NBA, results for Sunday 11 February

It’s not a Sunday like any other for US sport: it’s Superbowl day. An exceptional event, which captures the attention of all fans and also forces the NBA to adapt, with only two events being staged in the Italian evening. The Celtics and Heat open the program, offering an intense match worthy of the rivalry between the two franchises. The one to rejoice is Boston, which trembles at the end but manages to resist Miami’s furious comeback, forced to give up Jimmy Butler. No problem for Oklahoma City in the second scheduled match: the Thunder dominate the Kings and remain at the top of the class in the Western Conference.

Miami Heat-Boston Celtics 106-110

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When the Celtics are the Celtics, limiting them is difficult for everyone. If there is anyone capable of doing it, it is the Heat (28-25), Boston’s “nemesis” (41-12) after the hard-fought 2023 playoff series. Porzingis, Tatum and Brown take care of giving the victory to Mazzulla , confirming their dominance over the East and closing the season series at 3-0 against the Heat, far from sacrificial victims. In fact, despite the heavy absences, Miami never leaves the match and only gives in at the end. The withdrawal of Jimmy Butler, absent due to family bereavement, weighs heavily, as do the injuries of Josh Richardson and new signing Terry Rozier. The former Boston player lands badly on his right leg after a support to the basket: the dynamics suggest the worst. The Celtics took advantage of this by maintaining a comfortable lead for almost the entire match, but if there is one thing that the Boston area knows very well, it is that the Heat never dies. And in fact, at the best moment, coach Spoelstra’s team finds a reaction of pride and gets back within range. Boston trembles but doesn’t give up: the defense manages to make a patch, and so the Heat are unable to complete the comeback, which was definitively extinguished by two free throws from Tatum in the final seconds.

MIAMI: Herro 24 (6/9, 4/12), Adebayo 22, Martin and Robinson 15. Rebounds: Adebayo 13. Assists: Rozier 6. BOSTON: Tatum 26 (9/14, 2/6, 2/2 tl) , Porzingis 25, Brown 20. Rebounds: Tatum 10. Rebounds: Tatum 9.

Oklahoma City Thunder-Sacramento Kings 127-113

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Oklahoma City (36-17) starts again from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams. After the two consecutive defeats against Jazz and Mavs, the reaction comes against the Kings (30-22), who find their rhythm too late and are unable to get the game back on track. The comeback attempt arrives in the fourth quarter, when Sacramento – even chasing by 24 and led by a triple-double Sabonis – gets back to “only” 8 points behind OKC. A thread that however was not followed up: even in the most difficult moments, the game always remains firmly in the hands of Shai and Williams, dominators of the evening, who prevent the Kings from getting close to overtaking. The lead was promptly rebuilt without leaving room for replies: Dort’s 17 points and Holmgren’s 14 did the rest. The Thunder win and thus resume their run with the top of the Western Conference.

OKLAHOMA CITY: Gilgeous-Alexander 38 (12/22, 3/4, 5/9 TL), Williams 32, Dort 17. Rebounds: Dort 9. Assists: Williams 9. SACRAMENTO: Monk 26 (4/10, 6/10 ), Sabonis 21, Fox 15. Rebounds: Sabonis 11. Assists: Sabonis 14.