Even without injured key player Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic held their own against the Atlanta Hawks. Stephen Curry experienced a black Sunday with the Golden State Warriors at home against the reshaped Toronto Raptors. Things are going well for Denver even when Nikola Jokic isn’t shooting. The NBA on Monday morning
21st win in the 36th game of the season. Despite the absence of world champion Franz Wagner, the Orlando Magic are still on course for the play-offs and consolidated fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a 117:110 overtime win against the Atlanta Hawks. Wagner had recently injured his ankle and was once again rested, while brother Moritz scored 15 points coming off the bench. The match winner for the Magic was once again forward Paolo Banchero, who scored eight of his 35 points in overtime and also grabbed ten rebounds.
The basket is nailed shut for Curry – LeBron delights the Lakers fans
For Dennis Schröder and the Toronto Raptors, things are also going a little better after the trade with the New York Knicks. New signing RJ Barrett carried the Canadians to a 133:119 win at the understrength Golden State Warriors, who will have to do without “Point God” Chris Paul for an extended period but will be able to bring back Draymond Green, who is no longer suspended, in a few days.
While Barrett was outstanding with 37 points and Schröder scored 14 points from the bench in just under 28 minutes, Dubs star Stephen Curry had a poor Sunday: The three-point specialist only scored nine points and failed to sink any of his nine attempts from downtown! The Raptors are now 15-21 and eleventh in the East, while Golden State is 17-19 – also eleventh, only in the West.
Meanwhile, LeBron James led the Los Angeles Lakers (18-19) to a 106-103 win in the city duel with the previously in-form Clippers (22-13) after their last four defeats. The 39-year-old shone with 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, stuffing a fastbreak over Paul George and sweeping the Lakers fans off their feet. Anthony Davis also had a strong game with 22 points and ten rebounds. World champion Daniel Theis had two points and three rebounds in just under nine minutes for the Clippers.
Irving/Doncic excel – Jokic prefers to pass
The duo of Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving led the Dallas Mavericks (22-15) to a 115-108 victory over the West-leading Minnesota Timberwolves (25-10). Irving scored 35 points, including important points in crunch time, while Doncic scored 34 points. Anthony Edwards stood out for Minnesota with 36 points, but it was still not enough to win.
Nikola Jokic had an unusual statline. The Serbian star center of the champion Denver Nuggets (26-12) only made three shots in the 131:114 win over the cellar-dweller Detroit Pistons (3-33), scoring just four points. Nevertheless, 16 assists, seven rebounds and five blocks led to a successful evening for the Serbian, who only had to work 25 minutes. Jamal Murray (37 points) virtually did the rest
