By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic fought back a bruised knee to help the Chicago Bulls snap a two-game skid by beating the Oklahoma City Thunder 111-110 on the road.
Vucevic dropped a double-double of 26 points, 15 rebounds along with 4 assists to help the Bulls survive the Thunder‘s late comeback and escape Oklahoma with the victory.
Ayo Dossunmu added up to Vucevic’s efforts with 24 points, 8 assists and Zach LaVine dropped 23 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists to keep the Bulls intact.
Shai-Gilgeous Alexander tried to pace Oklahoma’s comeback in the second half with 31 points, 10 assists though his efforts fell short. Luguentz Dort added 16 points for the hosts and Mike Muscala had 14 points.
Jonas Valanciunas had another strong performance with 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 117-113 win over the Indiana Pacers. Devonte Graham was the leading scorer for the Pelicans with 25 points and Josh Hart tapped 22 points and 10 rebounds, as the Pelicans grabbed their second straight win.
Duane Washington led the way for Pacers with 21 points, Caris LeVert had 19 points and big man Goga Bitadze added 12 points and 5 rebounds.
Devin Booker and Chris Paul combined 60 points to hand the Phoenix Suns a 115-109 victory over the Utah Jazz at home. Booker starred with 33 points, 7 rebounds, while Paul had a double-double of 27 points and 14 assists for the Suns.
Jordan Clarkson led the undermanned Jazz with 22 points, Trent Forrest dropped 17 points, while Eric Pascal and Danuel House both added 14.
Kevin Love scored 20 points and Darius Garland added 13 points and a critical late three to help the Cleveland Cavaliers outlast the New York Knicks 95-93.
Garland also had 12 assists for the Cavs, while Isaac Okoro and Dean Wade followed with 14 and 13 points respectively.
RJ Barrett had a game-high with 24 points for the Knicks, that have now lost four of their last five games. Julius Randle tapped 18 points and 7 rebounds for the visitors and Nerlens Noel had a team-high 13 assists.
NBA January 24 results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – New York Knicks 95-93
New Orleans Pelicans – Indiana Pacers 117-113
Oklahoma City Thunder – Chicago Bulls 110-111
Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz 115-109
NBA standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 17 | .638 | — | 19-9 | 8-2 | 16-5 | 14-12 | 0-2 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
|
2 Chicago Bulls |
29 | 17 | .630 | 0.5 | 19-11 | 6-3 | 16-6 | 13-11 | 0-0 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 29 | 17 | .630 | 0.5 | 20-9 | 6-1 | 12-11 | 17-6 | 2-0 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| 30 | 19 | .612 | 1 | 19-15 | 7-2 | 17-8 | 13-11 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 3 | |
|
5 Cleveland Cavaliers |
29 | 19 | .604 | 1.5 | 16-10 | 4-2 | 14-9 | 15-10 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| 27 | 19 | .587 | 2.5 | 17-12 | 4-6 | 10-10 | 17-9 | 1-1 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
| 26 | 21 | .553 | 4 | 17-11 | 5-5 | 13-7 | 13-14 | 0-4 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
| 24 | 24 | .500 | 6.5 | 17-13 | 5-6 | 15-10 | 9-14 | 4-2 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| 22 | 22 | .500 | 6.5 | 14-13 | 5-5 | 12-12 | 10-10 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
| 23 | 24 | .489 | 7 | 16-16 | 6-5 | 13-11 | 10-13 | 3-0 | 4-6 | L 3 | |
|
11 New York Knicks |
23 | 25 | .479 | 7.5 | 14-19 | 4-6 | 12-14 | 11-11 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 21 | 25 | .457 | 8.5 | 13-15 | 6-5 | 11-11 | 10-14 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 4 | |
|
13 Indiana Pacers |
17 | 31 | .354 | 13.5 | 8-22 | 2-7 | 12-12 | 5-19 | 2-3 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| 11 | 35 | .239 | 18.5 | 7-19 | 2-7 | 7-14 | 4-21 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 2 | |
| 9 | 39 | .188 | 21.5 | 6-28 | 2-10 | 3-17 | 6-22 | 0-1 | 2-8 | W 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Phoenix Suns |
37 | 9 | .804 | — | 23-7 | 5-4 | 19-5 | 18-4 | 1-0 | 9-1 | W 7 |
| 34 | 13 | .723 | 3.5 | 18-8 | 7-1 | 21-4 | 13-9 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 2 | |
| 32 | 17 | .653 | 6.5 | 24-11 | 4-4 | 17-9 | 15-8 | 2-0 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
|
4 Utah Jazz |
30 | 18 | .625 | 8 | 19-8 | 10-0 | 15-9 | 15-9 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 27 | 20 | .574 | 10.5 | 21-11 | 10-2 | 15-9 | 12-11 | 1-1 | 8-2 | W 1 | |
| 24 | 21 | .533 | 12.5 | 16-14 | 4-6 | 13-9 | 11-12 | 2-0 | 6-4 | W 1 | |
| 23 | 23 | .500 | 14 | 16-15 | 4-4 | 13-10 | 10-13 | 1-1 | 7-3 | W 1 | |
| 23 | 24 | .489 | 14.5 | 13-16 | 2-6 | 15-12 | 8-12 | 5-1 | 5-5 | L 1 | |
|
9 LA Clippers |
23 | 25 | .479 | 15 | 13-20 | 3-5 | 15-12 | 8-13 | 0-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 20 | 26 | .435 | 17 | 8-19 | 1-5 | 14-11 | 6-15 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 2 | |
|
11 New Orleans Pelicans |
18 | 28 | .391 | 19 | 11-16 | 2-4 | 11-11 | 7-17 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 18 | 30 | .375 | 20 | 13-20 | 5-6 | 12-16 | 6-14 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 3 | |
| 17 | 30 | .362 | 20.5 | 10-17 | 1-5 | 9-15 | 8-15 | 0-3 | 2-8 | L 2 | |
| 14 | 33 | .298 | 23.5 | 7-19 | 2-4 | 7-13 | 7-20 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 1 | |
|
15 Oklahoma City Thunder |
14 | 33 | .298 | 23.5 | 10-21 | 1-5 | 8-15 | 6-18 | 0-0 | 1-9 | L 6 |
Photo: Getty Images