Curry makes OKC see 36 candles

We thought they were veterans, but the Warriors have made a sparkling start to the season, with their 8th win in 10 games on the floor of OKC. This success enables the Californian franchise, with four crowns between 2015 and 2022, to take first place from their evening’s hosts. It obviously owes much to their 36-year-old point guard Steph Curry, who scored… 36 points, including 7/13 from long range, 7 assists and 5 rebounds.

Golden State got off to a diesel start, conceding 33-26 in the first quarter, before rallying in the second to take an emphatic 39-25 lead at the break (65-58) and then resisting the onslaught of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24 pts). Nothing dramatic for the Thunder, who are also 8-2, as is Phoenix, surprised at home by Sacramento (118-127 a.p.). OKC will, however, have to pamper the hip of its other star, Chet Holmgren, out in the first quarter after a nasty fall.

Tatum on his 31

A delicious double-double (31 points and 12 rebounds) from Jayson Tatum and the Celtics continue to hang on to Cleveland’s 11-0 lead with their 9th win over Milwaukee (113-107). Another NBA star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, was also on target for the Bucks, with 43 points scored and 13 rebounds, but the bad run continues for Milwaukee, mired at the bottom of the standings with 8 defeats.

The C’s squad is already well oiled, as evidenced by Payton Pritchard’s performance (18 pts) off the bench, combined with those of Derrick White (15), Jaylen Brown (14) and Jrue Holiday, scorer of 15 points against his former team. “It’s a collective effort”said Holiday. “We got swept twice last year (in Milwaukee) so to get this win here, with my family in the stands, is great.”he added.

37-18-15, mammoth triple-double for Jokic

In Denver, it was Michael Porter Jr who gave the Nuggets victory with 6 seconds to go against the Dallas Mavericks (122-120). But three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was at it again, pulling off a stratospheric triple-double with 37 points, 18 rebounds and 15 assists! “It’s not like a little triple-double… I mean, 37, 18, 15, that’s just crazy.”reacted a bemused Porter Jr, hood on his head.

This was all it took to thwart the plans of Kyrie Irving, who had settled the score (43 points, his record this season). With this seventh victory, the 2023 champions are on the prowl behind the top three in the West, while Luka Doncic’s Mavs (24 pts on Sunday) are just keeping their heads above water (5-5).

LeBron James, roaring 39

Did you say triple-double? No problem for “King James”who is surely approaching his 40th birthday (December 30). LeBron not only scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, but also broke his record for assists this season, 16 in this case, in the Lakers’ 123-103 win in Toronto. LA is 6th in the West (6 v., 4 d.) and leaves Toronto more than ever last in the East (2-9).

The Sixers’ 2nd (only)

After a cataclysmic start to the season, the Sixers got some fresh air by dominating Charlotte 107-105 after overtime, thanks in particular to an old acquaintance of LeBron James, Frenchman Gueschon Yabusele, who scored 20 points (and 8 rebounds) in 31 minutes on the floor. “Phila” is still a long way off (2 v., 7 d.) but is about to get Joel Embiid back after his three-game suspension for having “shoving” a journalist.