By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks had something to prove on Sunday following two straight tough losses. Coming off a three-point effort in an overtime loss on Friday, Nowitzki scored all 13 of his points in the first half and Dallas gave the Los Angeles Lakers the worst loss in their history, 122-73.
The 49-point defeat just edged Los Angeles’ two previous worst losses at 48 points, most recently 123-75 at Utah on March 28, 2016. British Luol Deng had 9 points for the losing side, Russian Timofey Mozgov added 4, Croatian rookie Ivica Zubac had 2 and Spaniard Jose Calderon also 2.
Despite 18 points and 8 rebounds by Serb Nikola Jokic, Minessota beat Denver 111-108. His compatriot Nemanja Bjelica scored 8 points for the winners and Ricky Rubio didn’t play. For the losing side, Italian Danilo Gallinari scored 14 points, while Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic and Spaniard Juancho Hernangomez also missed the game.
Steph Curry (27 p.) and Klay Thompson (21 p.) each finished with seven 3-pointers and the Warriors won their seventh straight game, beating the Orlando Magic 118-98. Curry passed Pedja Stojakovic in the all-time list of made threes and Georgian Zaza Pachulia added 14 points for the winners. For Orlando, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic had 12 points, Spaniard Serge Ibaka scored 10, Croatian Damjan Rudez added 2 assists and his compatriot Mario Hezonja had 7 points.
With a career-high 40-point game, Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe led the Suns to a 115-103 win over the Toronto Raptors. Ukrainian Alex Len added 4 points for the winners and Croatian Dragan Bender had 1 rebound and 1 assist. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas had a double double for the losing side (16 p. 12 r.)
Eastern Conference
| W | L | |
| 1Cleveland Cavaliers | 30 | 12 |
| 2Toronto Raptors | 28 | 16 |
| 3Boston Celtics | 26 | 17 |
| 4Atlanta Hawks | 26 | 18 |
| 5Washington Wizards | 23 | 20 |
| 6Charlotte Hornets | 23 | 21 |
| 7Indiana Pacers | 22 | 21 |
| 8Chicago Bulls | 22 | 23 |
| Detroit Pistons | 21 | 24 |
| Milwaukee Bucks | 20 | 23 |
| New York Knicks | 19 | 26 |
| Orlando Magic | 18 | 28 |
| Philadelphia 76ers | 15 | 27 |
| Miami Heat | 14 | 30 |
| Brooklyn Nets | 9 | 34 |
Western Conference
| W | L | |
| 1Golden State Warriors | 38 | 6 |
| 2San Antonio Spurs | 34 | 9 |
| 3Houston Rockets | 34 | 13 |
| 4LA Clippers | 29 | 16 |
| 5Utah Jazz | 29 | 16 |
| 6Oklahoma City Thunder | 25 | 19 |
| 7Memphis Grizzlies | 26 | 20 |
| 8Denver Nuggets | 18 | 25 |
| Portland Trail Blazers | 19 | 27 |
| New Orleans Pelicans | 17 | 27 |
| Sacramento Kings | 16 | 27 |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | 16 | 28 |
| Dallas Mavericks | 15 | 29 |
| Phoenix Suns | 15 | 29 |
| Los Angeles Lakers | 16 | 32 |