NBA. Mitchell and Cavaliers dominate Lakers, who quickly lost Davis

Donovan Mitchell scored 43 points to lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 116-102 victory Tuesday at home against a Los Angeles Lakers team that was sorely lacking the firepower of the quickly released Anthony Davis. The powerful winger, an eight-time All-Star, had 99 points in the Lakers’ last two games, including 55 in Sunday’s 130-119 win over the Wizards in Washington.

But in Cleveland, the 29-year-old 2012 Olympic champion played just eight minutes before exiting the game with flu-like symptoms, and Mitchell and the Cavs took advantage of the opportunity to improve their impressive home record this season (11-1) and solidify their 3 1st place in the Eastern Conference. “I take my hat off to our guys“However, Darwin Hamm, the coach of the Lakers, is positive. “They fought hard“.

LeBron James wasn’t enough

LeBron James, Mitchell’s boyhood idol, scored 21 points and grabbed 17 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough against the team where he started his NBA career in 2003 and led to his first crown in 2016, when he returned after winning two titles with Miami. . . This time, James’ return to his native Ohio was overshadowed by the loss of Davis, who had averaged 34.2 points and 15.4 rebounds in his last 10 games, games in which the Lakers had begun to lose. Hamm explained that Davis wants.give their all“, even though his symptoms, including fever, worsened in the evening.

Even without him, the Lakers, who are 13th in the Western Conference, were able to stay close, taking a five-point lead with less than five minutes remaining. But Mitchell then converted a three-pointer for the Cavaliers that ignited their eventual winning streak. Jarrett Allen returned to Cleveland after missing five games with a back contusion. The pivot made a quick impact, scoring 22 of his 24 points in the first period. Darius Garland had 21 points and 11 assists for the Cavs.

Detroit beat Miami

In Miami, Detroit’s Croatian winger Bojan Bogdanovic scored 28 of his 31 points in the second period to help the Pistons beat the Heat (116-96). Miami guard Tyler Herro led the way with 34 points, but 21 of them came in the first period and the Heat, who lost Jimmy Butler the day before with a right knee injury, couldn’t find an answer as the Pistons broke. game late out. Detroit, ranked 14th and 2nd in the Eastern Conference, took the lead in the fourth quarter. Alec Burks had 18 points and 9 rebounds off the bench. Another substitute, Sadik Bey, added 14 more points. The Heat, who were eliminated in the conference finals last season, remain in 11th place in the East.

Dallas won by a wire in Denver (116-115) especially thanks to Tim Hardaway Jr.’s 29 points. however, contributed strongly to the Mavericks’ success with 10 rebounds and 12 assists. Winger Aaron Gordon scored 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Denver. Serbian Nikola Jokic, the two-time MVP, is coming off just 19 points and missed long-range attempts. The Nuggets are in 5th place in the Western Conference and see Dallas back in 7th place with a win.