By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Utah Jazz notched a seventh win in a row on Saturday improving their status as the leaders of the NBA overall standings. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic put up 19 points and French Rudy Gobert posted a 16-point, 12-rebound double-double plus three blocks complementing Donovan Mitchell’s game-high 26 points. A 16-0 run to start the second half opened a wide gap enough to improve to 22-5.
A fifth straight win for the Phoenix Suns, 120-111, over the Eastern Conference leaders, Philadelphia 76ers. Croatian Dario Saric coming off the bench delivered 15 points, four steals, four assists, two rebounds, and one block after spending the past four weeks on the sidelines, while Devin Booker rocked a game-high 36 points. On the losing end, Turkish Furkan Korkmaz was held to two points.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis went for 14 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists helping the Indiana Pacers rally past the Atlanta Hawks, 125-113. Swiss Clint Capela posted a 24-point, 10-rebound double-double and Italian Danilo Gallinari scored 20 points for the hosts that blew a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter.
Kevin Durant returned to the Chase Center and to action after a coronavirus scare, logging 20 points and assisting the Brooklyn Nets in the win, 134-117, over the Golden State Warriors. French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot contributed eight points, six rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block.
Also, the New York Knicks took down the Houston Rockets, 121-99. Latvian Rodions Kurucs registered two points, one rebound, and one steal in limited action for the visitors falling to defeat for the fifth game in a row.
Saturday results:
Phoenix Suns – Philadelphia 76ers 120-111
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 113-125
New York Knicks – Houston Rockets 121-99
Golden State Warriors – Brooklyn Nets 117-134
Utah Jazz – Miami Heat 112-94
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 18-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 16-10
3. Brooklyn Nets 16-12
4. Boston Celtics 13-12
5. Indiana Pacers 14-13
6. Charlotte Hornets 13-14
7. New York Knicks 13-15
8. Toronto Raptors 12-14
9. Atlanta Hawks 11-15
10. Miami Heat 11-15
11. Chicago Bulls 10-15
12. Orlando Magic 10-17
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-17
14. Detroit Pistons 7-19
15. Washington Wizards 6-17
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 22-5
2. Los Angeles Lakers 21-6
3. Los Angeles Clippers 19-8
4. Phoenix Suns 16-9
5. Portland Trail Blazers 15-10
6. San Antonio Spurs 15-11
7. Denver Nuggets 14-11
8. Golden State Warriors 14-13
9. Dallas Mavericks 13-14
10. Sacramento Kings 12-13
11. Memphis Grizzlies 10-11
12. New Orleans Pelicans 11-14
13. Houston Rockets 11-15
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 10-15
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 6-20
Photo Credit: Getty Images