Milan, Jan. 2 (LaPresse) – Five NBA games were played overnight. In the only home win of the day, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz 118-101 thanks to a spectacular performance by Kawhi Leonard, who scored 45 points in 39 minutes. The Miami Heat, meanwhile, won on the road against the Detroit Pistons 118-112, led by Norman Powell’s 36 points. Italian player Simone Fontecchio scored five points in six minutes. For the home team, Cade Cunningham’s double-double of 31 points and 11 assists was in vain. Jaylen Brown added 29 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics to a 120-106 victory over the Sacramento Kings, where DeMar DeRozan shone with 25 points. The Houston Rockets also won on the road, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 120-96, with Amen Thompson scoring 23 points and Kevin Durant adding 22 points and 11 assists. Finally, the Dallas Mavericks were overwhelmed by the Philadelphia 76ers, who won 123-108 behind Tyrese Maxey, who recorded 34 points and 10 assists. For the Mavericks, Max Christie’s 18 points were not enough.