By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic set a career-high with eight three-pointers en route for his 35 points. He also posted eight rebounds, seven dimes and one steal for the Dallas Mavericks in the 120-112 victory opposite to the Portland Trail Blazers at the American Airlines Center. Maxi Kleber started as well for ten points, five boards, three rejections and one assist, but Boban Marjanovic stayed on the bench and Kristaps Porzingis (right knee) on the injury list. Mario Hezonja returned to action for the visitors making a run for seven points and three rebounds, but Jaylen Hoard did not earn playing time and Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) was unavailable.
Vintage Gasol
In his second 2019-20 NBA Regular Season game back from a lengthy stay on the injury list, Marc Gasol tied his personal-best with six made threes and scored 20 points helping the Toronto Raptors past the Washington Wizards, 140-111, at the Scotiabank Arena. Added six boards, five assists, a couple of steals and one rejection to his tally on Friday night. Fellow European starters OG Anunoby and Serge Ibaka combined for 33 more points, 18 and 15 respectively. The Brit forward had six rebounds, four interceptions and a pair of assists as well, while his teammate put eight rebounds and one dime in his stat sheet.
The losing side with the most Europeans out of all NBA teams had starter Isaac Bonga at 17 points, ten rebounds and one steal. David Bertans summed up 12 points, a couple of rebounds, a pair of assists, one steal and one rejection, and Anzejs Pasecniks went for 11 points and six boards both from the bench. Also in action was starter Ian Mahinmi with five points, seven rebounds and one interception. Moritz Wagner (left ankle) remained sidelined.
Here comes Korkmaz
Career-high and game-high 24 points by Furkan Korkmaz powered the Philadelphia 76ers to the 100-89 win against the Chicago Bulls at the Wells Fargo Center. He banked 6/9 threes, added four rebounds and one rejection to his totals. Lauri Markkanen ended up with 12 points, four boards, two steals, one block and one dime for the losing side. Fellow starter Tomas Satoransky had six points, six assists and five rebounds. Adam Mokoka remained on his G League assignment.
The rest of the European field
The Miami Heat beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 115-108, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Goran Dragic chipped in with ten points, five assists and a couple of boards in 29 minutes of reserve action. Danilo Gallinari scored a game-high 27 points, posted six rebounds, four dimes and one interception as well, but was not enough for the hosts. Dennis Schroder added 18 points, eight assists and seven boards from the bench.
Jonas Valanciunas put up eight points with 4/11 from the field, but pulled down 18 rebounds, dished out four assists and rejected four shots with the Memphis Grizzlies defeating the Cleveland Cavaliers, 113-109, at the FedExForum. Marko Guduric did not take part in the action though. Cedi Osman was held to four points and four rebounds in losing effort with Ante Zizic (illness) sidelined.
Alex Len (back) was ruled out, but the Atlanta Hawks scored a comeback victory, 121-120, against the San Antonio Spurs, at the AT&T Center. Marco Belinelli notched nine points, two assists and one board in losing effort. Teammate Jakob Poeltl finished with four points, five boards, four dimes, three rejections and one steal. Luka Samanic did not make the active squad.
Foul trouble held Domantas Sabonis to eight points, five boards, four assists and one block, but the Indiana Pacers took down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-114, at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Goga Bitadze added five points and one rebound from the bench. Assigned Naz Mitrou-Long was inactive.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 37-6
2. Miami Heat 29-12
3. Boston Celtics 27-13
4. Toronto Raptors 27-14
5. Indiana Pacers 27-15
6. Philadelphia 76ers 27-16
7. Orlando Magic 20-22
8. Brooklyn Nets 18-22
9. Detroit Pistons 15-27
10. Chicago Bulls 15-28
11. Charlotte Hornets 15-29
12. Washington Wizards 13-28
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 12-30
14. New York Knicks 11-31
15. Atlanta Hawks 10-32
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 33-8
2. Denver Nuggets 29-12
3. Los Angeles Clippers 29-13
4. Utah Jazz 28-13
5. Houston Rockets 26-14
6. Dallas Mavericks 27-15
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 23-19
8. Memphis Grizzlies 20-22
9. San Antonio Spurs 17-23
10. Portland Trail Blazers 18-25
11. Phoenix Suns 17-24
12. New Orleans Pelicans 16-26
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-26
14. Sacramento Kings 15-26
15. Golden State Warriors 9-34
Photo Credit: Getty Images