NBA Paris game 2020: Bucks win over Batum’s Hornets
By Guillaume Mahot
A whole country was expecting this NBA game and the disappointed fans who had failed to get their tickets were sitting in front of their TV set watching such an event, literally speaking. Tonight in Paris, AccorHotels Arena, France attended the first NBA game ever played at home, surely not the last one according to Adam’s Silver words, who is already willing to repeat the story next year with two different teams. The NBA commissioner could be satisfied to have generated such an emulation around this game that will promote American basketball beyond borders, especially in Europe, a real strategic step after the unexpected issues on the Chinese market last summer related to the Hong Kong riots, even though Lebron James’s assertions tended to calm down things a little bit. But there was a game tonight! And Milwaukee defeated Charlotte by 116 points to 103.
Surrounded by stars, not always keen on basketball but who cares, like football players Neymar and Kylian Mbappé, or former French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin and judo star Teddy Riner, the Bucks surprisingly suffered in the first half against Hornets who were led by Nicolas Batum, present in the starting lineup for his return in France. Accustomed to sitting on the bench over the last games, the French Cameroonian forward played 34 minutes for 5 points, 5 assists and 6 rebounds. The Hornets finished the first half leading 55-50 and could be happy with their defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo, limited in attack and in difficulty with three personal faults at halftime.
But the Bucks are not ranking first of the Eastern Conference for nothing. Supported by Eric Bledsoe (20 points), Khris Middleton (14 points) and George Hill (16 points), Mike Budenholzer’s squad made the difference in the last quarter (38-25). The Greek Nigerian MVP in title and future captain in the upcoming All-Star Game 2020 was determining with 30 points and 16 rebounds, reminding people that a game lasts four quarters.
In Charlotte, Congolese center Bismack Biyombo had a little night with 8 minutes played for 4 rebounds only. Hierarchy was finally respected with a fortieth victory for Milwaukee (1) and a thirty-first defeat for Charlotte (12). Back to the US now.
Africa Global News Publication
