By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming off the 47-point showing, Giannis Antetokounmpo displayed 21 points, 19 rebounds, seven assists, four blocks, and two steals leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the 96-89 victory versus the Oklahoma City Thunder Friday. His brother, Thanasis Antetokounmpo stayed on the bench, while fellow Europeans Giorgos Kalaitzakis and Sandro Mamukelashvili were on G League assignments. Also in the G League, Vit Krejci and Theo Maledon of the Thunder, but Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski suiting up at the NBA level recorded four points in 12 minutes.
Luka Doncic (left knee and ankle sprains) and Maxi Kleber (left oblique strain) remained out as the Dallas Mavericks surrendered to the streaking Phoenix Suns, 112-104. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis posted a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double, while French Frank Ntilikina had four points, five assists, three steals, and three rebounds coming off the bench. Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not get on the court. As for the winning side, Croatian Dario Saric (right knee) has not yet debuted in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season.
Nikola Jokic (right wrist sprain) was sidelined for the Denver Nuggets in the loss, 114-108, to the Chicago Bulls. Vlatko Cancar (left hip strain) was also out and French rookie Petr Cornelie did not leave the bench. On the opposite end, Nikola Vucevic is still in the league’s health and safety protocols. Fellow Montenegrin teammate Marko Simonovic was available but did not get his NBA debut.
Packing a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas was the top performer for the New Orleans Pelicans in the win, 94-81, against the Los Angeles Clippers. Czech Tomas Satoransky started for four points, but Spanish Willy Hernangomez did not register any playing time. For the Clips, French Nicolas Batum had 12 points, German Isaiah Hartenstein 11 points, and Croatian Ivica Zubac eight points.
Playing through a left ankle sprain, German Dennis Schroder produced 21 points, six assists, and six rebounds in a revenge game opposite the Los Angeles Lakers helping the Boston Celtics secure the win, 130-108. Coming off the bench, Enes Kanter added five points and seven rebounds in 16 minutes, and Spanish Juancho Hernangomez pulled down a couple of rebounds in four minutes.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica logged 14 points behind 5/8 field goals, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal coming off the bench to help the Golden State Warriors keep the streak going without injured Stephen Curry in the away win, 105-102, opposite the Detroit Pistons. The hosts featured French starter Killian Hayes at three points, four rebounds, one assist, and one steal.
Despite British leading scorer OG Anunoby being ruled out indefinitely due to a left hip pointer, the Toronto Raptors beat the Sacramento Kings, 108-89. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk chipped in eight points, Slovenian Goran Dragic did not play, and German Isaac Bonga was held to G League action. The hosts kept Ukrainian Alex Len on the bench and Portuguese Neemias Queta inactive.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis was held to eight points and six rebounds as the Indiana Pacers were defeated by the Charlotte Hornets, 121-118. Georgian teammate Goga Bitadze had 11 points, four rebounds, two steals, and one block. At the Hornets, Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka remains with the Greensboro Swarm.
German Franz Wagner finished with 17 points and five assists as the Orlando Magic lost to the Brooklyn Nets, 115-113. Brother Moritz Wagner scored two points in four minutes with Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis staying on the bench.
Friday results:
Charlotte Hornets – Indiana Pacers 121-118
Detroit Pistons – Golden State Warriors 102-105
Boston Celtics – Los Angeles Lakers 130-108
Brooklyn Nets – Orlando Magic 115-113
Milwaukee Bucks – Oklahoma City Thunder 96-89
New Orleans Pelicans – Los Angeles Clippers 94-81
Denver Nuggets – Chicago Bulls 108-114
Phoenix Suns – Dallas Mavericks 112-104
Sacramento Kings – Toronto Raptors 89-108
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Brooklyn Nets 12-5
2. Miami Heat 11-5
3. Chicago Bulls 11-5
4. Washington Wizards 10-5
5. Charlotte Hornets 10-7
6. Philadelphia 76ers 9-7
7. New York Knicks 8-7
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-8
9. Boston Celtics 8-8
10. Milwaukee Bucks 8-8
11. Toronto Raptors 8-9
12. Atlanta Hawks 7-9
13. Indiana Pacers 6-11
14. Detroit Pistons 4-11
15. Orlando Magic 4-12
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 14-2
2. Phoenix Suns 12-3
3. Utah Jazz 10-5
4. Dallas Mavericks 9-6
5. Denver Nuggets 9-7
6. Los Angeles Clippers 9-7
7. Memphis Grizzlies 8-7
8. Portland Trail Blazers 8-8
9. Los Angeles Lakers 8-9
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 6-9
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 6-9
12. Sacramento Kings 6-10
13. San Antonio Spurs 4-11
14. New Orleans Pelicans 3-14
15. Houston Rockets 1-14
Photo Credit: Getty Images