By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Danilo Gallinari marked the last lead change and Dennis Schroder followed with a clutch defensive effort for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 124-122 victory opposite to the Chicago Bulls at the United Center on Tuesday night. The reserve point guard ended up with 21 points, five dimes, a couple of rebounds and one interception. His teammate, member of the starting unit, poured a team-high 24 points to go along with his four boards and one steal. As for the hosts, starter Tomas Satoransky punched in ten points, seven assists and five rebounds, while Adam Mokoka managed three points and a pair of boards in 19 minutes. Fellow European Lauri Markkanen (right hip) remained out.
Domantas Sabonis turned up a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double for the Indiana Pacers in the 119-80 win versus the Charlotte Hornets at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. He torched opposition with 8/10 field goals including one made shot beyond the arc, neared a triple-double with nine dimes in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season affair. Goga Bitadze added five points, six assists, and three boards off the bench, but assigned Naz Mitrou-Long was inactive. Willy Hernangomez pinched in six points, three rebounds and one dime for the visitors in limited action, but Nicolas Batum did not play.
The Milwaukee Bucks roughed up the Toronto Raptors for the 108-97 win at the Scotiabank Arena. Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a 19-point, 19-rebound double-double also got in eight dimes and three blocks. However, Ersan Ilyasova and Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not leave the bench. OG Anunoby had 11 points, five boards, four assists and a couple of interceptions in losing effort. Fellow starter Serge Ibaka was 2/15 from the field for five points alongside five rebounds and one dime. Marc Gasol (left hamstring) stayed on the injury list.
Bogdan Bogdanovic with 17 points, three dimes, a pair of steals and one board aided the Sacramento Kings to the 112-94 win against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Fellow started Nemanja Bjelica missed all of his five field-goal attempts, but made one point, five assists, and three boards. Reserve Alex Len added four rebounds and one dime. Debuting with the Warriors, Dragan Bender failed to score but notched five rebounds, one dime, and one steal. Alen Smailagic did not earn playing time.
In 28 minutes of action, Nikola Jokic scored 16 points, tallied five boards, four assists, and four interceptions as well for the Denver Nuggets in the 115-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons at the Pepsi Center. Teammate Vlatko Cancar was a healthy scratch. The losing side featured Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk in its starting five, but the Ukrainian guard registered just 17 minutes with six points, one dime and one steal to his name. Sekou Doumbouya posted three points in 18 minutes off the bench.
Daniel Theis with ten points, nine rebounds, and three assists helped the Boston Celtics claim the 118-106 victory versus the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Enes Kanter chipped in four points, five boards, a pair of assists and one interception coming off the bench. Fellow reserve Vincent Poirier scored two points. For the home side, Mario Hezonja posted two points and one interception, but Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) remained out and Jaylen Hoard spent his night in the G League.
The Los Angeles Lakers overpowered the New Orleans Pelicans, 118-109, at the Staples Center with Kostas Antetokounmpo remaining on his G League assignment. European action only on the losing side with Nicolo Melli summing up 11 points, six boards, a couple of assists and one rejection.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 50-8
2. Toronto Raptors 42-16
3. Boston Celtics 40-17
4. Miami Heat 36-21
5. Philadelphia 76ers 36-22
6. Indiana Pacers 34-24
7. Brooklyn Nets 26-30
8. Orlando Magic 25-32
9. Washington Wizards 20-36
10. Chicago Bulls 20-39
11. Charlotte Hornets 19-38
12. Detroit Pistons 19-41
13. New York Knicks 17-40
14. Atlanta Hawks 17-42
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-41
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 44-12
2. Denver Nuggets 40-18
3. Los Angeles Clippers 38-19
4. Houston Rockets 37-20
5. Utah Jazz 36-21
6. Oklahoma City Thunder 36-22
7. Dallas Mavericks 35-23
8. Memphis Grizzlies 28-29
9. Portland Trail Blazers 26-33
10. New Orleans Pelicans 25-33
11. San Antonio Spurs 24-32
12. Sacramento Kings 24-33
13. Phoenix Suns 24-34
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-40
15. Golden State Warriors 12-46
x-clinched a playoffs spot
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