By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Second consecutive double-double for Ricky Rubio with 22 points and 11 dimes plus seven steals and six rebounds for the Phoenix Suns in the 131-111 win versus the Utah Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Dario Saric added 14 points, three boards and a pair of assists off the bench. Elie Okobo made a contribution of three rebounds while missing both of his shots. No value in Bojan Bogdanovic’s 16 points, three boards, two dimes and two steals. Teammate Rudy Gobert notched 13 points, eight rebounds, a couple of assists, one interception and one rejection.
Luka Doncic finished with 20 points, nine boards, seven assists, a pair of interceptions and one block as the Dallas Mavericks got the 139-123 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center. Fellow European starter Kristaps Porzingis punched in 15 points, nine rebounds and three dimes. Also, Maxi Kleber had 11 points, seven boards, a couple of assists and one interception, and Boban Marjanovic six points and one rebound, both coming off the bench. As for the losing side, starter Juan Hernangomez posted eight points, four boards and one assist.
Early exit for the Greek Freak
Giannis Antetokounmpo fouled out with 22 points, behind 8/12 twos, also posted 14 rebounds, a couple of dimes and one block before overtime, but the Milwaukee Bucks went on for the 137-134 victory against the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena. Khris Middleton scored the last nine points in the extra period including the game-winning three-pointer en route for his 40 points in Monday’s 2019-20 NBA Regular Season affair.
Ersan Ilyasova put in two points and three boards off the bench, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not earn playing time. Ten points, five rebounds, one dime and one interception for starter Ian Mahinmi in losing effort. Moritz Wagner had eight points, ten boards and five assists, and Isaac Bonga nine rebounds and one steal, but Anzejs Pasecniks did not get on the court and Davis Bertans (right knee) sat out.
Overtime at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse as well with the Cleveland Cavaliers beating the Miami Heat, 125-119. Starting unit member, Cedi Osman racked up seven points, a pair of dimes and one rebound in 24 minutes of action, but Ante Zizic did not play. Reserve Goran Dragic claimed a share of the team-high 22 points with 7/16 field goals, dished out six assists and pulled down four boards as well.
“W” for European Magic package
Evan Fournier poured 21 points alongside his four dimes and one rebound helping the Orlando Magic earn the 115-113 victory opposite to the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. Nikola Vucevic added a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, also posted five dimes and one rejection. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot notched three points, six boards and one assist for the hosts, but Rodions Kurucs and Dzanan Musa spent their night in the G League.
Ivica Zubac ended up with six points, ten rebounds and a pair of assists for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 124-97 victory opposite to the Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center. Reserve Marko Guduric was done at eight points and one board, while starter Jonas Valanciunas posted five points, seven rebounds and a couple of dimes in losing effort.
Joel Embiid erupts
Powered by Joel Embiid’s career-best 49 points, the Philadelphia 76ers took down the Atlanta Hawks, 121-112, at the Wells Fargo Center. Reserve Furkan Korkmaz chipped in with 15 points, six boards, a pair of assists and one interception in 31 minutes. Clint Capela (right heel) stayed on the visitors’ injury list.
The Houston Rockets overpowered the New York Knicks, 123-112, at the Toyota Center. Thabo Sefolosha threw in three rebounds, one dime and one steal. Isaiah Hartenstein and William Howard were held to G League action. Ignas Brazdeikis was inactive and Frank Ntilikina (groin) was ruled out by the losing side.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 49-8
2. Toronto Raptors 42-15
3. Boston Celtics 39-17
4. Miami Heat 36-21
5. Philadelphia 76ers 36-22
6. Indiana Pacers 33-24
7. Brooklyn Nets 26-30
8. Orlando Magic 25-32
9. Washington Wizards 20-36
10. Chicago Bulls 20-38
11. Charlotte Hornets 19-37
12. Detroit Pistons 19-40
13. New York Knicks 17-40
14. Atlanta Hawks 17-42
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-41
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 43-12
2. Denver Nuggets 39-18
3. Los Angeles Clippers 38-19
4. Houston Rockets 37-20
5. Utah Jazz 36-21
6. Oklahoma City Thunder 35-22
7. Dallas Mavericks 35-23
8. Memphis Grizzlies 28-29
9. Portland Trail Blazers 26-32
10. New Orleans Pelicans 25-32
11. San Antonio Spurs 24-32
12. Phoenix Suns 24-34
13. Sacramento Kings 23-33
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-40
15. Golden State Warriors 12-45
x-clinched a playoffs spot
Photo Credit: Getty Images