In the highly anticipated top-of-the-table game, the Phoenix Suns nearly blew a 15-point lead in the final 100 seconds of the game. The NBA on Tuesday morning.
The Chicago Bulls went from minus-15 to minus-3 in crunch time in the top-of-the-table game, but couldn’t stave off a 124-127 loss in front of their own fans at the United Center. Devin Booker for the Suns and DeMar DeRozan for Chicago were the most successful scorers with 38 points each in the encounter between the best team in the Western Conference and the previously second-best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Bulls slipped to third place behind the defending champions Milwaukee Bucks after their third loss in their last four games. In the Eastern Conference, the Miami Heat joined the Bucks in benefiting from the Bulls loss, extending their lead three days before the end of the transfer window with a 121-100 win over the Washington Wizards.
“Milestone” for Klay Thompson
The Golden State Warriors as the first chaser of the Suns could only keep the gap, but not reduce it, by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 110:98. “Splash Brother” Klay Thompson, meanwhile, is getting better and better. The Dubs’ shooter increased his playing time to 29 minutes and scored 21 points. Thompson described current fitness and rhythm as a “milestone for me”. Cruciate ligament and Achilles tendon tears had kept him out of action for two and a half years.
ASG: LaMelo Ball and Murray replace Green and Durant
With injuries to Thompson’s teammate Draymond Green and Nets superstar Kevin Durant, meanwhile, personnel changes had to be made for the All-Star Game in Cleveland. LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets and Dejounte Murray of the San Antonio Spurs moved up. Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics takes Durant’s place as starter. The latter still travels as captain to select players for the two teams on Thursday along with LeBron James.
Ball (20) is last season’s rookie of the year, currently averaging 19.6 points, 7.5 assists and 7.1 rebounds. Murray (25) delivers really well for the Spurs: 19.6/9.2/8.4 – with 2.1 steals per game
