By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After testing positive for COVID-19 and missing five games, Rudy Gobert posted an 18-point, 19-rebound double-double leading the Utah Jazz to the away win, 125-102, against the Denver Nuggets Sunday.
His side lost four out of the five 2021-22 Regular Season contests without the French center in the lineup. Back in action and highlighting the latest NBA Sundays edition, Gobert was perfect from the field making 7/7 two-pointers en route to his 32nd double-double of the season. “I got tired in the first and third quarter but I felt great, better than I usually do in Denver. Just grateful to be back,” he summed up his outing. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic added 21 points.
The reigning MVP Nikola Jokic packed 25 points, 15 rebounds, and 14 assists tallying back-to-back triple-doubles, his ninth this season and 66th over his career. The Serbian superstar was on the bench to start the fourth quarter as the Jazz completed a 15-0 run to take control of the game. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar remains sidelined after undergoing season-ending right foot surgery last week.
The Houston Rockets defeated the Sacramento Kings, 118-112. Turkish Alperen Sengun produced six points, two assists, and one block, but German Daniel Theis did not play and Spanish Usman Garuba was recently placed on a G League assignment. Ukrainian Alex Len had one point, four rebounds, two assists, and one block in the losing effort with Portuguese Neemias Queta staying on the bench.
French Killian Hayes registered nine points, five assists, three rebounds, and one block for the Detroit Pistons in the loss, 135-108, to the Phoenix Suns. Croatian Dario Saric remained on the Suns‘ injury list recovering from the torn ACL in his right knee suffered in Game 1 of the 2021 NBA Finals.
Elsewhere, the Minnesota Timberwolves secured the win, 119-99, against the shorthanded Golden State Warriors. Serbian Nemanja Bjelica ended up with six points, one rebound, one assist, and one steal for the losing side.
Sunday results:
Detroit Pistons – Phoenix Suns 108-135
Sacramento Kings – Houston Rockets 112-118
Denver Nuggets – Utah Jazz 102-125
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 119-89
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 27-14
2. Brooklyn Nets 27-15
3. Miami Heat 27-16
4. Milwaukee Bucks 27-18
5. Philadelphia 76ers 25-17
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 26-18
7. Charlotte Hornets 23-20
8. Toronto Raptors 21-19
9. Washington Wizards 22-21
10. New York Knicks 22-21
11. Boston Celtics 22-22
12. Atlanta Hawks 17-25
13. Indiana Pacers 15-28
14. Detroit Pistons 10-32
15. Orlando Magic 8-36
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 33-9
2. Golden State Warriors 31-12
3. Utah Jazz 29-14
4. Memphis Grizzlies 30-15
5. Dallas Mavericks 24-19
6. Denver Nuggets 22-20
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-22
8. Los Angeles Lakers 21-22
9. Los Angeles Clippers 21-23
10. Portland Trail Blazers 17-25
11. Sacramento Kings 18-25
12. San Antonio Spurs 16-27
13. New Orleans Pelicans 16-27
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 14-28
15. Houston Rockets 13-32
Photo Credit: Getty Images