Euros produce big in winless efforts

By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net

Jonas Valanciunas scored 27 points for a second straight game and also grabbed 16 rebounds but the Memphis Grizzlies needed more to counter Orlando Magic’s offense in the second half. With Nikola Vucevic notching 19 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, Orlando beat Memphis 120 – 115 after scoring 70 points in the third and fourth periods.

Evan Fournier was out with an elbow injury while Marko Guduric was a DNP.

Luka Doncic was business as usual with 38 points, eight rebounds and seven assists for the Dallas Mavericks against the San Antonio Spurs. Yet the Texan squad overcame Doncic’s performance and won 119 – 109 at home.

I’m not worried at all,” Doncic said, per AP. “At the beginning of the season people had us out of playoffs and we showed that we can be in the playoffs. As of now, we are in the playoffs. It’s a long way, but I think we are going to make the playoffs. I’m not worried.”

Following a streak of major outputs, Kristaps Porzingis had an off night for a second consecutive game, finishing with nine points and 4/15 from the field. He got 12 rebounds.

Maxi Kleber had 12 points and five rebounds and Boban Marjanovic four points for the Mavs.

Frank Ntilikina had the top performance of his NBA run so far by scoring a career-high 20 points and dishing out 10 assists in a 115 – 122 defeat to the Washington Wizards.

Davis Bertans contributed 11 points for Washington.

Dragan Bender has been given playing opportunities with the Golden State Warriors and last night he made the most out of them. The Croatian forward dropped a career-high-tying 23 points while also collecting seven rebounds in the Golden State Warriors’ 107 – 131 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Ivica Zubac helped the Clippers by getting 12 rebounds, apart from scoring four points.

Dario Saric (24 points, 11 rebounds) and Ricky Rubio (21 points, nine assists, six rebounds) delivered for the Phoenix Suns vs. the Portland Trail Blazers. Their team’s defense didn’t however and the Blazers got the 121 – 105 win.

Mario Hezonja made all the shots he took to finish with eight points, plus four rebounds for Portland.

The Boston Celtics received a lot of help by Daniel Theis and his 20 points plus six rebounds to escape the Indiana Pacers 111 – 104 on the road. Domantas Sabonis flirted with the triple-double by posting 28 points, nine rebounds and eight assists for the Pacers.

The rest of Tuesday’s results and Euro-scorers:

Chicago Bulls – Cleveland Cavaliers 108 – 103 (Lauri Markkanen 15 points, Tomas Satoransky 5 points, Cedi Osman 9 points-6 rebounds)

Houston Rockets – Minnesota Timberwolves 117 – 111 (Juancho Hernangomez 18 points-10 rebounds)

Los Angeles Lakers – Brooklyn Nets 102 – 104 (Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot 13 points)