Leadershio in the West Remains Tight as Thunder, T-Wolves, Clippers, Nuggets Win
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso
PhilBoxing.com
Mon, 05 Feb 2024
Leadership in the NBA Western Conference remains a tight race as all contenders, the OKC Thunder, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers won their games keeping them just a win or loss apart.
The Thunder and the Timberwolves are nominally tied both toting 35-15 records after hone wins over the Toronto Raptors 135-127 and the Houston Rockets 111-90 respectively.
The Clippers and the Nuggets also won respectively over the Miami Heat 105-97 on the road and the Portland Trailblazers 112-103 at home to improve to 33-15 and 35-16 to stay within distance of the leaders.
Meanwhile the Boston Celtics fortified their lead in the East with an overwhelming 131-91 win over the Memphis Grizzlies at their homecourt; the TD Garden Arena where they have won all but three of their home games thus far. The Celtics are 38-12, five won games ahead of the second running Milwaukee Bucks.
The Thunder rode on five players who scored 20 or more points against the Raptors which drew 23 points from RJ Barrett and at least 16 points from five more players. Giddey led the Thunder parade of scorers with 24 followed by S Gilgeous Alexander (23), Chet Holmgren (22), L Dorf (22) and Aaron Wiggins (20).
The Timberwolves were led by Anthony Edwards with 32 points and got a combined 31 points and 24 rebounds from their twin towers of Rudy Gobeet and Karl Anthony Towns. Only three Rockets managed to put up double figures led by center Alferes Sequin (15), Cam Whitmore (14) and Fred VanFleet (12).
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 25 points followed by James Harden (21), Norman Powell (16) and Paul George (15). The Heat were led by Jimmy Butler with 21, Terry Rozier (17) and center Bam Abedayo (14).
Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray led the Nuggets with 29 and 21. Four other Nuggets scored at least 11 points. Deandre Ayton scored 26 and Anfernee Simons added 25 for Portland.
The author Teodoro Medina Reynoso is a veteran boxing radio talk show host living in the Philippines. He can be reached at teddyreynoso@yahoo.com and by phone 09215309477.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Teodoro Medina Reynoso.
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