By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets hang on to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-103 as Italian scorer Danilo Gallinari, who finished with 18 points, hit the go-ahead basket with 27 seconds left for the Nuggets and Serbian big man Nikola Jokic was two rebounds shy of a triple-double, finishing with 16 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds.
Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic returned to action for Denver with 4 points and 4 rebounds. For the losing side Ricky Rubio also flirted with the triple double (18 p. 8 r. 7 as. 4 st.) and Serb Nemanja Bjelica had 5 rebounds and 2 assists.
Jabari Parker scored 31 points and Giannis Antetokuompo had 23 points and eight assists as the Bucks beat the Detroit Pistons 119-94. Milwaukee scored 58 points in the paint, hit 50 percent of its 3-pointers and had 36 assists on 48 field goals.
“We were moving the ball really well, and J.P. was getting to the rack,” the Greek freak said. “We both had a lot of open looks and our teammates got us the ball. That’s when we’re going to win.” Boban Marjanovic had 3 points and 3 rebounds for the losing side.
German point guard Dennis Schroder scored 27 points, Dwight Howard added 16 points and 22 rebounds, and the Atlanta Hawks took advantage of Anthony’s second-quarter ejection to beat the New York Knicks 102-98 in overtime. Swiss Thabo Sefolosha was punched by Carmelo Anthony and finished the game with 11 points and 6 rebounds.
For the Knicks who used Slovenian Sasha Vujacic as a starter (2 p. 5 r.), Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 24 points, French Joakim Noah had a double double (14 p. 16 r.).
French star Nicolas Batum could have had his second triple-double in a week Wednesday night, but the Charlotte Hornets didn’t need him in the fourth quarter of a 120-101 rout against the Orlando Magic.
He completed his night with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists, while for the losing side Spaniard Serge Ibaka (20 p., 7 r.), Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic (21 p. 6 r.) and the Croatian duo of Mario Hezonja (10 p.) and Damjan Rudez (6 p.) did their best. Both Italian Marco Belinelli of Hornets and French Evan Fournier of Orlando missed the game duo to injuries.
Here’s the rest of last night’s results and the euro-scorers.
Golden State – Toronto 121-111 (Pachulia 8 p; 3 r. 3 as. – Valanciunas 7 p. 5 r.)
Portland – Sacramento 102-89 (Casspi 6 p. 5 r., Koufos 6 p. 10 r.)
San Antonio – Phoenix 119-98 (Gasol 16 p. 10 r., Parker 20 p. 3 as. – Len 6 p. 5 r.)
Chicago – Brooklyn 101-99 (Mirotic 7 p. – Bogdanovic 10 p.)
Washington – Indiana 111-105 (Gortat 13 p. 16 r. – Seraphin 3p.)
New Orleans – LA Clippers 102-98
Eastern Conference
1 Cleveland Cavaliers 23-7
2 Toronto Raptors 22-9
3 Boston Celtics 19-13
4 Charlotte Hornets 18-14
5 New York Knicks 16-15
6 Atlanta Hawks 16-16
7 Chicago Bulls 16-16
8 Milwaukee Bucks 15-15
Washington Wizards 15-16
Indiana Pacers 15-18
Detroit Pistons 15-19
Orlando Magic 15-19
Miami Heat 10-22
Brooklyn Nets 8-23
Philadelphia 76ers 7-23
Western Conference
1 Golden State Warriors 28-5
2 San Antonio Spurs 26-6
3 Houston Rockets 24-9
4 LA Clippers 22-12
5 Oklahoma City Thunder 20-12
6 Utah Jazz 19-13
7 Memphis Grizzlies 20-14
8 Sacramento Kings 14-18
Denver Nuggets 14-18
Portland Trail Blazers 14-20
New Orleans Pelicans 13-21
Los Angeles Lakers 12-23
Minnesota Timberwolves 10-22
Dallas Mavericks 9-23
Phoenix Suns 9-23