By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Brooklyn Nets overcame a massive showing by Nikola Vucevic to defeat the Orlando Magic, 122-115, Saturday evening. Recently-added James Harden debuted with a 32-point, 14-assist, 12-rebound triple-double, and Kevin Durant poured 42 points. French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot added three points and two rebounds off the bench.
Montenegrin Vucevic powered by 14/22 field goals including a career-high six three-pointers delivered a season-high 34 points to go along with 10 rebounds, seven assists, and five steals for the Magic missing several players in the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season contest and suffering their fifth loss in a row. French teammate Evan Fournier remained out due to back spasms.
Enes Kanter finished with 12 points, 15 rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and two steals as the starting center for the Portland Trail Blazers in the victory, 112-106, against the Atlanta Hawks. Swiss Clint Capela combined his 25-point, 15-rebound double-double with four rejections but was not enough for the away team.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double aiding the San Antonio Spurs in the win, 103-91, over the Houston Rockets. Latvian Rodions Kurucs in his first appearance ended up with two points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist in a losing effort.
The depleted Miami Heat got a 12-point, 10-assist double-double from Slovenian Goran Dragic but fell, 120-100, to the Detroit Pistons. French Sekou Doumbouya registered six points and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk three points for the visitors. Lithuanian Deividas Sirvydis played one minute without producing a stat.
The Toronto Raptors using late free throws secured the home victory, 116-113, versus the Charlotte Hornets. British OG Anunoby among the key performers went for 18 points.
In remaining European action, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas piled up nine points and seven rebounds as the streaking Memphis Grizzlies took down the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-104.
Saturday results:
San Antonio Spurs – Houston Rockets 103-91
Brooklyn Nets – Orlando Magic 122-115
Toronto Raptors – Charlotte Hornets 116-113
Memphis Grizzlies – Philadelphia 76ers 106-104
Miami Heat – Detroit Pistons 100-120
Portland Trail Blazers – Atlanta Hawks 112-106
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 8-3
2. Milwaukee Bucks 9-4
3. Indiana Pacers 8-4
4. Philadelphia 76ers 9-5
5. Brooklyn Nets 8-6
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 6-7
7. Orlando Magic 6-7
8. Charlotte Hornets 6-8
9. Atlanta Hawks 5-7
10. New York Knicks 5-8
11. Miami Heat 4-7
12. Toronto Raptors 4-8
13. Chicago Bulls 4-8
14. Washington Wizards 3-8
15. Detroit Pistons 3-9
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 11-3
2. Los Angeles Clippers 9-4
3. Utah Jazz 8-4
4. Phoenix Suns 7-4
5. Portland Trail Blazers 8-5
6. Dallas Mavericks 6-5
7. San Antonio Spurs 7-6
8. Denver Nuggets 6-6
9. Memphis Grizzlies 6-6
10. Golden State Warriors 6-6
11. Oklahoma City Thunder 6-6
12. Sacramento Kings 5-8
13. New Orleans Pelicans 4-7
14. Houston Rockets 4-7
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 3-8
Photo Credit: Getty Images