By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Kawhi Leonard scored 23 points, including the winning jumper with 6 seconds left, and the Spurs overcame another sluggish start in their own building to beat the Washington Wizards 107-105 on Friday night.
Spanish star Pau Gasol, who was the only European of the roster used in this game, had 19 points and 10 rebounds for San Antonio, which won its 17th straight home game against Washington. For the losing side Polish center Marcin Gortat was also impressive with 21 points and 18 rebounds.
In New York, Nemanja Bjelica and his 17 points couldn’t make the difference for Minnesota as the Knicks got the 118-114 win. The Serb was the top Euro-scorer of the game, while having also 7 rebounds and 3 assists. For the losing side Latvian Kristaps Porzingis had 11 points, Spaniard Willy Hernangomez and Slovenian Sasha Vujacic scored 6 points each and Lithuanian Mindaugas Kuzminskas added 4. For the losing side, Spaniard Ricky Rubio had 3 points and 6 assists.
The most important result of the night came in Chicago, where Jimmy Butler scored 26 points, Dwyane Wade had 24 and the Bulls beat LeBron James and the slumping Cavaliers 111-105. “We got to get out of the honeymoon stage,” James said after the game. “You got to play the game, the right way. We’ve got to battle every night like we ain’t won nothing. Last year is last year”. Nicola Mirotic, the only European of the game, added 2 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists for the winning side.
Here’s the rest of last night’s results and the euro-scorers
Boston – Sacramento 97-92 (Jerebko 5 p. 9 r. – Casspi 7 p. Koufos 3 r.)
Toronto – Lakers 113-80 (Valanciunas 6 p. 7 r., Poeltl 2 r. 2 as. – Deng 2 p., Mozgov 2 p., Calderon 5 p., 5 r.)
New Orleans – LA Clippers 96-114 (Asik 4 p., Ajinca 2 p.)
Atlanta – Detroit 121-85 (Schroder 17 p. 11 as., Sefolosha 5 p. – Udrih 11 p., Marjanovic 3 p.)
Denver – Houston 110-128 (Gallinari 16 p., Nurkic 10 p., Hernangomez 4 r. – Capela 13 p. 10 r.)
Philadelphia – Orlando 88-105 (Ibaka 16 p.. Fournier 16 p., Vucevic 12 p. 11 r. – Rodriguez 8 p. 7 as., Ilyasova 7 p., Saric 2 p. Luwawu 4 p.)
Eastern Conference
1 Cleveland Cavaliers 13-5
2 Toronto Raptors 13-6
3 Chicago Bulls 11-7
4 Boston Celtics 11-8
5 Charlotte Hornets 11-8
6 Milwaukee Bucks 9=8
7 New York Knicks 10-9
8 Detroit Pistons 11-10
Atlanta Hawks 10-10
Indiana Pacers 9-10
Orlando Magic 8-12
Miami Heat 7-12
Washington Wizards 6-12
Brooklyn Nets 5-13
Philadelphia 76ers 4-15
Western Conference
1 Golden State Warriors 16-3
2 San Antonio Spurs 16-4
3 LA Clippers 16-5
4 Houston Rockets 13-7
5 Oklahoma City Thunder 12-8
6 Memphis Grizzlies 12-8
7 Utah Jazz 11-9
8 Portland Trail Blazers 10=10
Los Angeles Lakers 10-11
Denver Nuggets 7-12
Sacramento Kings 7-12
New Orleans Pelicans 7-13
Phoenix Suns 6-13
Minnesota Timberwolves 5-14
Dallas Mavericks 3-15