By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets made short work of the Houston Rockets marching to the 128-99 victory on the road Friday. Serbian Nikola Jokic was necessary for 27 minutes putting up 29 points with 10/12 field goals and ensuring safe passage for his side. He grabbed 16 rebounds shaping a double-double but missed his 16th triple-double of the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season by three assists. Slovenian teammate, Vlatko Cancar added four points, two assists, two rebounds, and one steal, while Facundo Campazzo produced seven points, three assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic scored 22 points, matched his personal-best 19 assists, and fell a couple of rebounds short of a triple-double, but the Dallas Mavericks lost to the New York Knicks, 117-109. Latvian sidekick and former Knick, Kristaps Porzingis posted a 23-point, 22-rebound double-double. German Maxi Kleber, the third European starter, finished with six points, two assists, two blocks, one steal, and one rebound in 28 minutes. French Frank Ntilikina registered four points for the visitors as Julius Randle took over banking 44 points in his hometown.
Turkish Furkan Korkmaz chipped in 18 points behind five triples helping the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 106-103. His starter showing additionally included four assists, three steals, and three rebounds. International teammate Joel Embiid starred with a 36-point, 14-rebound double-double as Paul George finished with 37 points, nine rebounds, and six assists for the guests. Croatian Ivica Zubac hit four points and pulled down seven rebounds, and French Nicolas Batum ended up with three points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas contributed 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists to the 126-115 victory for the Memphis Grizzlies against the Chicago Bulls. French Killian Tillie added six points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block coming off the bench. The hosts featured a couple of European starters, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside six assists and German Daniel Theis with seven points, while Finnish Lauri Markkanen was held to 1/7 from the field and three points.
Spanish Ricky Rubio rocked 17 points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals labeling himself as one of the main reasons the Minnesota Timberwolves earned the win, 119-111, versus the Miami Heat. More Spanish help by Juan Hernangomez registering 14 points, six rebounds, and two assists in his usual reserve role. Two more European bench players on the opposite end, Slovenian Goran Dragic at 15 points, three steals, three assists, and one rebound, and Serbian Nemanja Bjelica at one rebound.
Ukrainian Alex Len had eight points, five rebounds, and two blocks for the Washington Wizards in the overtime win, 117-115, over the New Orleans Pelicans. Fellow starter, Israeli Deni Avdija did not score in 20 minutes, while German Isaac Bonga produced two points off the bench. Spanish Willy Hernangomez logged eight points and ten rebounds in a losing effort.
Despite missing Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers secured the 107-106 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic produced nine points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block. His reserve, Enes Kanter posted a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double. On to the hosts, Austrian Jakob Poeltl logged 17 points, eight rebounds, three rejections, and one assist.
Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski was among the several players out for both teams as the Oklahoma City Thunder lost, 110-104, to the Detroit Pistons. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had nine points coming off the bench. French starter Theo Maledon made eight points to go along with eight rebounds, three steals, and two assists.
Two more French starters for prevailing Detroit. Killian Hayes finished with nine points, seven assists, five steals, four rebounds, and one rejection. Sekou Doumbouya landed eight points and three assists. Lithuanian Deividas Sirvydis put up one rebound and one assist but missed his three shots through nine minutes.
More French action for the Brooklyn Nets in the 130-115 victory versus the Charlotte Hornets at home. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot singlehandedly representing Europe went for six points and one rebound.
Elsewhere, the Toronto Raptors defeated the Orlando Magic, 113-102, with British OG Anunoby on the injury list. In the early game, the Utah Jazz took down the Indiana Pacers, 119-111.
Friday results:
Utah Jazz – Indiana Pacers 119-111
Detroit Pistons – Oklahoma City Thunder 110-104
Philadelphia 76ers – Los Angeles Clippers 106-103
Washington Wizards – New Orleans Pelicans 117-115 OT (105-105)
Brooklyn Nets – Charlotte Hornets 130-115
Toronto Raptors – Orlando Magic 113-102
Chicago Bulls – Memphis Grizzlies 115-126
Houston Rockets – Denver Nuggets 99-128
Minnesota Timberwolves – Miami Heat 119-111
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 106-107
Dallas Mavericks – New York Knicks 109-117
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 39-17
2. Brooklyn Nets 38-18
3. Milwaukee Bucks 35-20
4. Boston Celtics 30-26
5. Atlanta Hawks 30-26
6. New York Knicks 30-27
7. Miami Heat 28-28
8. Charlotte Hornets 27-28
9. Indiana Pacers 26-29
10. Toronto Raptors 23-34
11. Chicago Bulls 22-33
12. Washington Wizards 22-33
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-35
14. Orlando Magic 18-38
15. Detroit Pistons 17-39
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 42-14
2. Phoenix Suns 40-15
3. Los Angeles Clippers 39-19
4. Denver Nuggets 36-20
5. Los Angeles Lakers 34-22
6. Portland Trail Blazers 32-23
7. Dallas Mavericks 30-25
8. Memphis Grizzlies 28-26
9. Golden State Warriors 28-28
10. San Antonio Spurs 26-28
11. New Orleans Pelicans 25-31
12. Sacramento Kings 22-34
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-36
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-42
15. Houston Rockets 14-42
Photo Credit: Getty Images