By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
On the night the Dallas Mavericks retired Dirk Nowitzki’s No. 41, they also celebrated a 99-82 victory against the Golden State Warriors at home, their fourth in a row.
Luka Doncic emerged again, after overcoming ankle and knee issues, as well as entering COVID-19 protocols, and posted 26 points, 8 assists and 7 rebounds for the Mavs in his third game after his return to action. Dallas still lacked Kristaps Porzingis, who remains in the league’s health and safety protocols.
Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points for Golden State and Stephen Curry had 14, on just 1 of 9 from the three-point line.
Kyrie Irving made a statement in his season debut with the Brooklyn Nets, to help his team beat the Indiana Pacers 129-121 on the road.
Irving, who remained sidelined due to being unvaccinated, scored 22 points in his return to action to help the Nets recover from a three-game skid.
Kevin Durant posted a game-high performance with 39 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists and James Harden followed with 18 points for the Nets.
The Nets overshadowed Domantas Sabonis’ triple-double of 32 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and the Pacers have now lost their sixth game in a row.
Bojan Bogdanovic registered a season-high performance with 36 points to lift the Utah Jazz to a 115-109 victory against the Denver Nuggets, their second in a row.
Despite missing big man Rudy Gobert, the Jazz held off Nikola Jokic’s 64th career triple-double (26 points, 21 rebounds, 11 assists) to retain their road streak.
The short-staffed Atlanta Hawks held on to beat the Sacramento Kings on the road 108-102 to bounce back despite missing star Trae Young.
Kevin Huerter spoke game for the visiting side, as he posted a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds to lift the Hawks to victory. Danilo Gallinari added 16 points and Clint Capela also had a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds.
DeAaron Fox and Tyrese Haliburton combined 54 points (30 and 24 respectively) for the Kings.
On a historic night for the San Antonio Spurs where Gregg Popovich became the first coach to reach 2.000 games with the same team, Dejounte Murray sealed a 99-97 victory over the Boston Celtics with a 22-point performance.
Devin Vassell and Derrick White both tapped 17 points for the Spurs, which also bounced back after slipping their last four games.
Jaylen Brown had 30 points for the Celtics, following up a career-high performance of 50 points against the Orlando Magic.
With Jimmy Butler ruled out after a knee injury which he suffered on Monday and Kyle Lowry ejected, the Miami Heat managed to take down the Portland Trail Blazers 115-109 to bounce back from a two-game skid.
Max Strus led the way for the Heat with 25 points upon his return, while big man Omer Yurtseven had a double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds to go along with 4 assists.
Anfernee Simmons had 28 points to pace all scorers of the game for Portland, Normal Powell tapped 26 and Jusuf Nurkic posted a double-double of his own with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Following COVID-19 struggles, the Minnesota Timberwolves finally had their starters back to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder 98-90. Karl-Anthony Towns posted 17 points and 16 rebounds and Anthony Edwards was back in form to drop 22 points for the Timberwolves.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 19 upon his return to action for the Thunder, Josh Giddey followed with 14 points and Andrew Wiggins had 11.
With star Giannis Antetokounmpo sidelined (non-COVID illness), the Milwaukee Bucks fell to the Toronto Raptors 111-117 at home.
Pascal Siakam emerged with 33 points for the Raptors, OG Anunoby and Gary Trent Jr. added 22 points each and Fred VanVleet added up to the list of top scorers with 19 points.
Khris Middleton paced the Bucks with 25 points, Jordan Nwora posted 17 points and Jrue Holiday and DeMarcus Cousins both tapped 15.
Kevin Porter Jr. was Houston Rockets’ lifeline, as he hit a game-winning three-pointer in the last 0.4 seconds, to lift his team to a 114-111 win over the Washington Wizards.
Porter had just returned to action after a one-game suspension imposed by the Rockets and finished the game with 9 total points. Jalen Green scored 22 points and Eric Gordon had 19 for the Rockets.
On the other end, Bradley Beal paced the Wizards with 27 points, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope posted 26 points, and Kyle Kuzma followed with 24.
The Philadelphia 76ers beat the Orlando Magic 116-106 on the road, to register their 14th win on the road this season, an NBA-best in the 2021-22 campaign. Joel Embiid helped the Sixers with 31 points while Tobias Harris tapped 22 points. Adding up to the efforts, Seth Curry added 20 points and 12 assists and Furkan Korkmaz finished the game with 20 points.
The Charlotte Hornets swept the Detroit Pistons 140-111 at home to snap back from a two-game skid. Kelly Oubre Jr. made a career-high nine three-pointers, while the Hornets hit a franchise record of 24 in this victory.
Gordon Hayward and Miles Bridges both tapped 19 for the Hornets, Terry Rozier had 16 points, and LaMelo Ball was two rebounds short of triple-double as he posted 12 points, 12 assists and 8 rebounds
Pistons’ Trey Lyles led the way with 17 points and Cade Cunningham had 16.
