By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Marc Gasol scored 36 points, but it was a pair of free throws by reserve guard Toney Douglas with less a second left that closed out Memphis’ 88-86 comeback victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. Still the Spanish star after Mike Conley’s injury is carrying Memphis which is now 5th in the West.
In the East, DeMar DeRozan had a team-high 27 points for the Raptors, Kyle Lowry added 25 points with 11 assists, and Lithuanian center Jonas Valanciunas registered his team-leading sixth double-double on 20 points and 10 rebounds as second in the standings Toronto beat Minessota 124-110 (Rubio 7 p. 3 as., Bjelica 9 p.).
Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova scored 23 points, Spanish point guard Sergio Rodriguez added 16, and the 76ers snapped a franchise record-tying 23-game road losing streak, beating reeling New Orleans 99-88. Croatian Dario Saric added 13 points and 5 rebounds for the winners, while French center Alexis Ajinca who was a starter for the Pelicans had 8 points and 4 rebounds. Turk center Omer Asik came from the bench for 8 points and 9 rebounds.
Jazz French center Rudy Gobert had 20 points and 17 rebounds but the Golden State Warriors got the 106-99 road win over Utah. Georgian center Zaza Pachulia added 2 points and 4 rebounds for the winners, while French forward Boris Diaw had 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for the Jazz.
Washinton beat Denver (92-85) with Polish center Marcin Gortat contributing 4 points and 7 rebounds. For the losing side Serb big man Nikola Jokic had a double double (17 p. 11 r.), Italian Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic had 13 points and 7 rebounds and Spaniard Juan Hernangomez had 3 points and 4 rebounds.
Last but not least, the Bulls prevailed over the Spurs (95-91) with Spaniard Nikola Mirotic adding 9 points and 6 rebounds. For the Spurs, Pau Gasol had 13 points and 10 rebounds against his former team and French guard Tony Parker added 8 points and 5 assists.
Eastern Conference
1 Cleveland Cavaliers 15-5
2 Toronto Raptors 15-7
3 Boston Celtics 13-9
4 Charlotte Hornets 13-9
5 Milwaukee Bucks 11-9
6 New York Knicks 12-10
7 Chicago Bulls 12-10
8 Detroit Pistons 12-12
Indiana Pacers 11-11
Atlanta Hawks 11-12
Orlando Magic 10-13
Washington Wizards 8-13
Miami Heat 7-15
Brooklyn Nets 6-15
Philadelphia 76ers 5-18
Western Conference
1 Golden State Warriors 20-3
2 San Antonio Spurs 18-5
3 LA Clippers 16-7
4 Houston Rockets 15-7
5 Memphis Grizzlies 16-8
6 Oklahoma City Thunder 14-8
7 Utah Jazz 14-10
8 Portland Trail Blazers 12-12
Los Angeles Lakers 10-14
Sacramento Kings 8-13
Denver Nuggets 8-15
New Orleans Pelicans 7-16
Minnesota Timberwolves 6-16
Phoenix Suns 6-16
Dallas Mavericks 4-17