By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Phoenix Suns came back from an 11-point deficit in the last five minutes to beat the Dallas Mavericks, 109-108, Monday evening. Devin Booker hit 20 out of his 24 points in the second half and dialed in the game-winning three with 1.5 seconds remaining. Luka Doncic finished with 25 points, eight assists, five rebounds, two steals, and two blocks, but fell short at the buzzer as his side lost the sixth game in a row. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double, and German Maxi Kleber returned to action with two points and six rebounds.
The Milwaukee Bucks sank 21 threes cruising past the Portland Trail Blazers, 134-106 to end a two-game losing streak in the NBA Regular Season. Giannis Antetokounmpo was held off the long-range show but contributed 18 points, six assists, and four rebounds in 26 minutes of action. His brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo ended up with two points and six rebounds. On the opposite end, Enes Kanter punched in a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double.
In-form Finnish star Lauri Markkanen poured 30 points leading the Chicago Bulls to the win, 110-102, versus the New York Knicks at the United Center. He made 11/18 from the field, including 6/12 from beyond the arc, and also put up five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Czech teammate Tomas Satoransky added six points and four assists in ten minutes as a reserve.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Atlanta Hawks, 107-99, improving to 12-2 on the road. German Dennis Schroder put in 16 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists. Marc Gasol threw in two points, six rebounds, and three assists. Swiss Clint Capela rocked a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double and three rejections in the losing effort, while Italian Danilo Gallinari produced six points.
The Houston Rockets enjoyed a fast start hitting 11 triples in the first period and overpowered the Oklahoma City Thunder, 136-106. Latvian Rodions Kurucs failed to get on the board in five minutes. On the opposite end, French Theo Maledon in his third start piled up 11 points, while fellow European Aleksej Pokusevski registered two points and three rebounds coming off the bench.
Turkish Cedi Osman registered ten points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals off the bench helping the Cleveland Cavaliers edge by the Minnesota Timberwolves, 100-98. For the losing side, Spanish Ricky Rubio got two points, five rebounds, and four assists.
De’Aaron Fox dropped 38 points and 12 assists guiding the Sacramento Kings to the win, 118-109, over the New Orleans Pelicans. Spanish Willy Hernangomez in a season-high 29 minutes posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double for the losing side.
Slovenian Goran Dragic back in after three missed games had three points, eight assists, and seven rebounds for the Miami Heat in the overtime loss, 129-121, to the Charlotte Hornets. Malik Monk paced the visitors with 36 points.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl closed out the European field with six points, six rebounds, two assists, and two rejections in 21 minutes off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs in the defeat, 133-102, to the streaking Memphis Grizzlies.
The scheduled game pitting the Detroit Pistons and the Denver Nuggets at the Ball Arena was postponed in accordance with the Health and Safety Protocols due to the Pistons not having the required eight players, the NBA announced.
Monday results:
Atlanta Hawks – Los Angeles Lakers 99-107
Miami Heat – Charlotte Hornets 121-129 OT (113-113)
Chicago Bulls – New York Knicks 110-102
Cleveland Cavaliers – Minnesota Timberwolves 100-98
Milwaukee Bucks – Portland Trail Blazers 134-106
New Orleans Pelicans – Sacramento Kings 109-118
Oklahoma City Thunder – Houston Rockets 106-136
Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns 108-109
San Antonio Spurs – Memphis Grizzlies 102-133
Denver Nuggets – Detroit Pistons POSTPONED
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 15-6
2. Milwaukee Bucks 12-8
3. Brooklyn Nets 13-9
4. Boston Celtics 10-8
5. Indiana Pacers 11-9
6. Atlanta Hawks 10-10
7. Charlotte Hornets 10-11
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-11
9. Chicago Bulls 8-11
10. New York Knicks 9-13
11. Toronto Raptors 8-12
12. Orlando Magic 8-13
13. Miami Heat 7-13
14. Washington Wizards 4-12
15. Detroit Pistons 5-15
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Clippers 16-5
2. Utah Jazz 15-5
3. Los Angeles Lakers 16-6
4. Denver Nuggets 12-8
5. Memphis Grizzlies 9-6
6. Phoenix Suns 11-8
7. Golden State Warriors 11-9
8. Houston Rockets 10-9
9. Portland Trail Blazers 10-9
10. San Antonio Spurs 11-10
11. Sacramento Kings 9-11
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 8-13
14. New Orleans Pelicans 7-12
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 5-15
Photo Credit: Getty Images