By Stefan Djordjevic/ sdjordjevic@eurohoops.net
A busy preseason night with eight games in total started off with the Sixers getting a 113-107 win over the Pacers despite Domantas Sabonis logging 26 points and 11 boards.
Shake Milton led the victors with 15 while Furkan Korkmaz and Dwight Howard scored 14 points each. On the other side, Malcolm Brogdon and Victor Oladipo had 21 and 20 points.
An impressive display was put on by Aleksej Pokusevksi who logged his first double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds for Oklahoma which lost 105-103 to the Bulls.
Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine were the main reason for it with 22 and 20 points respectively.
Another solid European performance came from the Knicks’ 119-83 win over the Cavaliers, although on the losing side. Cedi Osman scored 19 points but it wasn’t enough.
Immanuel Quickley and Kevin Knox II were too much to handle with 22 and 20 points.
The Heat got past the Raptors (117-105) thanks to KZ Okpala with 24 and Max Strus with 22 points. For Toronto, Kyle Lowry scored 25.
Kevin Durant keeps showing and proving that he’s back in top shape, this time with 25 points in Brooklyn’s convincing win over the Celtics.
Caris LeVert added 18 followed by Kyrie Irving’s 17 points. For Boston, Jayson Tatum scored 18 and Jaylen Brown 16 points.
The Nuggets dominated Portland with 129-96. Paul Millsap scored 24 and Michael Porter Jr 20 points. For the losing side, CJ McCollum had 26 and Gary Trent Jr. 20 points. Enes Kanter added ten points and nine boards.
The defending champs in LA Lakers just barely came out on top against the Suns (114-113). Anthony Davis led the way with 35 points while LeBron James had 20.
For Phoenix, Devin Booker scored 27 and DeAndre Ayton 12 points.
Lastly, the Pelicans got a 127-113 win over the Bucks with Zion Williamson logging 31 points and nine boards while Lonzo Ball scored 19 and JJ Redick 18.
Milwaukee played without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton stepped up with 29 points while Jrue Holiday added 15. Thanasis Antetokounmpo logged nine points and six boards.