National player Maxi Kleber returns after a long break, but cannot prevent his Dallas Mavericks from losing. Superstar Luka Doncic is still happy about the comeback. Without the injured LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a major setback in the playoff fight.
The Los Angeles Lakers have lost the first game after superstar LeBron James' foot injury. The NBA record champion lost 109:121 against the Memphis Grizzlies in a long, balanced basketball game. For the Lakers around national team captain Dennis Schröder, it was the first defeat after three wins - and a setback in the fight for a place in the playoffs. Schröder had ten points and ten assists, while Anthony Davis was the best pitcher for the Lakers with 28 points. For the Grizzlies, Ja Morant towered with 39 points. With ten of twelve hits in the third quarter, he was also the reason that the Grizzlies were able to develop a lead.
The Grizzlies, who were second in the Western Conference, maintained their lead over the Sacramento Kings, who came to a 123-117 at the Oklahoma City Thunder. At the top, the Denver Nuggets got a 133:112 against the Houston Rockets, Jamal Murray had 32 points, Nikola Jokic recorded a triple double with 14 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
After more than two months of injury break national player Maxi Kleber made a good comeback for the Dallas Mavericks, but could not prevent the 122:124 against the Indiana Pacers. He was on the floor for 24 minutes, scoring nine points and two assists. "He had a great game. He'll really help us," said Mavericks leader Luka Doncic, who scored 39 points himself on his 24th birthday. Because of the second loss in a row, the team slipped from the playoff places to seventh place. In the east, the Milwaukee Bucks extended their streak to 15 wins, no other team is currently as good. The Bucks got a 118:104 against the Brooklyn Nets, the best man was, as so often, Giannis Antetokounmpo with 33 points and 15 rebounds.
