By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets (22-15) successfully ended a five-game trip on Friday with a 103-102 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies (17-17), powered by Nikola Jokic.
Jokic had 28 points, 15 rebounds and 7 assists though it was his defensive effort that held off Grizzlies guard Ja Morant at the rim with just three seconds remaining in the game.
Goran Dragic and Jimmy Butler paired up to hand the Miami Heat (20-18) a 101-90 victory over the Chicago Bulls (16-20). Butler set the pace with 28 points, 8 assists, while Dragic came off the bench to post 25 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists for the Heat.
Zach LaVine signed off with 30 points for the Bulls and forward Lauri Markkanen had 20 points, 6 rebounds.
Donovan Mitchell had 28 points, Bojan Bogdanovic dropped 15 and Rudy Gobert had 14 points and 13 rebounds as the Utah Jazz (28-9) kept up their winning ways after the All-Star break with a 114-99 win over the Houston Rockets (11-25). Despite being led by a 27-point performance by Kevin Porter Jr, this marked Houston’s 15th straight defeat.
The Los Angeles Lakers (25-13) managed to overcome a nearly triple-double effort by Domantas Sabonis (20/14/8) and beat the Indiana Pacers (16-20) 105-100. Kyle Kuzma led the efforts of the reigning champions with 24 points, LeBron James tapped 18 points and 10 assists and Dennis Schroder had 11 points.
Rudy Gay dropped 19 points to pace the San Antonio Spurs (19-15) to a stunning 104-77 win over the Orlando Magic (13-25). Nikola Vucevic’s near double-double effort with 26 points, 9 rebounds wasn’t enough to save the day for the Magic that slipped their seventh straight game.
Will Barton and Michael Porter Jr. both had 21 points for the winners, while Facu Campazzo added 8 points, 4 assists in 20 minutes coming from the bench.
Dillon Brooks paced Memphis with 20 points and Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds.
The Philadelphia 76ers (26-12) beat Washington Wizards (14-22) 127-101, paced behind a 23-point performance by Joel Embiid. Furkan Korkmaz and Shake Milton both came from the bench to post 18 points each for the Sixers and Tobias Harris had 14 points.
Russell Westbrook led the Washington side with 25 points, 8 assists and Bradley Beal had 19 points.
Brandon Ingram scored 28 points, Zion Williamson added 23 and the New Orleans Pelicans (16-22) bounced back from a tough loss with a 116-82 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (14-23).
Collin Sexton added up 19 points to lead all Cavs scorers and Larry Nance Jr. followed with 11 points.
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