The Celtics and the Trail Blazers experienced one of their worst days this season in the NBA this Friday. Those from Boston lost this morning against the Bucks by a margin of 33 points (135-102), while the Thunder were the executioners for those from Portland, who suffered the fifth largest difference in goals in NBA history by losing by 62 digits (139-77).
The Bucks took revenge this Friday for the last two losses in the league. The opportunity was unique. They had the Celtics, leaders in the East, in front of them, but neither this label nor the one of being unbeatable at home - those from Boston have accumulated 18 wins in 18 games played in their fiefdom - have been a problem for the Milwaukee franchise when it came to defeating to those of Mazzulla (135-102).
The Celtics, who were already down 37 points at halftime (75-38), had just played the day before against the Minnesota Timberwolves, a match that ended with victory for those in green. But this time the trident of Antetokounmpo, Lillard and Bobby Portis was too much.
The latter was the Bucks' top scorer with 28 points, while the American point guard and the Greek power forward added 21 and 24 points, respectively. For the visitors, their number '11', Payton Pritchard, tried to account for his 21 digits. They were of no use to equalize a duel that only had one half played.
The Bucks made 57.1% of their field goals and 50% of their three-pointers (11 of 22) in the first two periods. After the intermission and with an overwhelming 75-38 against, the Celtics reserved all their starters in the second half.
Those 37-point difference at halftime was the biggest deficit in the NBA this season and the worst margin against the Celtics at halftime since 1967. All in all, the Boston team continues to remain at the top of the table in the Eastern Conference and has the best record in the league (29-9).
The Lakers still haven't found their game again. The Angelenos have a record of 5-11 since they won the NBA In-Season Tournament. The last defeat for Darvin Ham's team occurred this morning against the Phoenix Suns (109-127), on a night in which LeBron James and Anthony Davis were unfortunate.
The first had 10 points (3 of 11 on field goals) and the second contributed 13. None of them stepped on the court in the last quarter because by then the duel was already resolved. Suns guard Bradley Beal marveled with 37 points (8 of 10 on triples), sealing his best scoring record with the eighth team in the West.
Also worth highlighting is the victory of the Oklahoma City Thunder against the Portland Trail Blazers (139-77). The locals equaled the fifth largest difference in NBA history with a tremendous 62-point victory against Billups' team.
The largest margin ever in the league corresponds to a game in December 2021 in which the Grizzlies destroyed the Thunder by 73 points (152-79). Two years later, Oklahoma City could not break the total record but did surpass the mark for the largest difference after three quarters, as the Thunder entered the final quarter already leading by 62 points.
