By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Milwaukee Bucks, 119-115, at Barclays Center on Friday evening. Kevin Durant had a team-high 18 points in his 2021 NBA Preseason debut.
The visitors without injured Giannis Antetokounmpo enjoyed a breakout performance by Sandro Mamukelashvili, the 54th pick of the 2021 draft. The Georgian big logged a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. Thanasis Antetokounmpo finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while fellow Greek starter Georgios Kalaitzakis added six points, six rebounds, and three assists.
Elsewhere, Luka Doncic went for 14 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds leading the Dallas Mavericks past the Los Angeles Clippers, 122-114. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis had 15 points, French Frank Ntilikina six points, and Serbian Boban Marjanovic five points. Also, German Isaiah Hartenstein rocked 16 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and two blocks but was held to the wrong end of the outcome.
The Denver Nuggets, in their lone Preseason fixture at Ball Arena, lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 114-112, in overtime. Serbian Nikola Jokic fell narrowly short of a triple-double with ten points, ten assists, and nine rebounds. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar recorded 13 points.
Bulls roll on
The Chicago Bulls routed the New Orleans Pelicans, 121-85, in their second preseason win. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic threw in a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double, four steals, and two assists, while teammate Marko Simonovic added one rebound and one rejection in five minutes.
The visitors placing Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas in the starting five got 14 points, four rebounds, and three assists. Czech Tomas Satoransky produced five points and two steals, while Spanish Willy Hernangomez did not score but got three rebounds and a couple of assists.
Turkish Omer Yurtseven, among eight available Miami Heat players, shaped a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double in the 109-105 victory opposite the San Antonio Spurs at AT&T Center. Croatian Luka Samanic drew 11 points for the hosts.
Another Euro double-double
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posted a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double helping the Indiana Pacers prevail, 109-100, over the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Georgian teammate Goga Bitadze added four points. Justin Holiday exited with an ankle injury late in the first half.
European action on the losing side as well. Finnish Lauri Markkanen registered 11 points plus seven rebounds in 21 minutes and Spanish Ricky Rubio went for a team-high 14 points, two assists, and two steals in 18 minutes.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica chipped in seven points as the Golden State Warriors went by the Los Angeles Lakers, 121-114, at Chase Center.
Friday results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 100-109
Brooklyn Nets – Milwaukee Bucks 119-115
Chicago Bulls – New Orleans Pelicans 121-85
Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Clippers 122-114
San Antonio Spurs – Miami Heat 105-109
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 112-114 OT (101-101)
Golden State Warriors – Los Angeles Lakers 121-114