MADRID, Dec. 16 (.) –
The Spanish Santi Aldama and Usman Garuba participated this Thursday night with their respective teams in the 2022-2023 NBA matchday, with good numbers once again from the canary in the resounding victory (142-101) of the Memphis Grizzlies over the Milwaukee Bucks and contribution from the alcarreño in the narrow defeat (108-111) of the Houston Rockets against the Miami Heat.
The Grizzlies became the new leaders of the Western Conference after extending their streak to seven consecutive victories against a Bucks who could hardly stand up, not even the star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who this time stayed at 19 points and with a discreet 5/ 13 in shot. Serge Ibaka continues to be low.
Instead, the locals demonstrated their great form in front of their FedEx Forum audience in a game that they dominated from start to finish and in which they had already scored 70 points before the break to their rival’s 41. Once again, Ja Morant was the leader with a great ‘triple-double’ of 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists in just over 25 minutes.
For his part, the Spanish power forward Santi Aldama once again enjoyed a long time on the field and was one of the most outstanding players in the rotation of Taylor Jenkins’ team. The canary signed 14 points, showing a good hand from outside (2/3 in triples) and three rebounds.
Memphis beat the New Orleans Pelicans in the West, who lost 132-129 to the Utah Jazz without the participation of Willy Hernangómez, while at the opposite end of the table are the Houston Rockets, defeated at home by the Miami Heat 108- 111 and a lot of participation from Usman Garuba.
The Spanish power forward played 20 minutes and helped his team a lot, especially in the rebounding aspect, with nine sacks that made him the third best of the game, only surpassed by the 11 of his teammate Jabari Smith Jr and the 10 of the visitor Jimmy Butler.
At the offensive level, the man from Azuqueca de Henares scored two points in his only basket attempt, key because it was fair after grabbing a rebound off the rival board and keeping his team alive with that 108-111 lead in the decisive stages, although later Kevin Porter Jr. missed the triple that would have meant overtime.
–STATS OF THE SPANISH PLAYERS.
SANTI ALDAMA: 14 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.
USMAN GARUBA: 2 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
