By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With one ticket left open for the playoffs, Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks with a road win against Utah secured their place in the post season. The Jazz and the Rockets will fight until the end, they are tied with a 40-41 record, but Utah suffered a blow with French Rudy Gobert injuring his ankle in the most crucial moment.
As for Nowitzki, he admitted that it was a bumpy ride: “It was a tough season, tough season again. But we’ve got some guys that are veterans that are tough guys and want to play together and ultimately wanted to make the playoffs, wanted it bad to make a run here. I think not a lot of guys gave us a chance, looking at our roster before the season, [with] two of our main guys coming off major surgery. I saw a lot of websites actually picking us last in the West”.
Here’s the Top10 of the day, the results and the Euro-standouts.
Results of the day
Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 109-94 (Schroder 4 p., 2 as.)
Orlando Magic – Milwaukee Bucks 107-98 (Ilyasova 22 p.)
Boston Celtics – Charlotte Hornets 100-114 (Batum 6 p., 5 as.)
Brooklyn Nets – Washington Wizards 111-120 (Gortat 11 p., 7 r.)
Minessota Timberwolves – Houston Rockets 105-129 (Motjejunas 7 p., 4 r., 3 as.)
New Orleans Pelicans – Chicago Bulls 116-121 (Mirotic 20 p.)
Oklahoma City Thunder – LA Lakers 112-79 (Ibaka 2 p., 5 r.)
Utah Jazz – Dallas Mavericks 92-101 (Nowitzki 22 p., 11 r.)
Phoenix Suns – Sacramento Kings 101-105 (Koufos 19 p., 8 r.)