The star forward LeBron James is going through a bad professional moment since he arrived this season at Los Angeles Lakes after having already suffered the worst injury of his professional career and last night the most humiliating defeat.
The day of the NBA also had as protagonist to the base Russell Westbrook that put in seven consecutive games his streak of triple-doubles and tied with the legendary Michael Jordan.
Croatian forward Bojan Bogdanovic scored 24 points and the Indiana Pacers tied franchise record by scoring 19 triples that allowed them to win by beating the Lakers 136-94 and humiliating James, their big star, with the worst professional loss.
The Pacers (35-19) added their third consecutive victory and remain second in the Central Division, second only to the Milwaukee Bucks (39-13), who have the best record in the league.
The Lakers (27-27), penultimate in the Pacific Division, lost with James as leader, who returned with the team after being absent in the previous match, but not only could not avoid the defeat but suffered the worst in his 16 years as a professional James had 18 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in his second game since his left groin was injured on Christmas Day, and he did not play in the fourth quarter.
The worst defeats of James before the suffered against the Pacers occurred on January 16, 2017 when with his team the Cleveland Cavaliers lost by 126-91 to the Warriors of Golden State (35 points of disadvantage).
The same as they had on November 28, 2007 when the Cavaliers, in the first stage of James, succumbed 109-74 against the Detroit Pistons.
The consolation for James before the humiliation suffered against the Pacers was having reached 32,000 points as a professional, after scoring 7 of 12 field goals. He became the fifth player in league history to do so.
Westbrook scored his seventh consecutive triple-double and the Oklahoma City Thunder won 132-122 to the Orlando Magic.
The All-Star of the Thunder finished with 16 points, 16 assists and 15 rebounds to match the longest triple-double streak of his career and also draw with Jordan, who got it during the 1988-89 season.
Previously, Westbrook had already made twice the same streak, in the last missed the opportunity to extend it to eight to face the Memphis Grizzlies, who prevented him from capturing the tenth rebound after providing 45 points and 10 assists.
The story can be repeated or left to Jordan when on Thursday the Thunder face the Grizzlies.
The player who has the longest streak of consecutive three-pointers is the legendary Wilt Chamberlain who placed it in nine during the 1968 season.
Westbrook already has so far this season 20 games that has achieved a triple-double and expanded to 124 that has achieved since he came to the NBA, the second best record of all time, only surpassed by the member of the Hall of Fame Oscar Robertson.
Forward Jayson Tatum scored 25 points as leader of the Boston Celtics’ attack, which added his fifth consecutive win by defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers 96-103.
The Celtics (35-19), with nine wins in the last 10 games, claim second place in the Atlantic Division, which they now share with the Philadelphia Sixers who lost in their 107-119 field against the Toronto Raptors, leaders (39-16).
The combination of forward Kawhi Leonard, who finished the match with 24 points, and the Spanish power forward, Serge Ibaka, who managed a double-double were the key to the home win that the Raptors, leaders (39-16) achieved. against the Sixers (34-20).
Power forward Hassan Whiteside provided a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds for the Miami Heat, who outscored the Portland Trail Blazers 108-118 and snapped a three-game losing streak, but remain second in the Southeast Division (25 -27).
The Trail Blazers (32-21), third in the Northwest Division, were driven by guard C.J. McCollum, who had 33 points as the best encestador.
Forwards Tobias Harris, who at the end of the game was traded to the Sixers, scored 34 points as the leading scorer of the Los Angeles Clippers, who won at home 115-117 to the Charlotte Hornets, who despite the defeat remain leaders in the Southeast Division.
Base Mike Conley had 25 points and nine assists in what could be his final game for the Memphis Grizzlies, who beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 108-106.
The Spanish pivot did not play by the coach’s decision and all rumors pointed to a possible transfer to the Hornets.
Power forward Blake Griffin scored 29 points and center Andre Drummond finished with a double-double of 17 points and 16 rebounds that helped the Detroit Pistons win 92-105 visitors to the New York Knicks, who lost the fourteenth consecutive global game and the fifteenth in their field at Madison Square Garden , the worst streak in its history.(USAEFE)
