Nba results: Butler show, Miami party with the Lakers. Oladipo ko

The Miami Heat beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals rematch with a sensational Jimmy Butler but lost Victor Oladipo to a knee injury. Chicago overtakes Toronto in a delicate head-to-head battle for access to the play-ins, while Cleveland dominates Oklahoma City.

Miami Heat- Los Angeles Lakers 110-104

Miami Heat’s second win of the season (27-25) over the Los Angeles Lakers (32-20) in the rematch of the last Nba Finals. A success shrouded in melancholy due to a right knee injury suffered by Victor Oladipo during the 4th period. First the dunk, the last two points of his game (18 at the end, as well as 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals), then the landing on the parquet and the pain. The extent of the injury, as stated by Coach Erik Spoelstra in the post match, will be assessed on Friday. “Dipo is ok, he got a good scare but in the locker room he was calm”, said Bam Adebayo. Oladipo’s injury aside, the Miami Heat can be satisfied with this victory, obtained not without some difficulty against the strong-willed Lakers and ready to respond blow for blow despite the difficulties in the rotations. Coach Spo’s team found the double-digit advantage on several occasions during the match but only managed to close it definitively in the last 2 ‘. Jimmy Butler led his teammates with his usual stage presence, recalling at times the heroic plays of the last Finals. For him 28 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and 3 steals in 36 ‘. In the post-race conference, Butler showed up a little early, just long enough to disturb fellow Precious Achiuwa, who was busy answering a few questions. Butler spent important words for “his” rookie: “He’s working hard and tonight he showed how aggressive he can be on both sides of the pitch.” For Achiuwa 7 points, 5 rebounds 1 recovery and 1 block in just 9 ‘. Miami won thanks to his organization, especially in the defensive half, finding a good fluidity even in attack. The offensive execution was excellent and the percentages, for once, do not lie: 34/71 (47.9%) from the field and 10/25 (40%) from three, as well as a crucial 32/40 from the line. Los Angeles, which in addition to LeBron James and Anthony Davis also had to do without Kyle Kuzma and the suspended Talen Horton-Tucker, broke down on 22 turnovers (33 points allowed) but tried in every way to avoid the defeat. The overall performance, for defensive application and competitive determination, was more than valid. The best of the yellow-violet was Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with his 28 points (6/11 of three). “I asked him to score 25 and he finished the game with 28. We needed him in the final game and he replied very well,” the praises of Coach Frank Vogel for KCP. The positive side of the absence of LeBron and Davis, according to the Lakers manager, is to consolidate the confidence of the supporting cast in view of the Playoffs. In this regard, after his debut with an early injury, Andre Drummond’s good race with 15 points, 12 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals in 27 ‘should be noted. The Heat serve the season sweep to the Lakers but are now awaited by a challenging away round (Portland, Phoenix, Denver and Minnesota). Butler has clear ideas about what the team will have to do: “We need to win and we will try to win them all. Should we succeed, it would really show what we are made of. We have the possibilities to make it but we have to play almost perfect basketball ”.

Miami:Butler 28 (8/11, 1/2 of three, 11/12 tl), Oladipo 18, Herro 15. Rebounds: Butler 7. Assists: Butler 5.

The Angels: Caldwell-Pope 28 (11/20, 6/11 da tre), Drummond 15, Matthews 14. Rimbalzi: Drummond 12. Assist: Schroder 14.

Toronto Raptors- Chicago Bulls 113-122

Very important victory for the Chicago Bulls (22-28), the third consecutive, against the Toronto Raptors, a direct competitor for a place in the play-ins. A game controlled with authority and lucidity by the men of Coach Billy Donovan, leading from the second half of the first quarter until the final siren (+22 maximum gap). Splendid performance for Zach LaVine, author of 22 points, shooting 8/16 from the field, 13 assists, 6 rebounds, 3 steals, 1 block and +20 plus / minus, supported by Nikola Vucevic’s 22 points and 7 rebounds and 18 points (8/10 shooting) by Lauri Markkanen coming off the bench. Toronto, devoid of Kyle Lowry and Fred VanVleet, can only console itself with the stratospheric performance of Chris Boucher. For him a double double of 38 points and 19 rebounds.

Toronto: Boucher 38 (14/24, 3/7 da tre, 7/8 tl), Siakam 27, Anunoby 13. Rimbalzi: Boucher 19. Assist: Flynn 7.

Chicago:LaVine 22 (8/16, 2/8 da tre, 4/5 tl), Vucevic 22, Markkanen 18. Rimbalzi: Theis 10. Assist: LaVine 13.

OC Thunder- Cleveland Cavaliers 102-129

Smooth success of the Cleveland Cavaliers (19-32) at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City. The team coached by JB Bickerstaff, ahead 65-61 at half-time, put the overtaking arrow in the 3rd quarter (28-14) and then left the void behind, also finding +29 in the final race. The Cavs sent three players over 20 points (Collin Sexton 27, Taurean Prince 22 and Darius Garland 21) and found a great Kevin Love with 18 points (6/12), 11 rebounds, 2 assists and 2 steals in 23 ‘ . The Thunder (20-32), having reached their fifth consecutive defeat, the eighth in the last nine, and decimated by injuries (9 players available for the match), did not put up any resistance. Maximum career for Ty Jerome with 23 points.

OKC:Jerome 23 (9/16, 5/9 of three), Maledon 14, Brown 13. Rebounds: Brown 11. Assists: Williams 9.

Cleveland: Sexton 27 (9/17, 0/1 of three, 9/10 tl), Prince 22, Garland 21. Rebounds: Hartenstein 12. Assist: Dellavedova 7.