By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Busy NBA night, but the Dallas Mavericks made the headlines by defeating the New Orleans Pelicans, 127-123, in overtime. Luka Doncic not only broke the franchise record previously held by Jason Kidd with his 22nd career triple-double but snapped a late 118-118 tie with a three-pointer and afterward found Kristaps Porzingis for a dunk and four-point lead with only 49 seconds left in the extra period. The Slovenian sensation marked his latest stunning display with 30 points, 17 boards, ten assists, one interception and one block on Wednesday evening.
Porzingis poured a game-high 34 points to go along with his 12 rebounds, five rejections, and three assists. The third European starter, Maxi Kleber chipped in with five points, seven boards, five blocks, four dimes, and one steal. Boban Marjanovic did not leave the bench though. Nicolo Melli sent the game into overtime making a three with 7.4 seconds to go in regulation but missed his other six long-range attempts for three points, four rebounds, three dimes, and one steal.
Danilo Gallinari was clutch as well with a key three for the Oklahoma City Thunder that dropped a 16-point lead but still beat the Detroit Pistons, 114-107, at the Little Caesars Arena. The Italian forward racked up 19 points, seven boards, four steals, and one dime. Teammate Dennis Schroder went for 23 points, nine assists, one board and one block off the bench. One European starter and one reserve for the hosts too, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk stamped the starting gig with 13 points, four dimes, one rebound, and one interception, while Sekou Doumbouya mixed in three points, a pair of boards and one block.
Giannis Antetokounmpo pushed the Milwaukee Bucks back in the win column with a 29-point, 12-rebound double-double in the 119-100 victory against the Indiana Pacers at the Fiserv Forum. The Greek Freak tallied six dimes and one steal as well. His brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo pulled down one rebound, but Ersan Ilyasova did not play. Domantas Sabonis posted a 15-point, 10-rebound double-double to go along with his seven assists in losing effort. Coming off the bench, Goga Bitadze reached nine points and one board. Naz Mitrou-Long remained on his G League assignment.
Bojan Bogdanovic earned a share of the team-high 23 points helping the Utah Jazz to the 112-104 win versus the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden. The Croatian forward was 7/15 from the field, also tallied four rebounds, one dime, and one block. On his part, Rudy Gobert posted an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double, a couple of rejections and one assist. Apart from the pair of European starters for the winning side, the hosts featured reserve Frank Ntilikina at four points and two dimes. Assigned Ignas Brazdeikis was inactive.
Enes Kanter packed a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double and one steal for the Boston Celtics in the 112-106 victory versus the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Daniel Theis started for five points, three boards, one block, and one interception. Javonte Green did not get on the board and Vincent Poirier stayed on the bench. European action for the hosts as well with starter Cedi Osman at 13 points, five rebounds, a couple of assists and one steal, and reserve Ante Zizic at four points and four boards.
Record-setting 22 threes powered the 116-113 win for the Miami Heat opposite to the Orlando Magic at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Goran Dragic sank five from deep en route for his 25 points. The Slovenian guard added nine dimes, two rebounds, and one interception in 31 minutes off the bench. Losing evening for Nikola Vucevic despite his 22-point, 16-rebound double-double, seven assists, and one rejection. Fellow European starter, Evan Fournier went for 17 points, two steals, two rejections, and one assist.
Lauri Markkanen returned to action, but the Chicago Bulls fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-108, at the Target Center. Juan Hernangomez contributed 12 points, seven boards, a pair of assists and one interception to the “W”. After being sidelined for several weeks, Markkanen started and lasted 21 minutes for 13 points and four boards. Fellow starter Tomas Satoransky gathered 11 points, a pair of rebounds and one interception. However, Adam Mokoka returned to G League prior to the match.
Jonas Valanciunas finished with nine points, 16 boards, a couple of assists and one rejection for the Memphis Grizzlies that routed the Brooklyn Nets, 118-79, at the Barclays Center. Marko Guduric needed only five minutes for six points and one rebound. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot notched eight points, one board, one assist and one rejection in losing effort, and Rodions Kurucs one point, one rebound, and one dime. Dzanan Musa spent his night in G League though.
Over 16 minutes, Mario Hezonja sported three points with 1/3 field goals, two rebounds, two rejections, and one assist for the Portland Trail Blazers that beat the Washington Wizards, 125-104, at the Moda Center and improved to 28-35 for the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season. Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) remained out. Jaylen Hoard was inactive as well despite earning the call-up from G League before Wednesday’s contest.
Davis Bertans with 21 points, four boards, three assists, one interception, and one block was not enough for the Wizards. He came off the bench, but Moritz Wagner started for nine points, nine rebounds, a couple of interceptions and one assist. Reserve Isaac Bonga whistled in seven points, three boards and a pair of steals, and Anzejs Pasecniks two points, four rebounds, and one rejection, also off the bench. Ian Mahinmi did not play though.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 53-9
2. Toronto Raptors 43-18
3. Boston Celtics 42-19
4. Miami Heat 40-22
5. Indiana Pacers 37-25
6. Philadelphia 76ers 37-25
7. Brooklyn Nets 27-34
8. Orlando Magic 27-35
9. Washington Wizards 22-39
10. Charlotte Hornets 21-40
11. Chicago Bulls 21-41
12. Detroit Pistons 20-43
13. New York Knicks 19-43
14. Atlanta Hawks 19-44
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-45
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 47-13
2. Los Angeles Clippers 42-19
3. Denver Nuggets 41-20
4. Houston Rockets 39-21
5. Utah Jazz 39-22
6. Oklahoma City Thunder 38-24
7. Dallas Mavericks 38-25
8. Memphis Grizzlies 31-31
9. Portland Trail Blazers 28-35
10. Sacramento Kings 27-34
11. San Antonio Spurs 26-34
12. New Orleans Pelicans 26-36
13. Phoenix Suns 24-38
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 19-42
15. Golden State Warriors 14-48
x-clinched a playoffs spot
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