Risacher on fire

French N.1 in the June draft Zaccharie Risacher put in his first major NBA performance with 33 points (11/18 on target, including 6/10 from 3 pts) in the Atlanta Hawks’ prestigious 121-116 win over the New York Knicks.

In his 9th NBA game, Risacher (19) crushed his previous scoring record (17 on October 30), racking up 22 points from the break, for a total of 33 points to go with 7 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks, a rare all-round performance for a “rookie”.

The young Frenchman from Bourg-en-Bresse, son of ex-international Stéphane Risacher, displayed his versatility with precise shooting (11 out of 18, including 6 out of 10 from distance), aggressiveness near the circle and defensive ease in 37 minutes of play, his highest total ever.

Cleveland last unbeaten team

The Cleveland Cavaliers continued their impressive start to the season with their 9th win in as many games at the New Orleans Pelicans (131-122), thanks in particular to 29 points from Donovan Mitchell.

The Cavs are off to the best start in their history under new coach Kenny Atkinson, who was Vincent Collet’s assistant at the Olympic Games with the French national team this summer. The 57-year-old American coach, former Brooklyn boss (2016-2020), has made the best start to a season for a new coach in the history of the league.

The Oklahoma City Thunder suffered their first defeat at the hands of 2023 champions Denver (124-122).

Jalen Williams (29 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (28 points), long in front, were no match for Nikola Jokic (23 points, 19 rebounds, 16 assists) and former Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook (29 points) late in the game.

LeBron James, 39 points in vain

Without pivot Anthony Davis, who suffered a foot injury, “The King” LeBron James, who at the age of 39 is beginning his 22nd NBA season, showed his muscles in Memphis with 39 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Despite their star’s best game since the start of the season, the Los Angeles Lakers were downed by Ja Morant’s Grizzlies (131-114) (20 points, 5 assists) and remain on a 4-game losing streak (4 wins – 4 losses overall).

Discreet Wembanyama

Still without their coach Gregg Popovich and fullback Devin Vassell, and with the new absence of their strong winger Jeremy Sochan due to a fractured left thumb, the San Antonio Spurs sank in Houston (127-100), without ever taking the lead in the game.

Like his team, Victor Wembanyama was relatively effete, with 15 points on 6 out of 14 shooting, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

In the debacle, Sidy Cissoko was able to scrape together some playing time (5 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists in 8 minutes).

Curry mishandles the Celtics

The evergreen Stephen Curry shone for the Golden State Warriors (27 points on 4-of-9 3-pointers, 7 rebounds, 9 assists) in a back-and-forth game that saw the San Francisco Bay Area team win at champions Boston (118-112).

Jayson Tatum’s Celtics, always ebullient (32 points), thus suffered their first setback of the season in regulation time, after an overtime loss to Indiana.

For the Warriors, the start of the season appears to have been a spectacular renaissance, with 7 wins (including 5 away) and just one defeat, a few months after a pitiful play-off elimination, a far cry from the lustre of the last decade (titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2022).

Results of the night:
Dallas – Chicago 119 – 99
Atlanta – New York 121 – 116
Boston – Golden State 112 – 118
LA Clippers – Philadelphia 110 – 98
Sacramento – Toronto 122 – 107
Denver – Oklahoma City 124 – 122
Phoenix – Miami 115 – 112
Houston – San Antonio 127 – 100
Memphis – LA Lakers 131 – 114
New Orleans – Cleveland 122 – 131
Charlotte – Detroit 108 – 107
Indiana – Orlando 118 – 111

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SEE ALSO – AS Monaco: Adi Hütter “really happy” after victory over Bologna in the Champions League (0-1)

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