By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Slovenian Luka Doncic was sidelined with a back issue but the Dallas Mavericks picked up the win, 87-78, over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis combined 19 points and 13 rebounds and fellow European starter, German Maxi Kleber finished with eight points, seven rebounds, and two rejections. French Theo Maledon also started and produced 11 points in 35 minutes but for the visitors.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic had 29 points and nine rebounds but the Orlando Magic narrowly fell to the Atlanta Hawks, 115-112. Italian Danilo Gallinari in a start with Swiss Clint Capela out poured 15 of his 23 points in the second half and also posted nine rebounds, six assists, two steals, and one block for the winning side. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with nine points.
Spanish Marc Gasol and LeBron James among the players out for the Los Angeles Lakers in the loss, 123-120, to the Sacramento Kings. German Dennis Schroder hit a team-high 28 points and dished out nine assists but was not enough for the visiting side. Serbian Nemanja Bjelica finished with six points, six assists, and five rebounds for the Kings.
T. J. McConnell off an NBA record with nine steals in the first half posted a triple-double of 16 points, 13 assists, and ten steals lifting the Indiana Pacers to victory, 114-111, over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Lithuanian teammate, Domantas Sabonis scored 18 points. Turkish Cedi Osman was held to 1/8 field goals and two points for the Cavs.
Joel Embiid got 40 points and 19 rebounds as the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Utah Jazz, 131-123, in overtime. Turkish Furkan Korkmaz went for eight points off the bench. On the opposite end, Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic scored 18 points and French Rudy Gobert put up 12.
A clutch three by Damian Lillard with 14 seconds remaining secured the 108-106 home victory for the Portland Trail Blazers against the Golden State Warriors despite Stephen Curry pouring a game-high 35 points. First-unit center Enes Kanter helped out with an 11-point, 14-rebound double-double.
The Detroit Pistons took down the depleted Toronto Raptors, 129-105. Starting Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk contributed 17 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 37 minutes, while French Sekou Doumbouya added nine points and Lithuanian Deividas Sirvydis one more point off the bench.
Spanish Ricky Rubio produced 20 points, nine assists, four rebounds, and one steal for the Minnesota Timberwolves in their latest defeat as the Charlotte Hornets blazed to the away win, 135-102. Terry Rozier logged 31 points and Gordon Hayward added 23 for the visitors.
Czech Tomas Satoransky ended up with two points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal in the Chicago Bulls win, 128-124, versus the New Orleans Pelicans. Spanish Willy Hernangomez registered six points, four rebounds, and three steals for the losing side.
James Harden in his return to Houston put up yet another triple-double, 29 points, 14 assists, and ten rebounds, leading the Brooklyn Nets to the franchise-record seventh straight win on the road, a 132-114 victory versus the struggling Houston Rockets.
Wednesday results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 111-114
Philadelphia 76ers – Utah Jazz 131-123 OT (118-118)
Toronto Raptors – Detroit Pistons 105-129
Houston Rockets – Brooklyn Nets 114-132
Minnesota Timberwolves – Charlotte Hornets 102-135
New Orleans Pelicans – Chicago Bulls 124-128
Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks 112-115
Dallas Mavericks – Oklahoma City Thunder 87-78
Portland Trail Blazers – Golden State Warriors 108-106
Sacramento Kings – Los Angeles Lakers 123-120
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 24-12
2. Brooklyn Nets 24-13
3. Milwaukee Bucks 21-14
4. Boston Celtics 18-17
5. New York Knicks 18-18
6. Toronto Raptors 17-18
7. Charlotte Hornets 17-18
8. Miami Heat 17-18
9. Indiana Pacers 16-18
10. Chicago Bulls 16-18
11. Atlanta Hawks 16-20
12. Washington Wizards 13-20
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 14-22
14. Orlando Magic 13-23
15. Detroit Pistons 10-25
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 27-9
2. Phoenix Suns 23-11
3. Los Angeles Clippers 24-13
4. Los Angeles Lakers 24-13
5. Portland Trail Blazers 20-14
6. San Antonio Spurs 18-13
7. Denver Nuggets 20-15
8. Dallas Mavericks 18-16
9. Golden State Warriors 19-17
10. Memphis Grizzlies 16-15
11. New Orleans Pelicans 15-20
12. Sacramento Kings 14-21
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 14-21
14. Houston Rockets 11-23
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 7-29
Photo Credit: Getty Images