Wade’s circus litter defeats Warriors – Nowitzki thinks of 22nd season
Luka Doncic’s last game as a teenager was a victory, to which Dirk Nowitzki contributed again. A wild finish was seen by the crowd in Miami, where Dwyane Wade only threw the ball towards the basket in the second attempt. The NBA from Wednesday.
It was the throw of the evening in the NBA. The Miami Heat were behind with 123:125, the opponent was no less than Champion Golden State. Time ran out, Miami had trouble keeping the ball in the rows. A good two seconds were still on the clock when Dwyane Wade got the equipment. The experienced player didn’t get his first throw away because Jordan Bell blocked him. The game seemed to be over, but Wade had the ball back in his hands – and a few tenths of a second left.
The last attempt was what is often called a “circus litter”. One-leggedly jumping off, Wade threw the ball towards the basket. And over the board he actually fell through the ring! 126:125, siren, off. The Warriors were beaten. Steph Curry acknowledged it with a bittersweet smile, while Wade could not be stopped by his colleagues and finally let himself be celebrated standing on the referee table. A series of six home defeats in a row was torn – and an important victory in the fight for the play-off participation in dry cloths.
Mavs finish negative run – Nowitzki thinks of the 22nd season
Change of scenery. In Dallas, the Mavericks received the Indiana Pacers after five losses in a row and landed a 110-101 teenage victory in the final game of top rookie Luka Doncic. For the first time this season, Dirk Nowitzki was in a home game in the Starting Five and made good use of his 22 minutes of action: eleven points, five rebounds, three assists. His compatriot Maxi Kleber scored six points in his home win. The still 19-year-old Doncic was once again the supporting pillar in the Texan game and collected 26 points and ten rebounds. Despite the success, the Mavericks are still well behind the play-off ranks in the Western Conference with a record of 27 wins and 34 defeats.
Nowitzki has apparently licked blood. After his good performances in the past games, the 40-year-old said: “I would like to be there for the boys for another year. I think it depends on how the body feels.” The forward plays for the Mavericks in his 21st season and holds a league record. Nowitzki will not make the decision about his resignation until after the end of the current season. However, the 14-time Allstar had been celebrated several times by his opponent’s fans recently, but the experienced player still didn’t want to know anything about a farewell tour.
“Of course I had some construction sites this year. I had a swollen knee in the last weeks, that was of course not so great. But I feel better, I feel a little stronger,” said the German.
Zero points for Theis – Lakers win crime thriller
Daniel Theis had to accept a further setback with the Boston Celtics in the fight for a good starting position for the knockout phase of the season. Against the Portland Trail Blazers, Boston suffered their fourth consecutive defeat at 92:97. Theis was without points in exactly ten minutes. With 37:25 wins, the Celtics currently occupy fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
LeBron James celebrated a 125-119 (63-57) win over New Orleans Pelicans with Los Angeles Lakers. The 34-year-old was the top performer in the Californian team with 33 points and ten assists. League newcomer Moritz Wagner was again not in action. The Lakers are tenth in the West.
The Houston Rockets around league MVP James Harden won the Charlotte Hornets 118:113 (62:69). The 29-year-old Harden scored 30 points, but again had a weak three-way quota (1/11). Houston is still fifth in the west.
NBA, Wednesday 27 February
Charlotte Hornets – Houston Rockets 113:118
Atlanta Hawks – Minnesota Timberwolves 131:123 n.V.
Boston Celtics – Portland Trail Blazers 92:97
Brooklyn Nets – Washington Wizards 116:125
Miami Heat – Golden State Warriors 126:125
Memphis Grizzlies – Chicago Bulls 107:109
San Antonio Spurs – Detroit Pistons 105:93
Dallas Mavericks – Indiana Pacers 110:101
Utah Jazz – Los Angeles Clippers 111:105
Sacramento Kings – Milwaukee Bucks 140:141 n.V.
Los Angeles Lakers – New Orleans Pelicans 125:119