By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jakob Poeltl packing a 24-point, 12-rebound double-double led the San Antonio Spurs to the 112-97 victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans Sunday evening. He made 10/12 two-pointers over 34 minutes but eventually fell three points short of his career-high 27 points shaped up earlier in the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season. The Austrian center added three assists, two blocks, and one steal to his stat sheet.
On the losing end of the European big man battle, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas racked a 17-point, 12-rebound double-double plus four assists and one block over 32 minutes, while Spanish Willy Hernangomez went for ten points and nine rebounds, one assist, and one block coming off the bench. Czech Tomas Satoransky missed all of his three shots but logged three assists and one steal.
Slovenian Luka Doncic was sidelined after re-aggravating a left ankle injury, but the Dallas Mavericks prevailed, 103-84, over the Oklahoma City Thunder. German reserve Maxi Kleber put in 16 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis added 13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one block. French Frank Ntilikina chipped in two points, but Serbian Boban Marjanovic stayed on the bench.
On to the Thunder, Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski was held to 1/5 field goals and four points but registered nine rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block lasting 23 minutes. French Theo Maledon failed to score but recorded two assists and one steal in 13 minutes. Czech Vit Krejci did not suit up.
German Franz Wagner went for 20 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, but the Orlando Magic lost, 106-94, to the Los Angeles Lakers. Both his brother Moritz Wagner and Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis did not play. For the Lakers, LeBron James posted a triple-double with 30 points, 11 rebounds, and ten assists.
French starter Killian Hayes ended up with six points, three assists, one rebound, one steal, and one block, as the Detroit Pistons were forced to defeat, 116-104, by the Brooklyn Nets.
Elsewhere, the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 116-111. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic tallied eight points, seven rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block going through foul trouble.
Earlier, the Milwaukee Bucks cruised past the shorthanded New York Knicks, 112-97. Giannis Antetokounmpo registered his first triple-double of the season.
Sunday results:
New York Knicks – Milwaukee Bucks 97-112
Detroit Pistons – Brooklyn Nets 104-116
Oklahoma City Thunder – Dallas Mavericks 84-103
San Antonio Spurs – New Orleans Pelicans 112-97
Portland Trail Blazers – Minnesota Timberwolves 111-116
Los Angeles Lakers – Orlando Magic 106-94
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Brooklyn Nets 19-8
2. Milwaukee Bucks 18-10
3. Chicago Bulls 17-10
4. Miami Heat 16-11
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-12
6. Philadelphia 76ers 15-12
7. Washington Wizards 15-12
8. Charlotte Hornets 15-13
9. Atlanta Hawks 13-13
10. Boston Celtics 13-14
11. Toronto Raptors 12-14
12. New York Knicks 12-15
13. Indiana Pacers 12-16
14. Orlando Magic 5-23
15. Detroit Pistons 4-22
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 21-4
2. Golden State Warriors 21-5
3. Utah Jazz 19-7
4. Memphis Grizzlies 16-11
5. Los Angeles Clippers 15-12
6. Los Angeles Lakers 15-13
7. Dallas Mavericks 13-13
8. Denver Nuggets 13-13
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 12-15
10. Sacramento Kings 11-16
11. Portland Trail Blazers 11-16
12. San Antonio Spurs 10-16
13. Houston Rockets 8-18
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-18
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-21
Photo Credit: Getty Images