By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Down 15 in the third quarter, the red-hot Utah Jazz went by the Washington Wizards, 127-116, at the Capital One Arena. Bojan Bogdanovic poured a game-high 31 points to go along with his three rebounds and three assists. Rudy Gobert put in a 21-point, 14-rebound double-double, also tallied a couple of dimes, a pair of blocks and one steal. For the hosts, Davis Bertans pilled up 18 points, four boards, one dime and one rejection from the bench. Ian Mahinmi posted 15 points, seven assists, six rebounds, two interceptions and one block. Fellow starter Isaac Bonga had four points, seven boards, a pair of dimes and one steal facing foul trouble. However, Anzejs Pasecniks did not get on the board in limited action and Moritz Wagner (left ankle) remained sidelined.
Dominating it is for Jonas Valanciunas. The Lithuanian big added on his list of strong 2019-20 performances by guiding the Memphis Grizzlies to the 122-102 win over the Golden State Warriors at the FedExForum. Banked 31 points behind 13/17 from the field, grabbed a season-high 19 rebounds, also tallied a couple of blocks, one dime and one interception, only needed 29 minutes in the NBA Regular Season affair. Teammate Marko Guduric accounted for one assist in two minutes of action. Alen Smailagic did not attempt a shot in seven minutes for the Warriors, but posted three boards, one dime and one block.
Powered by Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets held on for the 114-104 victory opposite to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Pepsi Center. The 24-year-old Serbian scored a team-high 20 points with 6/14 field goals, pulled down 15 rebounds for the double-double, dished six dimes and added one steal to his Sunday totals. Vlatko Cancar failed to register a stat in limited play and Juan Hernangomez stayed on the bench. Lone European of the visitors, Ivica Zubac retained his spot in the starting unit and drew up six points, nine boards, one assist and one rejection in 18 minutes of work.
Ricky Rubio, Elie Okobo and Dario Saric combined for 23 points helping the Phoenix Suns beat the Charlotte Hornets, 100-92, at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Starting Rubio made the most of the European points with ten combining them with nine dimes and four rebounds. The 22-year-old French point guard had eight points, a pair of boards and one dime for the bench. Saric started for five points, six rebounds and a couple of dimes. As for the losing side, Nicolas Batum notched two points, six boards, one assist and one interception, but Willy Hernangomez did not get on the court.
Five points, four rebounds, three dimes and one steal by Marco Belinelli, and four points, ten boards, a couple of rejections and one assist from Jakob Poeltl helped the San Antonio Spurs secure the 105-104 comeback win against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena. Fellow European Luka Samanic remained on his G League assignment. Serge Ibaka scored a team-high 21 points, also posted 14 rebounds, one dime and one rejection in losing effort. OG Anunoby started as well for eight points, three boards, two assists and one interception. Marc Gasol (left hamstring) stayed on the injury list.
At the Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets got Kyrie Irving back and generated a 108-86 win over the Atlanta Hawks. Dzanan Musa chipped in with four points and a couple of boards, Rodions Kurucs had three points, six rebounds, five dimes and one steal, and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot two rebounds, one assist and one interception, all Euros from the bench. Alex Len threw in ten points, four boards and one dime but landed on the wrong side of the outcome.
The other game of the night saw the New York Knicks defeat the Miami Heat, 124-121, at the Madison Square Garden. Frank Ntilikina (groin) was sidelined and Ignas Brazdeikis with the Westchester Knicks. The losing side featured the only European, Goran Dragic and his six points, four dimes and two rebounds in 24 minutes.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 35-6
2. Boston Celtics 26-11
3. Miami Heat 27-12
4. Toronto Raptors 25-14
5. Philadelphia 76ers 25-15
6. Indiana Pacers 24-15
7. Brooklyn Nets 18-20
8. Orlando Magic 18-21
9. Charlotte Hornets 15-27
10. Chicago Bulls 14-26
11. Detroit Pistons 14-26
12. Washington Wizards 13-26
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 12-27
14. New York Knicks 11-29
15. Atlanta Hawks 8-32
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 32-7
2. Denver Nuggets 27-12
3. Utah Jazz 27-12
4. Houston Rockets 26-12
5. Los Angeles Clippers 27-13
6. Dallas Mavericks 24-15
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 22-17
8. Memphis Grizzlies 18-22
9. San Antonio Spurs 17-21
10. Phoenix Suns 16-23
11. Portland Trail Blazers 16-24
12. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-23
13. Sacramento Kings 15-24
14. New Orleans Pelicans 14-26
15. Golden State Warriors 9-32
Photo Credit: Getty Images