By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Lithuanian big Domantas Sabonis straight off a triple-double in his previous outing drove hard for the winning layup with 8.4 seconds remaining to lift the Indiana Pacers to a 3-0 start. His 19-point, 10-rebound double-double inspired the victory, 108-107, over the Boston Celtics Sunday. Malcolm Brogdon had 25 points.
Jayson Tatum posted a 25-point, 11-rebound double-double, but missed a long three in the dying moments of the exciting contest. German forward/center Daniel Theis, finished with four points, four rebounds, two blocks, and one steal as a starter for the Celtics going down to 1-2 at the hands of Sabonis.
The New York Knicks in surprising fashion routed the Milwaukee Bucks, 130-110, despite Giannis Antetokounmpo producing 27 points, 13 rebounds, and five assists. Julius Randle packed a 29-point, 14-rebound double-double, and Elfrid Payton added 27 points. French Frank Ntilikina went for 12 points in 19 minutes off the bench.
The Bucks limited to 7/38 from beyond the arc fell to 1-2 with their second straight loss on the road to begin the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season. The Greek Freak’s brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo played five minutes managing to pull down two rebounds.
Marc Gasol had 12 points, eight assists, seven rebounds, and four blocks for the Los Angeles Lakers in the win, 127-91, against the Minnesota Timberwolves. German Dennis Schroder started as well for 11 points, four assists, and four rebounds. Kostas Antetokounmpo grabbed four rebounds in eight minutes.
Anthony Davis was out with a bruised calf but the visitors missing Karl-Anthony Towns due to a dislocated left wrist seemed to deliver damage at a much larger extent. A couple of European reserves featured Ricky Rubio at nine points, four rebounds, and four assists, and Juan Hernangomez at six points and five rebounds.
The Orlando Magic scored the final ten points for the comeback win, 120-113, against the Washington Wizards. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic produced 15 points, including a clutch bucket with 25.1 seconds left. European teammate Evan Fournier went up to 19 points. Markelle Fultz and Terrence Ross threw in 26 apiece.
The hosts had Bradley Beal at 29 points and Raul Neto at 22 with Russell Westbrook sidelined. Israeli Deni Avdija started for nine points plus nine rebounds. Fellow European starter Isaac Bonga finished with six points and seven rebounds. Latvian Davis Bertans posted five points coming off the bench.
Damion Lee dialed in a three with 1.7 seconds left handing the Golden State Warriors the victory on the road, 129-128, against the Chicago Bulls. Stephen Curry did most of the remaining work with 36 points. On the other end, Zach Lavine scored 33 points. Finnish Lauri Markkanen had 23 points but Czech Tomas Satoransky only three.
Turkey’s Cedi Osman was among the top performers for the Cleveland Cavaliers with 14 points in the win, 118-94, opposite the Philadelphia 76ers. His compatriot on the wrong end of the result, Furkan Korkmaz was 0/5 from three-point range ending up with five points to his name.
The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 98-95, powered by Brandon Ingram’s 28-point, 11-rebound double-double. The lone European participation at the Smoothie King Center hosting 750 fans with masks saw Jakob Poeltl shape up eight points and eight rebounds for the losing side.
Gordon Hayward led the Charlotte Hornets to the home win, 106-104, over the Brooklyn Nets with 28 points. For the losing side, Kevin Durant put up 29 points and Kyrie Irving 25, while French reserve Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot ended up with 11 points.
The Phoenix Suns pulled off an away victory, 116-100, against the Sacramento Kings despite missing injured Dario Saric. Mikal Bridges put up a game-high 22 points. Serbian Nemanja Bjelica was in action for the hosts but held at three points.
Earlier, the Dallas Mavericks dominated the Los Angeles Clippers, 124-73, for their first win of the season.
NBA Sunday results:
Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks 73-124
Charlotte Hornets – Brooklyn Nets 106-104
New Orleans Pelicans – San Antonio Spurs 98-95
Washington Wizards – Orlando Magic 113-120
Cleveland Cavaliers – Philadelphia 76ers 118-94
New York Knicks – Milwaukee Bucks 130-110
Chicago Bulls – Golden State Warriors 128-129
Indiana Pacers – Boston Celtics 108-107
Sacramento Kings – Phoenix Suns 100-116
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 127-91
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 3-0
2. Indiana Pacers 3-0
3. Orlando Magic 3-0
4. Atlanta Hawks 2-0
5. Brooklyn Nets 2-1
6. Philadelphia 76ers 2-1
7. Miami Heat 1-1
8. Milwaukee Bucks 1-2
9. Charlotte Hornets 1-2
10. New York Knicks 1-2
11. Boston Celtics 1-2
12. Detroit Pistons 0-2
13. Toronto Raptors 0-2
14. Washington Wizards 0-3
15. Chicago Bulls 0-3
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 1-0
2. Los Angeles Lakers 2-1
3. Phoenix Suns 2-1
4. San Antonio Spurs 2-1
5. New Orleans Pelicans 2-1
6. Sacramento Kings 2-1
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-1
8. Los Angeles Clippers 2-1
9. Utah Jazz 1-1
10. Portland Trail Blazers 1-1
11. Dallas Mavericks 1-2
12. Golden State Warriors 1-2
13. Houston Rockets 0-1
14. Denver Nuggets 0-2
15. Memphis Grizzlies 0-2
Photo Credit: Getty Images