By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic went for 29 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists but the Dallas Mavericks suffered their fifth straight loss in the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season downed by the Phoenix Suns, 111-105, Saturday evening. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis was rested, German Maxi Kleber sidelined due to health and safety protocols, and Serbian Boban Marjanovic held on the bench. Croatian Dario Saric also remained out for the Suns.
Giannis Antetokounmpo neared a triple-double with 34 points, 18 rebounds, and nine assists to his name, but the Milwaukee Bucks dropped a second straight Regular Season game as the Charlotte Hornets prevailed, 126-114. LaMelo Ball filed a career-high 27 points generating a +37 for his team when he was on the court. Gordon Hayward shared the team-high 27 points.
Damian Lillard hit 44 points, including a three as time expired, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers on the road, 123-122, against the Chicago Bulls. Enes Kanter added a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double as the starting center. The hosts fell slightly short despite Finnish Lauri Markkanen posting a season-high 31 points. Czech teammate Tomas Satoransky registered six points off the bench.
German Dennis Schroder threw in 12 points and seven assists for the Los Angeles Lakers in the narrow victory, 96-95, over the Boston Celtics. Spanish Marc Gasol was held to one point in 18 minutes. German Daniel Theis went for 14 points and seven rebounds but missed the opportunity to hand his side the win at the buzzer.
Twelve days after their last game and with Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas still following health and safety protocols, the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 129-112. French Killian Tillie was out with left foot soreness. Austrian Jakob Poeltl got eight points, six rebounds, four assists, and three blocks for the losing side.
Latvian Rodions Kurucs was limited to one rebound in five minutes for the Houston Rockets extending their winning streak to five games off the 126-112 victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans. On the opposite end, Italian Nicolo Melli finished with four points.
A 28-point effort by Stephen Curry bumped the Golden State Warriors over the Detroit Pistons, 118-91. The losing side featured a couple of reserves representing the Old Continent, French Sekou Doumbouya at five points and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at three points.
Slovenian Goran Dragic and Serbian Nemanja Bjelica were still out for their respective sides as the Miami Heat beat the Sacramento Kings, 105-104. However, Jimmy Butler returned to action with a season-high 30 points, including the game-winner with 42.1 seconds remaining.
Saturday results:
Charlotte Hornets – Milwaukee Bucks 126-114
Chicago Bulls – Portland Trail Blazers 122-123
Miami Heat – Sacramento Kings 105-104
New Orleans Pelicans – Houston Rockets 112-126
Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 95-96
Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns 105-111
San Antonio Spurs – Memphis Grizzlies 112-129
Golden State Warriors – Detroit Pistons 118-91
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 14-6
2. Brooklyn Nets 13-8
3. Milwaukee Bucks 11-8
4. Indiana Pacers 11-8
5. Boston Celtics 10-8
6. Atlanta Hawks 10-9
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-10
8. Charlotte Hornets 9-11
9. New York Knicks 9-11
10. Orlando Magic 8-12
11. Chicago Bulls 7-11
12. Toronto Raptors 7-12
13. Miami Heat 7-12
14. Detroit Pistons 5-15
15. Washington Wizards 3-12
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 15-4
2. Los Angeles Clippers 15-5
3. Los Angeles Lakers 15-6
4. Denver Nuggets 11-8
5. Memphis Grizzlies 8-6
6. Phoenix Suns 10-8
7. Portland Trail Blazers 10-8
8. San Antonio Spurs 11-9
9. Golden State Warriors 11-9
10. Houston Rockets 9-9
11. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-10
12. Sacramento Kings 8-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 8-12
14. New Orleans Pelicans 7-12
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-14
Photo Credit: Getty Images