NBA – Evan Fournier leaves the game of his career (41 points), RJ Barrett decisive at the buzzer!

The game: Fournier and Barrett disgust the Celtics

RJ Barrett only scored 13 points at 4 of 15 on shots but that’s almost enough to eclipse the huge performance of teammate Evan Fournier last night. Because the Canadian, very clumsy, planted the most important (and the most extraordinary) basket of the game. The one for the win. A three-point shot by falling on the side that hit the board before hitting the buzzer, finishing off the Celtics. Knicks victory by KO, 108 to 105.

But the real hero of the evening is Fournier all the same. The Frenchman was exceptional scoring 41 points against his former team, to whom he has already stuck 32 points twice this season. 41 points to 15 of 25 on shots and especially 10 of 14 three-pointers for him. A festival of distant shots which ended up exploding the opposing defense. The best performance of the career of the native of Saint-Maurice, not always successful this season. Nothing resisted him Thursday night. It was he, again accompanied by Barrett, who brought a little calm by being in the heart of an 8-0 passed by the Knicks in the last minute of the first half. An important series since the Celtics had just taken 24 points in advance and had only 16 at the break (47-63).

It was again Fournier who slammed two consecutive outside shots to revive his own once the gap rose again to 20 points in favor of Boston (61-81). Better yet, he scored the equalizer basket, then the one to pass in front (99-98), still behind the arc, 2 minutes from the end of the match. A spectacular performance from the international tricolor. Maybe even a benchmark match to gain even more confidence and consistency to finish the season.

The player: Brandon Ingram brings down the Warriors

Second loss in a row for Golden State! Without Stephen Curry (quadriceps) and Draymond Green (hip), the Warriors fell to the Pelicans (96-101). With an excellent Brandon Ingram as the superstar of the evening. In delicacy with his shot in recent matches (8 of 36 cumulative), the New Orleans winger converted 12 of his 20 attempts to finish with 32 points. He also caught 11 rebounds while distributing 6 assists.

The performance: Chris Paul in triple-double against the Clippers

Clumsy, the Suns still won against the Clippers (106-89) relying in particular on the triple-double from Chris Paul. The All-Star point guard compiled 14 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists against his former team. Los Angeles managed to come back to 5 lengths after having recovered largely from a deficit of 19 points but CP3 and his teammates then tightened the screw in defense to clinch another victory. They also take advantage of the defeat of the Warriors to return to the top of the Western Conference and the NBA.

The series: 7 in a row for Memphis

The Grizzlies haven’t once trembled against the Pistons. Without forcing, Ja Morant (22 points) and his teammates crushed their opponents (118-88) to clinch a seventh consecutive success and thus further strengthen their fourth places in the East.

The French: Nicolas Batum back

If Evan Fournier was sparkling with the Knicks, the evening was more complicated for other French nationals engaged on the NBA floors. Killian Hayes sank with the Pistons against the Grizzlies, converting 2 of 10 attempts for 5 points. Same total for Killian Tillie in the camp opposite. The interior is no longer the holder but he played 19 minutes while also taking 5 rebounds. Nicolas Batum was able to return to the field after several days of absence. But his Clippers were dominated by the Suns. And the veteran scored 1 small point in addition to his 7 rebounds.

The results of the night in the NBA

Knicks – Celtics: 108-105
Grizzlies – Pistons: 118-88
Pelicans – Warriors: 101-96
Suns – Clippers: 106-89