By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After sitting out the first two preseason fixtures, Rudy Gobert dominated powering the Utah Jazz to the 127-96 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans on Monday.
The French big man posted a 19-point, 19-rebound double-double in 23 minutes with the hosts outscoring their opponents by 37 points when he was on the court at Vivint Arena. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic threw in 15 more points. Moving to the Pels, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas registered 12 points, Spanish Willy Hernangomez seven points, and Czech Tomas Satoransky four points.
Turkish Furkan Korkmaz banked in a game-high 27 points behind 11/19 field goals, also recorded four assists and three rebounds pacing the Philadelphia 76ers to the 115-104 victory over the error-prone Brooklyn Nets, at Wells Fargo Center. The visitors, missing Kyrie Irving, finished the friendly game with 26 turnovers.
British OG Anunoby shared the game-high 17 points with Precious Achiuwa for the Toronto Raptors in the easy win, 107-92, over the Houston Rockets. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk with ten points and German Isaac Bonga with two points added on the European column. Turkish Alperen Sengun banked in ten points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block in the losing effort, while German Daniel Theis produced four points and Spanish Usman Garuba two points.
At Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, the Minnesota Timberwolves beat the Los Angeles Clippers, 128-100. Croatian Ivica Zubac packed ten points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block for the losing side. German Isaiah Hartenstein logged six points and French Nicolas Batum three points.
A late rally lifted the Miami Heat past the Charlotte Hornets, 104-103, at FTX Arena. Turkish Omer Yurtseven contributed eight points and eight rebounds as his side completed the 2021 Preseason at 4-0, despite missing Jimmy Butler. Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka did not get on the board in 2:26.
Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic wrapped up his effort with five points, eight rebounds, and three assists, as the Portland Trail Blazers lost to the Sacramento Kings, 107-93, at home. On the winning side, Portuguese Neemias Queta registered two points and Ukrainian Alex Len four rebounds along with two assists, one steal, and one block in a scoreless outing.
The Memphis Grizzlies secured the win, 127-92, over the Detroit Pistons building off a hot start at FedExForum. Spanish Santi Aldama paired three points with four rebounds, while French teammate Yves Pons failed to score in six minutes but grabbed one rebound. French Killian Hayes had six points for the Pistons.
Monday results:
Toronto Raptors – Houston Rockets 107-92
Miami Heat – Charlotte Hornets 104-103
Memphis Grizzlies – Detroit Pistons 127-92
Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets 115-104
Utah Jazz – New Orleans Pelicans 127-96
Portland Trail Blazers – Sacramento Kings 93-107
Los Angeles Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves 100-128
Photo Credit: Getty Images