NBA January 5 results:
Charlotte Hornets – Detroit Pistons 140-111
Orlando Magic – Philadelphia 76ers 106-116
Washington Wizards – Houston Rockets 111-114
Boston Celtics – San Antonio Spurs 97-99
Indiana Pacers – Brooklyn Nets 121-129
Dallas Mavericks – Golden State Warriors 99-82
Milwaukee Bucks – Toronto Raptors 111-117
Minnesota Timberwolves – Oklahoma City Thunder 98-90
Denver Nuggets – Utah Jazz 109-115
Portland Trail Blazers – Miami Heat 109-115
Sacramento Kings – Atlanta Hawks 102-108
NBA Standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Chicago Bulls |
25 | 10 | .714 | — | 16-7 | 4-2 | 13-4 | 12-6 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 8 |
|
2. Brooklyn Nets |
24 | 12 | .667 | 1.5 | 18-7 | 6-1 | 10-9 | 14-3 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
3. Milwaukee Bucks |
25 | 15 | .625 | 2.5 | 17-11 | 6-2 | 13-7 | 12-8 | 0-2 | 6-4 | L 2 |
|
4. Miami Heat |
24 | 15 | .615 | 3 | 16-7 | 6-1 | 12-4 | 12-11 | 0-2 | 7-3 | W 1 |
|
5. Philadelphia 76ers |
21 | 16 | .568 | 5 | 14-10 | 3-6 | 7-8 | 14-8 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 5 |
|
6. Cleveland Cavaliers |
21 | 17 | .553 | 5.5 | 14-9 | 4-1 | 11-9 | 10-8 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
7. Toronto Raptors |
18 | 17 | .514 | 7 | 12-11 | 5-5 | 10-10 | 8-7 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 4 |
|
8. Charlotte Hornets |
20 | 19 | .513 | 7 | 12-9 | 5-3 | 10-5 | 10-14 | 0-4 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
9. Washington Wizards |
19 | 19 | .500 | 7.5 | 13-12 | 4-5 | 10-7 | 9-12 | 3-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
10. Boston Celtics |
18 | 20 | .474 | 8.5 | 12-10 | 4-4 | 11-8 | 7-12 | 3-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
11. New York Knicks |
18 | 20 | .474 | 8.5 | 12-16 | 3-5 | 8-11 | 10-9 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
12. Atlanta Hawks |
17 | 20 | .459 | 9 | 10-12 | 4-3 | 8-9 | 9-11 | 0-0 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
14 | 25 | .359 | 13 | 8-20 | 2-7 | 11-10 | 3-15 | 1-2 | 2-8 | L 6 |
|
14. Detroit Pistons |
7 | 29 | .194 | 18.5 | 5-18 | 2-6 | 4-13 | 3-16 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
15. Orlando Magic |
7 | 32 | .179 | 20 | 4-24 | 1-8 | 2-14 | 5-18 | 0-1 | 2-8 | L 7 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Golden State Warriors |
29 | 8 | .784 | — | 16-5 | 7-1 | 17-3 | 12-5 | 0-1 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
2. Phoenix Suns |
29 | 8 | .784 | — | 19-7 | 4-4 | 16-4 | 13-4 | 1-0 | 7-3 | W 2 |
|
3. Utah Jazz |
28 | 10 | .737 | 1.5 | 18-4 | 9-0 | 14-7 | 14-3 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 2 |
|
4. Memphis Grizzlies |
25 | 14 | .641 | 5 | 19-9 | 4-2 | 13-8 | 12-6 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 6 |
|
5. Dallas Mavericks |
20 | 18 | .526 | 9.5 | 17-10 | 7-2 | 10-8 | 10-10 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 4 |
|
6. Los Angeles Lakers |
20 | 19 | .513 | 10 | 12-13 | 2-5 | 13-10 | 7-9 | 5-1 | 4-6 | W 3 |
|
7. Denver Nuggets |
18 | 18 | .500 | 10.5 | 11-11 | 2-5 | 8-7 | 10-11 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
8. LA Clippers |
19 | 19 | .500 | 10.5 | 12-15 | 3-4 | 12-11 | 7-8 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
9. Minnesota Timberwolves |
18 | 20 | .474 | 11.5 | 13-13 | 3-4 | 11-10 | 7-10 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
10. San Antonio Spurs |
15 | 22 | .405 | 14 | 8-15 | 1-4 | 7-10 | 8-12 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
11. Sacramento Kings |
16 | 24 | .400 | 14.5 | 11-17 | 4-6 | 10-13 | 6-11 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
12. Portland Trail Blazers |
14 | 23 | .378 | 15 | 7-18 | 1-4 | 12-10 | 2-13 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
13. Oklahoma City Thunder |
13 | 24 | .351 | 16 | 10-17 | 1-3 | 8-11 | 5-13 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
|
14. New Orleans Pelicans |
13 | 25 | .342 | 16.5 | 8-16 | 2-4 | 7-11 | 6-14 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 3 |
|
15. Houston Rockets |
11 | 28 | .282 | 19 | 4-15 | 1-3 | 7-10 | 4-18 | 1-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
Photo: Getty Images