By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo torched the Oklahoma City Thunder with a 32-point, 13-rebound double-double plus six assists guiding the Milwaukee Bucks to the 133-86 win at the Fiserv Forum. He made 13 out his 20 field goal attempts and overall only needed 27 minutes on the court. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo went for six points, five boards and a pair of steals on Friday evening. Another reserve, Ersan Ilyasova finished with six points and three rebounds. For the losing side, Dennis Schroder gathered nine points, one board and one steal with Danilo Gallinari (left ankle) sitting out the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season contest.
Goran Dragic and the Miami Heat spoiled Luka Doncic’s 21st birthday with the 126-118 comeback triumph versus the Dallas Mavericks at the AmericanAirlines Arena. The winning Slovenian ended up with 16 points, five dimes, four rebounds and one interception coming off the bench. Doncic had 23 points, ten assists, and four boards in his first outing as a 21-year-old. Teammate Kristaps Porzingis banked a 24-point, 13-rebound double-double also tallied a couple of dimes and one block. Maxi Kleber threw in eight points, six boards, three assists and a pair of rejections in losing effort. Boban Marjanovic was a healthy scratch.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 21 points, tallied three dimes and one rebound as well with the Utah Jazz securing the 129-116 win versus the Washington Wizards at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Rudy Gobert registered nine points, nine boards, four blocks, and three interceptions. The visitors featured Davis Bertans at seven points, five rebounds, one steal, and one rejection, Moritz Wagner at two points, one board and one assist, Ian Mahinmi at two points, five rebounds, one interception, and one steal, and Isaac Bonga at four boards and two assists, but Anzejs Pasecniks was assigned to the Capital City Go-Go.
Nemanja Bjelica posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside two dimes and one steal, Alex Len added six points, seven boards, three assists, one interception and one block off the bench, and Bogdan Bogdanovic was held to five points on 1/9 from the field but put in eight rebounds, four dimes and one steal for the Sacramento Kings in the 104-101 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum. The visitors overcame a monster game by Jonas Valanciunas with 13 points, a couple of rejections and a career-high 25 rebounds. Fellow European Marko Guduric stayed on the bench.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk racked up 13 points, four assists and three interceptions helping the Detroit Pistons defeat the Phoenix Suns, 113-111, at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Teammate Sekou Doumbouya added six points, three boards, one dime and one steal off the bench. Ricky Rubio’s latest double-double was of 16 points and 13 dimes alongside six boards and a pair of steals but was not enough for the hosts. Fellow starter Dario Saric ended up with 11 points, three rebounds and a couple of steals, while reserve Elie Okobo notched six points and a pair of boards.
Nikola Vucevic threw together a 27-point, 10-rebound double-double, dished out five dimes and blocked one shot for the Orlando Magic in the 136-125 win versus the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Amway Center. Also retaining his starting status, Evan Fournier mixed in 11 points, three assists, one board, one steal, and one rejection. Starting for the losing side, Juan Hernangomez posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double to go along with his five dimes, two steals, and one block.
Ivica Zubac with ten points, six boards, and one assist helped the Los Angeles Clippers tie the Denver Nuggets in second place of the Western Conference with the 132-103 victory at the Staples Center. Despite Nikola Jokic’s 21 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal, the visitors failed to keep pace. Also in action was Vlatko Cancar sporting two points and a couple of rebounds in five minutes.
The Charlotte Hornets claimed the 99-96 victory against the Toronto Raptors that missed both Serge Ibaka (right knee) and Marc Gasol (left hamstring). Willy Hernangomez contributed with five points, seven rebounds, one interception, and one block, but Nicolas Batum did not get on the court. Starter OG Anunoby notched 16 points, six dimes, six rebounds, a pair of steals and a couple of rejections for the hosts.
Ten points, six boards, one assist and one rejection by reserve Nicolo Melli as the New Orleans Pelicans took down the Cleveland Cavaliers, 116-104, at the Smoothie King Center. Starter Cedi Osman had six points, two rebounds, a couple of dimes and a pair of steals, while Ante Zizic got to four points, three boards and a couple of steals in losing effort.
Despite missing Clint Capela (right heel) once again, the Atlanta Hawks overpowered the Brooklyn Nets, 141-118, at the State Farm Arena. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot took the court for six points and one block in losing effort. Rodions Kurucs blocked one shot as well. However, Dzanan Musa remained on his G League assignment.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 51-8
2. Toronto Raptors 42-17
3. Boston Celtics 41-17
4. Miami Heat 37-22
5. Philadelphia 76ers 37-23
6. Indiana Pacers 35-24
7. Orlando Magic 27-32
8. Brooklyn Nets 26-32
9. Washington Wizards 21-37
10. Charlotte Hornets 21-38
11. Chicago Bulls 20-39
12. Detroit Pistons 20-41
13. Atlanta Hawks 18-43
14. New York Knicks 17-42
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-42
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 35-12
2. Denver Nuggets 40-19
3. Los Angeles Clippers 40-19
4. Houston Rockets 38-20
5. Utah Jazz 37-22
6. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-23
7. Dallas Mavericks 36-24
8. Memphis Grizzlies 28-31
9. New Orleans Pelicans 26-33
10. Portland Trail Blazers 26-34
11. Sacramento Kings 25-34
12. San Antonio Spurs 24-33
13. Phoenix Suns 24-36
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-41
15. Golden State Warriors 12-47
x-clinched a playoffs spot
Photo Credit: Getty Images