The Los Angeles Lakers lost the first game after winning the title in the new NBA tournament despite a strong interim spurt. Daniel Theis, on the other hand, was successful with the Clippers.
The record champions lost to the Dallas Mavericks 125:127 on Tuesday evening (December 12, 2023). The Lakers around the strong Anthony Davis and LeBron James temporarily made up for a 15-point deficit and ensured an exciting game in the end, but were no longer successful against the Mavericks around their leader Luka Doncic.
German NBA professional Maxi Kleber was still missing from the Texans because of the consequences of his dislocated little toe.
James with 33 points and Davis with 37 points and 11 rebounds played well. But it wasn’t enough to slow Doncic down in Dallas. The Slovenian recorded 33 points and 17 assists, Tim Hardaway Jr. also had a strong evening with 32 points and took advantage of the freedom in the absence of the injured Kyrie Irving.
Multiple rounds of applause for Theis
World champion Daniel Theis won a clear home win with the Los Angeles Clippers. The 119:98 win against the Sacramento Kings was never in danger; Theis received several rounds of applause and finished the game with eight points and three rebounds in 16 minutes. The man of the evening was Kawhi Leonard with 31 points for the Clippers.
Draymond Green is sent off the field again
Draymond Green has been sent off again. Less than a month after his five-game suspension for headlocking Rudy Gobert, the Golden State Warriors pro punched his opponent Jusuf Nurkic in the face.
Both had previously fought for their position on the field. The referees disqualified Green after the scene in the third quarter of the game against the Phoenix Suns. Green faces further punishment by the league because of his criminal history. The Warriors lost the game 116-119.