By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Ricky Rubio became the first player with at least 35 points, 10 assists, and eight three-pointers coming off the bench and in the team history of the Cleveland Cavaliers. Also, the 24th player overall in NBA history, counting the starters.
The Spanish point guard with 37 points in the 126-109 victory versus the New York Knicks eclipsed the previous personal-best of 34 points as a player of the Utah Jazz in a win opposite the San Antonio Spurs in 2018. He went 13/19 from the field, including 8/9 triples. Ten assists, three rebounds, and one steal illustrated the remaining contribution. Turkish Cedi Osman was limited to 0/5 shots and two points, while Finnish Lauri Markkanen remained in NBA’s health and safety protocols. French Evan Fournier got 15 points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist in his latest start for the Knicks.
Giannis Antetokounmpo lasted 39 minutes in the Milwaukee Bucks loss, 101-94, at the Washington Wizards. The Greek Freak ended up with 29 points, 18 rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not register a stat in six minutes, fellow Greek Giorgos Kalaitzakis did not play and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili was inactive. Israeli Deni Avdija had three points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal for the hosts, with French Joel Ayayi staying on the bench and Latvian Davis Bertans (right calf) on the injury list.
Croatian Ivica Zubac posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double, and also blocked a couple of shots for the Los Angeles Clippers in the 120-106 victory over the Charlotte Hornets, powered by a late 22-0 sprint. French Nicolas Batum added 16 points, six rebounds, three steals, one assist, and one block. German Isaiah Hartenstein logged nine points coming off the bench and Serge Ibaka did not score in his season debut following the offseason back surgery.
A 24-11 finishing run lifted the Orlando Magic to the win, 107-100, against the Utah Jazz. German upstart Franz Wagner banked in ten points behind 4/10 field goals. His brother Moritz Wagner added four points, but Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis did not play. French big Rudy Gobert posted a 21-point, 15-rebound double-double plus four rejections and three steals in the losing effort, while Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic scored 13 points in a rough shooting evening.
Domantas Sabonis fired a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double pushing the Indiana Pacers to the win, 94-91, against the Sacramento Kings on the road. The Lithuanian big also recorded three steals and one assist in 29 minutes. Georgian reserve Goga Bitadze missed his only shot in three minutes. On the losing end, Ukrainian Alex Len finished with five points, five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks coming off the bench.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica chipped in nine points helping the Golden State Warriors defeat the Houston Rockets, 120-107, for a 5-1 home start to the 2021-22 Regular Season. On the losing end, German starter Daniel Theis finished with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block, while Turkish Alperen Sengun had 12 points and five rebounds, and Spanish Usman Garuba three points, both coming off the bench.
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the San Antonio Spurs, 99-94, as Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski put up three points and five rebounds. Fellow European reserves Theo Maledon and Vit Krejci did not score but recorded one assist and one rebound, respectively. Austrian Jakob Poeltl is still out for the Spurs, five days after shifting to the health and safety protocols.
British OG Anunoby with 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists was not enough for the Toronto Raptors in the home loss, 116-103, to the Brooklyn Nets. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk logged five points, but Slovenian Goran Dragic and German Isaac Bonga did not get on the court.
Sunday results:
Toronto Raptors – Brooklyn Nets 103-116
New York Knicks – Cleveland Cavaliers 109-126
Orlando Magic – Utah Jazz 107-100
Sacramento Kings – Indiana Pacers 91-94
Washington Wizards – Milwaukee Bucks 101-94
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 99-94
Golden State Warriors – Houston Rockets 120-107
Los Angeles Clippers – Charlotte Hornets 120-106
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 8-2
2. Miami Heat 7-2
3. Brooklyn Nets 7-3
4. Washington Wizards 7-3
5. Chicago Bulls 6-3
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-4
7. New York Knicks 6-4
8. Toronto Raptors 6-5
9. Charlotte Hornets 5-6
10. Milwaukee Bucks 4-6
11. Boston Celtics 4-6
12. Atlanta Hawks 4-6
13. Indiana Pacers 4-7
14. Orlando Magic 3-8
15. Detroit Pistons 1-8
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 8-1
2. Utah Jazz 7-3
3. Dallas Mavericks 6-3
4. Phoenix Suns 5-3
5. Memphis Grizzlies 5-4
6. Denver Nuggets 5-4
7. Los Angeles Clippers 5-4
8. Sacramento Kings 5-5
9. Portland Trail Blazers 5-5
10. Los Angeles Lakers 5-5
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 3-5
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 3-6
13. San Antonio Spurs 3-7
14. New Orleans Pelicans 1-9
15. Houston Rockets 1-9
Photo Credit: Getty Images