By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic produced 19 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for his fourth 2020-21 triple-double guiding the Denver Nuggets to the away victory, 124-109, over the Minnesota Timberwolves Sunday evening. Teammate Facu Campazzo registered an NBA-high 15 points behind 5/7 threes. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar played one minute but German Isaiah Hartenstein did not enter the game.
The hosts dropped to 2-4 after moving Juan Hernangomez to the starting lineup. The Spanish big ended up with six points, five rebounds, and two assists in 26 minutes. Compatriot Ricky Rubio punched in 13 points coming off the bench.
Curry scores 62
Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to the win, 137-122, over the Portland Trail Blazers with a career-high 62 points, also the best scoring outing of the young season so far. He made 18/31 field goals, including 8/16 from beyond the arc. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic, part of the starting unit of the visitors, was held to seven points. Reserve Enes Kanter posted a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Bogdanovic lifts Jazz
Croatian sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic logged in 28 points for the Utah Jazz rising over the San Antonio Spurs, 130-109, in yet another victory for the visiting side of the eight-game schedule. French Rudy Gobert added seven points, 16 rebounds, and six blocks. The third European starter of the match, Austrian Jakob Poeltl got 11 points, seven rebounds, and four assists but for the losing side. Croatian Luka Samanic scored four more points for the Spurs.
Serge Ibaka connected two threes helping the Los Angeles Clippers hold on for the away win, 112-107, against the Phoenix Suns. The Congolese-Spanish big accounted for eight points and seven rebounds. Fellow European starter Nicolas Batum went for 14 points and Croatian Ivica Zubac added four points, four rebounds, and four assists off the bench. On the other end, Croatian Dario Saric put up 15 points.
Two European starters for the Los Angeles Lakers in the 108-94 victory versus the Memphis Grizzlies on the road. German Dennis Schroder’s contribution amounted to 11 points and five assists, while Marc Gasol threw in seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double but landed on the wrong side of the result.
Luka Doncic sat out with a left quadriceps contusion, Kristaps Porzingis remained sidelined and the Dallas Mavericks lost, 118-108, to the Chicago Bulls. Lauri Markkanen and Tomas Satoransky were among the several Bulls players out. European action was limited to Maxi Kleber scoring 16 points and Boban Marjanovic six for the losing side.
Latvian Davis Bertans hit 15 points and starter Deni Avdija added three points as the only Europeans on the court for the Washington Wizards in the away win, 123-122, against the Brooklyn Nets. Starting French swingman, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot registered 14 points for the losing side falling to 3-4.
The early game saw the Boston Celtics going past the Detroit Pistons, 122-120.
Sunday results:
Detroit Pistons – Boston Celtics 120-122
Brooklyn Nets – Washington Wizards 122-123
Memphis Grizzlies – Los Angeles Lakers 94-108
Minnesota Timberwolves – Denver Nuggets 109-124
San Antonio Spurs – Utah Jazz 109-130
Chicago Bulls – Dallas Mavericks 118-108
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Clippers 107-112
Golden State Warriors – Portland Trail Blazers 137-122
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 5-1
2. Atlanta Hawks 4-2
3. Indiana Pacers 4-2
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-2
5. Orlando Magic 4-2
6. Boston Celtics 4-3
7. Milwaukee Bucks 3-3
8. New York Knicks 3-3
9. Brooklyn Nets 3-4
10. Chicago Bulls 3-4
11. Miami Heat 2-3
12. Charlotte Hornets 2-4
13. Washington Wizards 2-5
14. Toronto Raptors 1-4
15. Detroit Pistons 1-5
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 5-2
2. Phoenix Suns 5-2
3. Los Angeles Clippers 5-2
4. Utah Jazz 4-2
5. New Orleans Pelicans 4-2
6. Sacramento Kings 3-3
7. Portland Trail Blazers 3-3
8. Golden State Warriors 3-3
9. Houston Rockets 2-2
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-3
11. Dallas Mavericks 2-4
12. Denver Nuggets 2-4
13. San Antonio Spurs 2-4
14. Memphis Grizzlies 2-4
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-4
Photo Credit: Getty Images