The NBA returned this Thursday after the All-Star and the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks, the two most in-form teams before the break, added their seventh consecutive victory by defeating the Chicago Bulls and the Phoenix Suns, respectively.
In addition, Nikola Jokic signed an impressive and historic performance for the Denver Nuggets with a triple-double of 21 points (perfect 10 of 10 on field goals), 19 rebounds and 15 assists.
Derrick White (28 points) led a very solid Celtics team with 25 points from Jayson Tatum and 21 from Jaylen Brown and with enormous success from three-point range (23 of 47).
Nikola Vucevic (22 points and 14 rebounds) was the standout of the Bulls who could not keep up with Boston in the second half.
Luka Doncic (41 points, 9 rebounds and 11 assists) and Kyrie Irving (29 points) shook hands as the Mavericks were on a roll and climbed to sixth place in the West at the expense of the Suns who fell to seventh position, which Its punishment is ‘play-in’.
Without the injured Bradley Beal, the Suns had Devin Booker (35 points and 8 assists) and Kevin Durant (23 points and 6 rebounds) as references.
A monumental Jokic made history by becoming the third player (along with LeBron James and Russell Westbrook) to achieve at least a triple-double against each and every NBA team. In addition, the Serbian is the first in the NBA to achieve at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists with 100% shooting from the field.
Kyle Kuzma (31 points and 12 rebounds) could not avoid the ninth straight loss for the adrift Wizards.
Nine wins in their last eleven games have accumulated for the Warriors who have smiled again and who had a wonderful Stephen Curry with 32 points (6 of 13 in triples) and 8 assists. Dominican Lester Quiñones scored 7 points for Golden State.
Without LeBron James due to ankle discomfort, the Lakers lost to a direct rival in the West play-in despite 27 points and 15 rebounds from a willing Anthony Davis.
Although they still have important losses such as Julius Randle or OG Anunoby, the Knicks showed that the All-Star break was very good for them to recover their strength and broke their worrying streak of four consecutive losses.
Jalen Brunson (21 points and 12 assists) stood out for a Knicks team that already led by 26 points before the break. Tyrese Maxey (35 points and 6 rebounds) could not avoid a new disappointment for the Sixers even without the injured Joel Embiid and in which Kyle Lowry (11 points) made his debut.
