By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic ended up with 37 points after pouring 22 in the final 12 minutes, but the Dallas Mavericks fell to the Sacramento Kings, 121-107, on Sunday. The Slovenian sensation, in a 36-minute effort, also posted eight rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and one steal. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis was held to nine points in the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season contest. German Maxi Kleber started as well but did not score through 21 minutes. Italian Nicolo Melli got one minute of playing time.
Bam Adebayo’s game-winning jumper earned the Miami Heat the 109-107 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. Slovenian Goran Dragic chipped in 18 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and one steal in 31 minutes off the bench. The Nets had French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot scoring seven points and Kevin Durant exiting early with a left thigh contusion.
Aleksej Pokusevski blocked six shots but the Oklahoma City Thunder lost, 112-106, to the Toronto Raptors. The Serbian upstart also produced eight points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Fellow starter, French Theo Maledon had nine points and Ukrainian reserve Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk scored four points.
Nicolas Batum and Serge Ibaka were sidelined, but Croatian Ivica Zubac put up 13 points and six rebounds aiding the Los Angeles Clippers in the win, 124-105, versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. On the losing end, Spanish Juan Hernangomez with two points and two rebounds.
Jusuf Nurkic and Enes Kanter produced 12 points each in a losing effort for the Portland Trail Blazers without Damian Lillard for a second straight game. The Charlotte Hornets prevailed, 109-101.
The streaking New York Knicks defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 122-112, in overtime. French Frank Ntilikina did not attempt a shot in four minutes but registered one rebound and one assist.
Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and Swiss Clint Capela combined for 48 points as the Atlanta Hawks beat the Indiana Pacers, 129-117. The Houston Rockets scored the win, 114-110, versus the Orlando Magic.
Sunday results:
New Orleans Pelicans – New York Knicks 112-122 OT (103-103)
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 129-117
Miami Heat – Brooklyn Nets 109-107
Charlotte Hornets – Portland Trail Blazers 109-101
Orlando Magic – Houston Rockets 110-114
Toronto Raptors – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-106
Dallas Mavericks – Sacramento Kings 107-121
Los Angeles Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves 124-105
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 39-17
2. Brooklyn Nets 38-19
3. Milwaukee Bucks 35-21
4. Boston Celtics 31-26
5. Atlanta Hawks 31-26
6. New York Knicks 31-27
7. Miami Heat 29-28
8. Charlotte Hornets 28-28
9. Indiana Pacers 26-30
10. Toronto Raptors 24-34
11. Chicago Bulls 23-33
12. Washington Wizards 23-33
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-36
14. Orlando Magic 18-39
15. Detroit Pistons 17-40
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 42-15
2. Phoenix Suns 40-16
3. Los Angeles Clippers 40-19
4. Denver Nuggets 36-20
5. Los Angeles Lakers 35-22
6. Portland Trail Blazers 32-24
7. Dallas Mavericks 30-26
8. Memphis Grizzlies 29-26
9. Golden State Warriors 28-29
10. San Antonio Spurs 27-28
11. New Orleans Pelicans 25-32
12. Sacramento Kings 23-34
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-37
14. Houston Rockets 15-42
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-43
Photo Credit: Getty Images