By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic registered 16 points, ten rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and one steal pushing the Denver Nuggets to the 126-102 home victory versus the Atlanta Hawks Sunday. Brand new teammate, Aaron Gordon scored 13 points in his Nuggets debut. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar hit one triple and grabbed one rebound coming off the bench, while Facundo Campazzo finished with six points and five assists in 28 minutes.
Facing his international teammate, Bogdan Bogdanovic started for the visitors and put up nine points to go along one rebound, one assist, and one steal. Swiss Clint Capela produced ten points, eight rebounds, and one steal. Italian Danilo Gallinari did not start but got 14 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block.
German Dennis Schroder led the Los Angeles Lakers to the narrow win, 96-93, over the Orlando Magic with a team-high 24 points in 36 minutes. His showing also included six assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Spanish starting center, Marc Gasol, ended up with seven points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
In his second game back from injury, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic logged ten points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block helping the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Toronto Raptors, 122-117. His reserve, Enes Kanter had ten points and eight rebounds. British OG Anunoby posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double but for the losing side.
Croatian Dario Saric accounted for six points and four rebounds as the Phoenix Suns slid by the Charlotte Hornets, 101-97, in overtime. Devin Booker poured a game-high 35 points.
Sunday results:
Charlotte Hornets – Phoenix Suns 97-101 OT (90-90)
Toronto Raptors – Portland Trail Blazers 117-122
Denver Nuggets – Atlanta Hawks 126-102
Los Angeles Lakers – Orlando Magic 96-93
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 32-14
2. Brooklyn Nets 31-15
3. Milwaukee Bucks 29-16
4. New York Knicks 24-22
5. Charlotte Hornets 23-22
6. Atlanta Hawks 23-23
7. Boston Celtics 23-23
8. Miami Heat 22-24
9. Indiana Pacers 21-23
10. Chicago Bulls 19-25
11. Toronto Raptors 18-28
12. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-29
13. Washington Wizards 16-28
14. Orlando Magic 15-31
15. Detroit Pistons 12-33
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 24-11
2. Phoenix Suns 31-14
3. Los Angeles Clippers 31-16
4. Los Angeles Lakers 30-17
5. Denver Nuggets 28-18
6. Portland Trail Blazers 28-18
7. San Antonio Spurs 23-20
8. Dallas Mavericks 23-21
9. Memphis Grizzlies 21-22
10. Golden State Warriors 22-24
11. Sacramento Kings 21-25
12. New Orleans Pelicans 20-25
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 19-26
14. Houston Rockets 13-32
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-35