The Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder put their frustrating losses over the weekend behind them and got back on track to consolidate their division-leading positions.
Star forward LeBron James returned to action after having a rest game and with his contribution of 33 points he led the attack of the Cavaliers, who beat the Indiana Pacers 100-96 in the duel of leading teams in the Central Division.
James, who also grabbed five rebounds and distributed four assists, gave life again to the Cavaliers, who had a rest day on Sunday in the game they played against the Washington Wizards and lost on the road by 113.99.
Along with James, center Tristan Thompson starred in two decisive plays in the last minute of regulation time that also helped the victory and, above all, to give the Cavaliers, who have the best record in the Eastern Conference, the winning image again. .
Guard Kyrie Irving, surrounded by rumors that he is not happy with the Cavaliers and that he wants to leave, was responsible for scoring four personal shots in the last eight seconds of the game and kept the Pacers without an option to force overtime.
Iving finished the game with 22 points that left him as the second best scorer for the Cavaliers who received 11 rebounds from Thompson.
Point guard Russell Westbrook vindicated his star status and did so with a triple-double that helped the Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings 116-131 on the road and broke a two-game losing streak.
Westbrook contributed 20 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists, without the Kings having an answer to the great individual production of the All-Star point guard of the Thunder.
Forward Kevin Durant also shone with his complete game as he came close to another triple-double after posting a team-leading 27 points, 10 rebounds and six assists, helping the Thunder get back on track after losing four of the last five games played.
Including the one last Saturday, which they lost in extra time 118-121 against the Golden State Warriors, when a tenth before regulation time was inspired by shooting guard Andre Iguodala, with a miraculous basket, he forced extra time and star baseman Stephen Curry He sentenced with a triple also in the last seconds.
Among the reserves, the Swiss center Enes Kanter also had an offensive role, being perfect by scoring 23 points with 11 of 11 field goals and 1-1 free throws, in addition to capturing four rebounds.
While shooting guard-forward Dion Waiters reached 22 points, which also helped the Thunder win.
The Kings (24-34), who lost the third consecutive game, once again had center DeMarcus Cousin as their leader in scorers and in the inside game, achieving a double-double of 35 points and 12 rebounds.
Forward Jae Crowder had 22 points and led a balanced attack as the Boston Celtics beat the Utah Jazz 100-95 for their 11th straight win at TD Garden.
Base Isaiah Thomas contributed 18 points and distributed nine assists that left him as the leader in the direction of the game for the Celtics (36-25), who won the third consecutive game and remain third in the Eastern Conference, seven games behind the Cavaliers and two and a half from the Toronto Raptors, who are second and first in the Atlantic Division.
Shooting guard Jamal Crawford once again showed his scoring class and with 26 points led the balanced attack of the Los Angeles Clippers who beat the Brooklyn Nets 105-95 and remain fourth in the Western Conference.
Along with Crawford, point guard Chris Paul also responded in his line of leader and game director for the Clippers and showed it by contributing a double-double of 23 points and 12 assists.
While shooting guard JJ Redick reached 19 points that allowed the Clippers to win consecutive games for the first time since February 5-8 when they had three in a row.
Point guard John Wall was once again unstoppable in the offensive game and with 37 points, including 16 in the fourth period, he led the Washington Wizards to a 116-108 victory against the Philadelphia Sixers, who became the first to are not in the final phase as they no longer have the option of being eighth in the Eastern Conference.
The Polish center Marcin Gortat achieved a double-double of 18 points and 20 rebounds, his best record as a professional, and also helped the victory, the third in a row, sixth in the last eight games they have played since the All-Star Weekend .
Power forward Zach Randolph always emerged in the decisive moments of the game and with 22 points, including two consecutive penetrations in the final stretch of the game, allowed the Memphis Grizzlies to beat the Denver Nuggets 96-103 at home and stay second in the Southeast Division and fifth in the Western Conference.
The figure of the Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shone again in a special way in the complete game of the Milwaukee Bucks and with a triple-double (18 points, 17 rebounds and 11 assists), the second of his professional career, he guided his team to the 128-121 win over the Houston Rockets. EFE
Triumphs of the leading Cavaliers and Thunder
