By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic posted an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double and threw in four assists helping the Chicago Bulls secure the win, 117-107, versus the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday evening. For the losing side, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis put up a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Slovenian Luka Doncic finished with 20 points, ten assists, eight rebounds, and four steals. Also, French Frank Ntilikina had four points and two assists, but Serbian Boban Marjanovic missed both his shots and German Maxi Kleber remained out with a left oblique strain.
Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo logged 15 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, two blocks, and one steal for the Milwaukee Bucks in the away win, 112-100, over the New York Knicks. His brother Thanasis did not get on the board. Giorgos Kalaitzakis did not play. French Evan Fournier was limited to only two points behind 1/5 field goals, lasting 19 minutes for the hosts.
German Dennis Schroder was a key part of the Boston Celtics knocking down the Toronto Raptors, 104-88, with 20 points, four assists, and three rebounds, but also committed eight turnovers. Teammates Juancho Hernangomez and Enes Kanter did not play. Also staying on the bench, Slovenian Goran Dragic for Toronto. British OG Anunoby finished with 14 points and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk got ten points.
Without suspended Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets edged the Indiana Pacers, 101-98. They overcame Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posting a 20-point, 19-rebound double-double along with two assists, one steal, and one block. Besides the Serbian superstar, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar was out with a hip strain. Georgian Goga Bitadze stayed on the bench for the Pacers.
French Killian Hayes returning from a minor injury logged four points and three assists for the Detroit Pistons in the win, 112-104, opposite the Houston Rockets. German Daniel Theis got six points, four rebounds, and two blocks for the hosts, with Turkish Alperen Sengun sidelined due to illness and Usman Garuba on the bench.
Spanish Ricky Rubio had 20 points, five assists, five rebounds, and two steals, but missed an important free throw as the Cleveland Cavaliers lost to the Washington Wizards, 97-94. Turkish Cedi Osman registered nine points and six rebounds. Finnish Lauri Markkanen, among the players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, remained out.
The Wizards, still missing injured Latvian Davis Bertans, featured Israeli Deni Avdija. He did not attempt a shot through 16 minutes but registered two rebounds and one steal. Kyle Kuzma fired in 12 out of his 22 points in the fourth period, including the go-ahead three-pointer with 12 seconds remaining.
Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski had three points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal coming off the bench for the Oklahoma City Thunder. His side forced the New Orleans Pelicans to yet another defeat, 108-100. French Theo Maledon and Czech Vit Krejci stayed on the visitors’ bench.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas banked in a 25-point, 15-rebound double-double in the fifth home loss in a row to start the 2021-22 Regular Season. Czech Tomas Satoransky had one point, three rebounds, and one steal. Spanish Willy Hernangomez did not enter the game.
German Franz Wagner put up ten points, seven rebounds, and six steals as the Orlando Magic were trashed, 123-90, by the Brooklyn Nets. His brother Moritz logged three points and Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis had five points, both coming off the bench.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica tapped nine points for the Golden State Warriors in the home win, 123-110, versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. He also put up five rebounds, one steal, and one block in the tenth win of the season.
With Croatian teammate Dario Saric still out, Frank Kaminsky poured 31 points leading the Phoenix Suns past the Portland Trail Blazers, 119-109. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic registered eight points, six rebounds, and three assists for the visitors.
Despite Austrian Jakob Poeltl still in the health and safety protocols, the San Antonio Spurs defeated the Sacramento Kings, 136-117. Ukrainian Alex Len paired eight points with six rebounds for the losing side.
The Los Angeles Lakers survived in overtime for the 120-117 victory opposite the Miami Heat. French Sekou Doumbouya did not leave the bench. At the losing end, Turkish Omer Yurtseven scored three points.
Spanish Santi Aldama did not play as the Memphis Grizzlies were bested by the Charlotte Hornets, 118-108. French teammates Killian Tillie and Yves Pons were out due to back and ankle soreness, respectively.
Wednesday results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Washington Wizards 94-97
Orlando Magic – Brooklyn Nets 90-123
Boston Celtics – Toronto Raptors 104-88
Houston Rockets – Detroit Pistons 104-112
New York Knicks – Milwaukee Bucks 100-112
Chicago Bulls – Dallas Mavericks 117-107
Memphis Grizzlies – Charlotte Hornets 108-118
New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder 100-108
San Antonio Spurs – Sacramento Kings 136-117
Denver Nuggets – Indiana Pacers 101-98
Phoenix Suns – Portland Trail Blazers 119-109
Golden State Warriors – Minnesota Timberwolves 123-110
Los Angeles Lakers – Miami Heat 120-107 OT (112-112)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Washington Wizards 8-3
2. Chicago Bulls 8-3
3. Brooklyn Nets 8-4
4. Philadelphia 76ers 8-4
5. Miami Heat 7-4
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-5
7. New York Knicks 7-5
8. Milwaukee Bucks 6-6
9. Toronto Raptors 6-6
10. Charlotte Hornets 6-7
11. Boston Celtics 5-6
12. Atlanta Hawks 4-8
13. Indiana Pacers 4-8
14. Orlando Magic 3-9
15. Detroit Pistons 2-8
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 10-1
2. Utah Jazz 8-3
3. Phoenix Suns 7-3
4. Denver Nuggets 7-4
5. Dallas Mavericks 7-4
6. Los Angeles Clippers 6-4
7. Los Angeles Lakers 7-5
8. Memphis Grizzlies 6-5
9. Sacramento Kings 5-7
10. Portland Trail Blazers 5-7
11. Oklahoma City Thunder 4-6
12. San Antonio Spurs 4-7
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 3-7
14. Houston Rockets 1-10
15. New Orleans Pelicans 1-11
Photo Credit: Getty Images