By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Evan Fournier and the New York Knicks bounced back at home after nearly a month of consecutive defeats to beat the Detroit Pistons 105-91 on Tuesday.
Fournier led all scorers of the game with 22 points, 3 assists and 2 rebounds in 41 minutes on the court, while Julius Randle and Kemba Walker shared 21 points apiece. The Knicks have now improved to a 14-17 overall record.
Saben Lee tapped 16 points for the Pistons while coming off of the bench, Saddiq Bey and Cory Joseph posted 15 points each for the Pistons that are now 2-13 on the road, 5-25 overall.
Brandon Ingram and Nickeil Alexander-Walker combined 55 points (28 and 27 respectively) to lift the New Orleans Pelicans to a 111-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers.
Big man Jonas Valanciunas contributed a double-double with 10 points and 16 rebounds for the winners, while Willy Hernangomez tapped 13 points coming from the bench.
Damian Lillard’s 39-point effort wasn’t enough to save the day for short-staffed Portland, which also picked up 17 points by Jusuf Nurkic.
With Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis sidelined, the Dallas Mavericks found a leader in Jalen Brunson who helped the team get past the Minnesota Timberwolves (114-102) with a 28-point performance. Sterling Brown had a double-double with 12 points, 11 rebounds and Boban Marjanovic contributed 10 points in 8 minutes.
Karl-Anthony Towns led the way for the Timberwolves with 26 points, 14 rebounds, 7 assists, and Malik Beasley had 22 points.
Devin Booker seems to be back in full form after a hamstring injury that kept him sidelined and helped the Phoenix Suns prevail over the Los Angeles Lakers 108-90 on the road, for the Suns‘ fourth consecutive win. Deandre Ayton had 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Mikal Bridges scored 14 points.
On the other end, LeBron James had a game-high with 34 points for the Lakers, that have now lost their third straight game. It should be noted that coach Frank Vogel was placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for the last two.
Duncan Robinson tied his season-high with 26 points and Tyler Herro also had 26 points upon his return after missing the Heat‘s last three games, and Miami prevailed over the Indiana Pacers 125-96.
Chris Duarte and Caris LeVert both led the Pacers with 17 points, while Domantas Sabonis added 12 points.
December 21 results:
Indiana Pacers – Miami Heat 96-125
Detroit Pistons – New York Knicks 91-105
Portland Trail Blazers – New Orleans Pelicans 97-111
Minnesota Timberwolves – Dallas Mavericks 102-114
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers 108-90
Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 9 | .700 | — | 17-6 | 6-0 | 10-6 | 11-3 | 1-0 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
| 19 | 10 | .655 | 1.5 | 10-7 | 2-2 | 10-4 | 9-6 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 2 | |
| 19 | 12 | .613 | 2.5 | 12-6 | 3-1 | 9-7 | 10-5 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 6 | |
|
4. Miami Heat |
19 | 13 | .594 | 3 | 13-7 | 4-1 | 9-4 | 10-9 | 0-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 19 | 13 | .594 | 3 | 14-9 | 6-1 | 10-5 | 9-8 | 0-2 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
| 16 | 15 | .516 | 5.5 | 10-9 | 1-6 | 6-7 | 10-8 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| 16 | 15 | .516 | 5.5 | 10-9 | 3-4 | 8-4 | 8-11 | 3-0 | 3-7 | W 1 | |
| 16 | 17 | .485 | 6.5 | 10-8 | 5-2 | 8-4 | 8-13 | 0-4 | 3-7 | L 3 | |
| 15 | 16 | .484 | 6.5 | 10-9 | 4-4 | 8-6 | 7-10 | 2-2 | 4-6 | L 1 | |
|
10. Toronto Raptors |
14 | 15 | .483 | 6.5 | 10-9 | 4-4 | 7-9 | 7-6 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
11. Atlanta Hawks |
14 | 15 | .483 | 6.5 | 8-8 | 4-2 | 8-7 | 6-8 | 0-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
12. New York Knicks |
14 | 17 | .452 | 7.5 | 9-14 | 3-4 | 6-10 | 8-7 | 1-0 | 3-7 | W 1 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
13 | 19 | .406 | 9 | 8-14 | 2-4 | 10-7 | 3-12 | 1-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
14. Orlando Magic |
6 | 25 | .194 | 15.5 | 3-18 | 0-7 | 2-10 | 4-15 | 0-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
|
15. Detroit Pistons |
5 | 25 | .167 | 16 | 4-15 | 1-6 | 3-12 | 2-13 | 0-1 | 1-9 | L 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
25 | 5 | .833 | — | 16-5 | 4-3 | 14-2 | 11-3 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 4 |
| 25 | 6 | .806 | 0.5 | 13-3 | 6-1 | 15-2 | 10-4 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
21 | 9 | .700 | 4 | 11-3 | 5-0 | 11-6 | 10-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
| 19 | 13 | .594 | 7 | 15-8 | 3-2 | 11-8 | 8-5 | 2-0 | 7-3 | L 2 | |
| 15 | 14 | .517 | 9.5 | 8-8 | 2-3 | 8-5 | 7-9 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
|
6. LA Clippers |
16 | 15 | .516 | 9.5 | 11-13 | 2-4 | 12-8 | 4-7 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 3 |
|
7. Los Angeles Lakers |
16 | 16 | .500 | 10 | 8-11 | 1-5 | 10-8 | 6-8 | 5-1 | 5-5 | L 3 |
|
8. Dallas Mavericks |
15 | 15 | .500 | 10 | 12-8 | 7-2 | 8-7 | 7-8 | 1-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
9. Minnesota Timberwolves |
15 | 16 | .484 | 10.5 | 11-10 | 2-2 | 9-9 | 6-7 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
10. Sacramento Kings |
13 | 19 | .406 | 13 | 9-13 | 4-4 | 7-9 | 6-10 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
11. Portland Trail Blazers |
13 | 19 | .406 | 13 | 7-15 | 1-3 | 11-7 | 2-12 | 0-1 | 2-8 | L 1 |
| 12 | 18 | .400 | 13 | 7-13 | 1-3 | 6-9 | 6-9 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| 10 | 19 | .345 | 14.5 | 8-12 | 0-2 | 5-10 | 5-9 | 0-0 | 4-6 | W 2 | |
|
14. New Orleans Pelicans |
11 | 21 | .344 | 15 | 8-13 | 2-4 | 6-9 | 5-12 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 3 |
|
15. Houston Rockets |
10 | 21 | .323 | 15.5 | 4-13 | 1-3 | 7-7 | 3-14 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
Photo: Getty Images