By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Jonas Valanciunas scored 19 points and 11 rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 121 – 92 to grab their first win of the NBA restart after four straight losses.
Danilo Gallinari dropped 12 points for the Thunder. Marko Guduric played for five minutes and scored three for the Grizzlies.
The Brooklyn Net clinched a playoff spot by defeating the Sacramento Kings 119 – 106. The Nets are 3 – 2 in the bubble. The Nets are 3 – 2 in the bubble despite missing Spencer Dinwiddie, and DeAndre Jordan apart from Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot, who had a couple of key performances to help Brooklyn get the postseason ticket early in the restart, finished with 10 points and six rebounds off the bench vs. the Kings. Rodions Kurucs added eight points and seven boards.
A day after his career-high performance, Bogdan Bogdanovic dropped 27 points and got six rebounds against the Nets. Nemanja Bjelica had four points and six rebounds as well.
Evan Fournier (22 points) and Nikola Vucevic (21 points, 12 rebounds) were the top offensive performers for the Orlando Magic in the 108 – 101 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite the defeat, the Magic advanced to the playoffs after the Washington Wizards were downed 118 – 107 by the New Orleans Pelicans.
Furkan Korkmaz played 17 minutes off the bench and scored four points for the Sixers.
The Boston Celtics handed the Toronto Raptors their first loss after the NBA restart with a 122 – 100 rout. Daniel Theis posted a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the winning side.
From the Raptors, Marc Gasol finished with six points and Serge Ibaka with three points.
In Friday’s opener, Jakob Poeltl helped the San Antonio Spurs get a much-needed win over the shorthanded Utah Jazz.
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