By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A third straight win for the Denver Nuggets, 124-111, against the Houston Rockets.
Nikola Jokic posted a team-high 24 points alongside 11 rebounds, three assists, and one block. Teammate and two-time Turkish Airlines EuroLeague champion Facundo Campazzo scored an NBA career-high 22 points plus 12 assists, five steals, four rebounds, and two blocks.
“He orchestrated it all. He was awesome. I wish I could have played him 48 to tell you the truth,” said Popeye Jones regarding Campazzo. The former player took over head coaching responsibilities as both Michael Malone and lead assistant David Adelman were placed in the league’s health and safety protocols.
Slovenian Vlatko Cancar had 11 points in 15 minutes before an early exit due to a nose injury. French Petr Cornelie added one three-pointer in three minutes. As for the hosts, German Daniel Theis had eight points and five rebounds, and Spanish Usman Garuba tallied two points, four rebounds, and two steals in 13 minutes, but Turkish Alperen Sengun was sidelined with a right ankle sprain and is likely to remain out for at least one week.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double and DeMar DeRozan hit a second straight game-winning buzzer-beater lifting the Chicago Bulls to the win, 120-119, against the Washington Wizards. The new Eastern Conference leaders notched their seventh win in a row. On the opposite end, Israeli Deni Avdija fouled out with ten rebounds and six assists, but French Joel Ayayi did not play and Latvian Davis Bertans remained sidelined.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica chipped in four points and four rebounds for the Golden State Warriors in the win, 123-116, over the Utah Jazz. Both Rudy Gobert and Bojan Bogdanovic scored 20 points apiece in the losing effort with the French big man making out a double-double behind 19 rebounds.
French Nicolas Batum was out due to a right ankle sprain, German Isaiah Hartenstein remained sidelined with a left ankle injury, and Croatian Ivica Zubac entered the health and safety protocols. However, Serge Ibaka had four points as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Brooklyn Nets, 120-116.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl posted a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double and also dished out five assists but the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Detroit Pistons, 117-116, in overtime. Lithuanian Deividas Sirvydis grabbed three rebounds in five minutes and French Killian Hayes was sidelined for the winning side.
Elsewhere, Giannis Antetokounmpo registered his second triple-double of the 2021-22 Regular Season and 287th of his career leading the streaking Milwaukee Bucks to the win, 136-113, opposite the New Orleans Pelicans.
Saturday results:
Milwaukee Bucks – New Orleans Pelicans 136-113
Detroit Pistons – San Antonio Spurs 117-116 OT (105-105)
Washington Wizards – Chicago Bulls 119-120
Brooklyn Nets – Los Angeles Clippers 116-120
Houston Rockets – Denver Nuggets 111-124
Utah Jazz – Golden State Warriors 116-123
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 24-10
2. Brooklyn Nets 23-11
3. Milwaukee Bucks 25-13
4. Miami Heat 23-13
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-16
6. Philadelphia 76ers 19-16
7. Charlotte Hornets 19-17
8. Washington Wizards 18-18
9. Boston Celtics 17-19
10. New York Knicks 17-19
11. Toronto Raptors 15-17
12. Atlanta Hawks 16-19
13. Indiana Pacers 14-22
14. Orlando Magic 7-29
15. Detroit Pistons 6-28
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 28-7
2. Phoenix Suns 27-8
3. Utah Jazz 26-10
4. Memphis Grizzlies 23-14
5. Denver Nuggets 18-16
6. Los Angeles Clippers 19-18
7. Los Angeles Lakers 18-19
8. Dallas Mavericks 17-18
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-19
10. Sacramento Kings 15-22
11. San Antonio Spurs 14-21
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 13-22
13. Portland Trail Blazers 13-22
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-23
15. Houston Rockets 10-27
Photo Credit: Getty Images