCollum’s 42 points. Cunningham scored 19 of his 46 points between the fourth quarter and overtime.
The Bucks also came back on their visit to the Dallas Mavericks, leading 92-79 at the beginning of the fourth quarter. The victory went to Milwaukee by 116-114. Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 15 of his 30 points, with 8 rebounds and 6 assists, in the final 12 minutes.
The Bucks soured Mavs rookie Cooper Flagg, number one in the last Draft, who scored 26 points, his best record in the NBA.
The Mavs are second to last in the West with a record of 3 wins and 11 losses.
Stellar performances from Wembanyama and Doncic
It was a great night for two European stars in the league like Wembanyama and Doncic. The Frenchman destroyed the Chicago Bulls with 37 points, 17 of them in the fourth quarter and seven of them in the last minute, in the victory of the San Antonio Spurs 121-117.
The Spurs (8-3) were 13 points behind at the start of the fourth quarter, but they turned the score around, entrusted to Wemby, who also captured 12 rebounds, distributed 5 assists and recorded 5 blocks.
In Charlotte, Luka Doncic reactivated the Lakers with 38 points (14 of 28 shooting), 6 rebounds and 7 assists in 38 minutes on the court, in the 121-111 victory over the Hornets.
The Slovenian had scored 22 points in the loss suffered in Atlanta, when JJ Redick left him on the bench in the last period with the game already decided in favor of the Hawks.
The Angelenos face this tour of the East without LeBron James, who still has not debuted due to sciatica discomfort. When it is released, he will become, at 40 years old, the only one in NBA history to have played 23 seasons.
Miami Heat remains undefeated at home
The Heat extended their undefeated record at home after defeating the Cavaliers 140-138 with a dunk by Andrew Wiggins at the buzzer, and thus avenged his executioner in the first round of the playoffs last season.
Norman Powell (33 points and 8-19 shooting), Wiggins (23 points) and Jaime Jáquez Jr. (22 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists) were the standouts in the Heat’s attack, which did not have Bam Adebayo due to injury, but was well replaced by Kel’ el Ware (14 points and 20 rebounds).
Besides, Phoenix Suns achieved their fourth consecutive victory with a 121-98 against New Orleans Pelicanswith 42 points and ten triples from Grayson Allen.
In the other results of the night, Minnesota Timberwolves defeated Utah Jazz 120-113 with 35 points from Anthony Edwards and 27 from Julius Randle, Orlando Magic beat Portland Trail Blazers 115-112with 28 points from Paolo Banchero, and Atlanta Hawks beat Los Angeles Clippers 105-102 with 28 points from the Czech Vit Krejci.
