The Lakers won without Doncic or Reaves and Giannis took revenge on the Pacers
Los Angeles Lakerswithout Luka Doncic neither Austin Reaves, defeated the Portland Trail Blazers this Monday by 123-115while Giannis Antetokounmpo gave to Milwaukee Bucks a victory with a taste of revenge over Indiana Pacers by 117-115.
Dalton Knecht, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, Jake LaRavia and Marcus Smart formed JJ Redick’s starting five in Portland. Doncic was left out of the team due to rest as part of his recovery, while Reaves was suffering from discomfort in his left groin. LeBron James, for his part, has not yet debuted this season.
Even so, the Lakers took a creditable victory against the Blazers who had beaten them last week in Los Angeles. Ayton took the reins of the team with 29 points and 10 rebounds (double-double)while Hachimura scored 28 and Nick Smith Jr., 25.
Giannis’ revenge against the Pacers
The Greek Antetokounmpo surely remembered Tyrese Haliburton’s father, who faced him on the court after the Bucks’ elimination at the hands of the Pacers in the last playoffs. This Monday, Giannis scored the shot of the day in the NBA against an Indiana team that does not react.
Bucks and Pacers were tied at 115 when Antetokounmpo took the ball on the last possession of the game. The Greek shot to the hoop with the horn ringing and scored to give Milwaukee the victory. He celebrated with his index finger in his mouth, asking for silence in Indianapolis.
The Pacers, finalists of last NBA season, have six losses in seven games at the start of the campaign.
Brooklyn Nets do not know victory
0-7. That is the balance of the Brooklyn Nets, one of the two teams in the league, along with the New Orleans Pelicans, that have yet to win this season.
The team led by Spanish Jordi Fernández played the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves for three quarters, but collapsed in the last quarter with a 34-21 run that left the final result in 125-109.
Julius Randle had a triple-double for the Timberwolves with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists. Cam Thomas of the Nets finished with 25 points.
In Boston, The Celtics fell to the Utah Jazz 105-103victims of a heroic offensive rebound and conversion by Jusuf Nurkic with just a few tenths left to play. Keyonte George led the Jazz with 31 points, while Jaylen Brown scored 36 for the Celtics.
In Memphis, Detroit Pistons beat the Grizzlies 114-106 on the day of Ja Morant’s return after his punishment. Morant contributed 18 points and 10 assists, but saw Cade Cunningham, with 33 points, lead the Pistons’ victory.
And in Denver, The Nuggets defeated the Sacramento Kings 130-124 in Russell Westbrook’s return to Ball Arena, where he played last season. Nikola Jokic had a double-double with 34 points and 14 assists, and also grabbed 7 rebounds, while Westbrook completed another double-double with 28 points and 12 rebounds, plus 6 assists.
In addition, the New York Knicks beat the Washington Wizards 119-102, the Houston Rockets beat the Dallas Mavericks 110-102, and the Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Clippers 120-119.
