By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks lead went up to 45 before settling for the 132-92 rout of the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday.
Luka Doncic dialed in his first eight three-pointers on the way for a 37-point effort on the road. The Slovenian star also registered seven rebounds and four assists. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis threw in 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal. German Maxi Kleber had eight points and seven rebounds. Serbian Boban Marjanovic added two points and two rebounds coming off the bench. On the other end. Enes Kanter was held to four points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk dropped 15 points coming off the bench behind European starters Theo Maledon at 12 points and Aleksej Pokusevski at nine for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the away win, 114-112, against the Houston Rockets. The hosts suffered defeat for the 20th straight game of the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis put up team-highs of 17 points,11 rebounds, and three steals as the Indiana Pacers secured the overtime win, 109-106, versus the Miami Heat. Georgian reserve Goga Bitadze added two points and three rebounds. Slovenian Goran Dragic was held out by the hosts due to a lower back injury.
Another overtime game saw the Philadelphia 76ers edge the New York Knicks, 101-100. Turkish Furkan Korkmaz shifted in the starting five with plenty of teammates sidelined and scored 12 points to go along with two steals, and one assist. French Frank Ntilikina finished with four points for the losing side.
Finnish Lauri Markkanen packing 16 points and eight rebounds was among the main reasons the Chicago Bulls took the 100-86 victory over the Detroit Pistons on the road. Czech Tomas Satoransky, remaining in the starting unit as well, added eight points, nine rebounds, and one steal.
German Daniel Theis posted a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Boston Celtics in the home win, 112-96, over the Orlando Magic. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic producing a 22-point, 13-rebound double-double plus three assists and French Evan Fournier with 16 points were not enough for the visitors.
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Washington Wizards, 113-106, despite Russell Westbrook generating yet another triple-double and Ukrainian Alex Len finishing with 20 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. German Isaac Bonga had two points and Israeli Deni Avdija one rebound for the losing side.
Croatian Dario Saric was held to six points in 15 minutes but the Phoenix Suns made short work of the undermanned Los Angles Lakers securing the 111-94 victory. For the defending champions, German Dennis Schroder scored 22 points and Greek Kostas Antetokounmpo one point.
Turkish Cedi Osman logged five points, six rebounds, six assists, and two steals helping the Cleveland Cavaliers past the struggling Toronto Raptors, 116-105. British OG Anunoby had 17 points, six rebounds, and three steals in the eighth loss in a row for the Raptors.
Sunday results:
Miami Heat – Indiana Pacers 106-109 OT (98-98)
Houston Rockets – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-114
Denver Nuggets – New Orleans Pelicans 108-113
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 112-96
Brooklyn Nets – Washington Wizards 113-106
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 116-105
Detroit Pistons – Chicago Bulls 86-100
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 100-101 OT (88-88)
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers 111-94
Portland Trail Blazers – Dallas Mavericks 92-132
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 30-13
2. Brooklyn Nets 29-14
3. Milwaukee Bucks 27-14
4. Atlanta Hawks 22-20
5. Miami Heat 22-21
6. Boston Celtics 21-21
7. New York Knicks 21-22
8. Charlotte Hornets 20-21
9. Indiana Pacers 19-22
10. Chicago Bulls 19-22
11. Toronto Raptors 17-25
12. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-26
13. Washington Wizards 15-26
14. Orlando Magic 14-28
15. Detroit Pistons 12-30
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 30-11
2. Phoenix Suns 28-13
3. Los Angeles Lakers 28-15
4. Los Angeles Clippers 27-16
5. Denver Nuggets 25-17
6. Portland Trail Blazers 25-17
7. San Antonio Spurs 22-17
8. Dallas Mavericks 22-19
9. Golden State Warriors 22-21
10. Memphis Grizzlies 19-20
11. New Orleans Pelicans 18-24
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-24
13. Sacramento Kings 17-25
14. Houston Rockets 11-30
15. Minnesota Timberwlves 10-32
Photo Credit: Getty Images