By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Domantas Sabonis extended his double-double streak to four games on Thursday with 20 points and 11 boards for the Indiana Pacers in the 106-100 victory against the Portland Trail Blazers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Additionally tallied four assists and one interception in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season contest. Goga Bitadze had two points, one rebound and one rejection off the bench, but assigned Naz Mitrou-Long stayed out of the lineup. Blazers’ Mario Hezonja did not leave the bench, Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) remained on the injury list and Jaylen Hoard on his G League assignment.
Comeback win for the Oklahoma City Thunder, 112-108, versus the Sacramento Kings at the Chesapeake Energy Arena behind Danilo Gallinari’s game-high 24 points. The Italian forward also grabbed six rebounds and made one steal in 34 minutes. Reserve Dennis Schroder mixed in 13 points, seven assists and five boards. Nemanja Bjelica summed up 18 points, nine rebounds and a pair of dimes in losing effort, and Bogdan Bogdanovic put in 11 points, four assists, four boards, and one steal. Teammate Alex Len posted an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double also blocked one shot coming off the bench.
Crippled Philadelphia 76ers overpowered the New York Knicks, 115-106, at the Wells Fargo Center. Furkan Korkmaz retained his reserve status for 11 points with 5/9 field goals, a pair of dimes and one rebound. For the visitors, Frank Ntilikina (groin) remained on the injury list and Ignas Brazdeikis on his G League assignment.
Comfortable win for the Los Angeles Lakers, 116-86, over the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Assigned Kostas Antetokounmpo was inactive for the winning side. Alen Smailagic of the losing side as well, but Dragan Bender threw in four points, four rebounds, a couple of steals and one dime in losing effort.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 50-8
2. Toronto Raptors 42-16
3. Boston Celtics 41-17
4. Miami Heat 36-22
5. Philadelphia 76ers 37-23
6. Indiana Pacers 35-24
7. Brooklyn Nets 26-31
8. Orlando Magic 26-32
9. Washington Wizards 21-36
10. Charlotte Hornets 20-38
11. Chicago Bulls 20-39
12. Detroit Pistons 19-41
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-41
14. New York Knicks 17-42
15. Atlanta Hawks 17-43
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 45-12
2. Denver Nuggets 40-18
3. Los Angeles Clippers 39-19
4. Houston Rockets 38-20
5. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-22
6. Utah Jazz 36-22
7. Dallas Mavericks 36-23
8. Memphis Grizzlies 28-30
9. Portland Trail Blazers 26-34
10. New Orleans Pelicans 25-33
11. San Antonio Spurs 24-33
12. Sacramento Kings 24-34
13. Phoenix Suns 24-35
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-40
15. Golden State Warriors 12-47
x-clinched a playoffs spot
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