By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic keeps breaking record after record, and this time he posted a new career-high with 46 points to lead the Dallas Mavericks (13-14) to a 143-130 win over the New Orleans Pelicans (11-14). The Slovenian sensation added up 12 assists and 8 rebounds, while he also joined an elite squad of reaching 4,000 points in 159 games. Michael Jordan did so in 134 games and Shaquielle O’Neal reached this milestone in 154 games.
Besides Doncic’s career-high Pelicans‘ Zion Williamson hit a career-high of his own with 36 points. Kristaps Porzingis added up to the Mavs‘ efforts with 36 points and Brandon Ingram had 30 points for Pelicans.
Nikola Jokic finished was just an assist shy from reaching triple-double numbers, as he scored 22 points along with 13 rebounds to help the Denver Nuggets (14-11) beat the Oklahoma City Thunder (10-15) 97-95. Jamal Murray also scored 22 points and Michael Porter Jr. finished with 15 for Denver. Justin Jackson paced Oklahoma City with 20 points, while Al Horford and Hamidou Diallo had 16 each.
Nikola Vucevic went off with 42 points and matched his career-high to lead the Orlando Magic (10-17) to a 123-112 win over Sacramento Kings (12-13). Terrence Ross added 18 points for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in 19 games. Hassan Whiteside added 18 points and seven rebounds for the Kings.
Despite a 29-point, 15-rebound performance by Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks (16-10) fell to Utah Jazz (21-5) 129-115. Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles posted 27 points each, as Gobert also added 12 rebounds. On the other end of the court, Brook Lopez tapped 23 for the Bucks.
Anthony Davis scored 35 points and LeBron James added 28 points, 9 rebounds 8 eight assists in the Los Angeles Lakers‘ (21-6) seventh consecutive victory, 115-105 over the Memphis Grizzlies (10-11). Grayson Allen scored 23 points and Ja Morant had 22 points and 10 assists in the Grizzlies‘ fifth loss in six games.
Terry Rozier scored 41 points and LaMelo Ball had 20 points and 11 rebounds to help the Charlotte Hornets (13-14) beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (6-20) 120-114. Malik Beasley scored 31 points for Minnesota and Karl Anthony-Towns added 25 in his second game back after missing 13 because of COVID-19.
Gary Trent Jr. added 26 points and the Portland Trail Blazers (15-10) handed the Cleveland Cavaliers (10-17) their sixth straight loss with a 129-110 victory. Carmelo Anthony added 23 points and Enes Kanter tapped 21 points and 13 rebounds for the Blazers, while Collin Sexton had 25 points for the Cavs.
Julius Randle had 24 points and 18 rebounds as the New York Knicks (12-15) cruised to a 109-91 victory over the Washington Wizards (6-17). Derrick Rose had 14 points in 20 minutes coming off the bench in his second game for the Knicks, while on the other end of the court Russell Westbrook had 23 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists for the Wizards. Deni Avdija came from the bench to contribute 8 points and 6 rebounds in 22 minutes for Washington.
DeMar DeRozan scored 23 points and the San Antonio Spurs (15-11) prevailed over the Atlanta Hawks (11-14) with a 125-114 win. Keldon Johnson had 20 points and Dejounte Murray added 16 for the Spurs, while Trae Young led the Hawks with 25 points.
The LA Clippers (19-8) defeated the Chicago Bulls (10-15) 125-106 paced behind a 33-point performance by Kawhi Leonard. Marcus Morris had 20 points and Ivica Zubac tapped 12 for the Clippers. Zach LaVine led the Bulls with 26 points and Tomas Satoransky contributed 17 points coming from the bench.
Saddiq Bey scored 30 points as the Detroit Pistons (7-19) held on to beat the Boston Celtics (13-12) 108-102. Jayson Tatum had 33 points with 11 rebounds and 7 assists for the Celtics, and Jaylen Brown added 27 points.
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