By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Third loss in four Regular Season games since Spanish Ricky Rubio was ruled out for the remainder of the 2021-22 season and fifth in the last seven for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Clutch Ja Morant hit the go-ahead bucket lifting the Memphis Grizzlies to the win, 110-106, Tuesday. French starter Killian Tillie had five points with 2/7 field goals and three rebounds, and Spanish Santi Aldama chipped in two points and three rebounds coming off the bench. French Yves Pons was sidelined with right ankle soreness. Finnish Lauri Markkanen went for 13 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one block for the Cavs with Turkish Cedi Osman in the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
French Evan Fournier finished with zero points missing four shots over 22 minutes but the New York Knicks defeated the Indiana Pacers, 104-94. Croatian two-way player Luka Samanic is dealing with a foot injury. On the losing side, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis recorded 15 points, eight rebounds, and four assists, while Georgian Goga Bitadze stayed on the list of players affected by COVID-19.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 25-point, 16-rebound double-double for the New Orleans Pelicans in the loss, 123-110, to the Phoenix Suns. Spanish Willy Hernangomez did not leave the bench and Czech Tomas Satoransky was placed in the health in safety protocols. Croatian Dario Saric recovering from the torn ACL in his right knee remained on the Suns’ injury list.
British OG Anunoby logged 14 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals aiding the Toronto Raptors beat the San Antonio Spurs, 129-104. Coming out of the protocols, German Isaac Bonga did not score in four minutes but Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was added to the COVID-19 list. Austrian Jakob Poeltl posted a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double in the losing effort.
Elsewhere, the Los Angeles Lakers secured the win, 122-114, versus the Sacramento Kings with LeBron James tallying 31 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Ukrainian Alex Len had nine points, eight rebounds, and two assists for the Kings. Portuguese Neemias Queta did not play.
Tuesday results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Memphis Grizzlies 106-110
Toronto Raptors – San Antonio Spurs 129-104
New York Knicks – Indiana Pacers 104-94
New Orleans Pelicans – Phoenix Suns 110-123
Los Angeles Lakers – Sacramento Kings 122-114
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 25-10
2. Brooklyn Nets 23-12
3. Milwaukee Bucks 25-14
4. Miami Heat 23-15
5. Philadelphia 76ers 20-16
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 21-17
7. Washington Wizards 19-18
8. Charlotte Hornets 19-19
9. Toronto Raptors 17-17
10. Boston Celtics 18-19
11. New York Knicks 18-20
12. Atlanta Hawks 16-20
13. Indiana Pacers 14-24
14. Detroit Pistons 7-28
15. Orlando Magic 7-31
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 29-7
2. Phoenix Suns 29-8
3. Utah Jazz 27-10
4. Memphis Grizzlies 25-14
5. Denver Nuggets 18-17
6. Dallas Mavericks 19-18
7. Los Angeles Lakers 20-19
8. Los Angeles Clippers 19-19
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-20
10. Sacramento Kings 16-23
11. San Antonio Spurs 14-22
12. Portland Trail Blazers 14-22
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 13-23
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-25
15. Houston Rockets 10-28
Photo Credit: Getty Images