By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic banked in 40 points but did not prevent the Dallas Mavericks from losing, 120-114, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in overtime Wednesday night.
The Slovenian sensation connected 16/33 field goals. He also put up ten assists, six rebounds, and three rebounds in the losing effort. Fellow starter, German Maxi Kleber logged ten points, eight rebounds, four blocks, three steals, and two assists. In addition, French Frank Ntilikina tucked in one three-pointer in 11 minutes, but Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not get in the action and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (right knee) remained sidelined. Moving to the Thunder, Lu Dort went for 30 points, including 14 out of his side’s 17 in the extra period. French Theo Maledon did not get on the board through five minutes, Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski did not play, and Czech Vit Krejci (ankle) was unavailable.
Evan Fournier recorded a game-high 30 points but the New York Knicks did not get the job done and were forced to the loss column by the Memphis Grizzlies, 120-108. The French swingman made 11/18 field goals, including eight triples, alongside five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Croatian two-way player Luka Samanic was inactive. On the opposite end, French Killian Tillie was held to the bench, while Spanish Santi Aldama and French Yves Pons were transferred to the G League.
After ruling out Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic (right toe soreness), the Denver Nuggets succumbed to defeat, 108-104, visiting the Utah Jazz. French center Rudy Gobert (left calf strain) has yet to return to action but Croatian teammate Bojan Bogdanovic piled up 15 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the winning side. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (right foot) remained on the Nuggets’ injury list.
German Franz Wagner tallied 17 points, four rebounds, and two assists for the Orlando Magic in the narrow win, 119-118, versus the Indiana Pacers on the road. His brother Moritz added eight points, three rebounds, and one assist. Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis stayed on the bench. As for the Pacers, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (health and safety protocols) and Georgian Goga Bitadze (right foot soreness) were out.
In a Turkish matchup, Alperen Sengun registered nine points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one block facing compatriot Cedi Osman as the Houston Rockets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 115-104. German Daniel Theis did not play and Spanish Usman Garuba (right wrist) remained out. At the losing end, Osman logged 13 points with Lauri Markkanen (ankle) and Spanish Ricky Rubio (knee) on the injury list.
Israeli Deni Avdija paired eight points with nine rebounds helping the Washington Wizards defeat the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-103. Latvian Davis Bertans did not get on the court and French two-way player Joel Ayayi remained on G League assignment. Turkish Furkan Korkmaz (knee soreness) was sidelined by the Sixers.
German Dennis Schroder produced six points, three assists, two steals, and one rebound coming off the bench for the Boston Celtics in the 113-107 victory against the Charlotte Hornets. Enes Kanter Freedom did not play. Hornets two-way player, Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka was held to G League action.
Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic posting a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double was not enough for the Portland Trail Blazers dropping the away game versus the Los Angeles Lakers, 99-94. French two-way player Sekou Doumbouya was assigned to G League duty by the Lakers.
Elsewhere, Ukrainian Alex Len and Portuguese Neemias Queta stayed on the bench as the Sacramento Kings beat the slumping Brooklyn Nets, 112-101.
Wednesday results:
Indiana Pacers – Orlando Magic 118-119
Philadelphia 76ers – Washington Wizards 103-106
Boston Celtics – Charlotte Hornets 113-107
New York Knicks – Memphis Grizzlies 108-120
Houston Rockets – Cleveland Cavaliers 115-104
Dallas Mavericks – Oklahoma City Thunder 114-120 OT (103-103)
Sacramento Kings – Brooklyn Nets 112-101
Utah Jazz – Denver Nuggets 108-104
Los Angeles Lakers – Portland Trail Blazers 99-94
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 32-18
2. Miami Heat 32-20
3. Philadelphia 76ers 31-20
4. Milwaukee Bucks 32-21
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 31-21
6. Brooklyn Nets 29-22
7. Charlotte Hornets 28-24
8. Toronto Raptors 26-23
9. Boston Celtics 28-25
10. Atlanta Hawks 24-26
11. Washington Wizards 24-27
12. New York Knicks 24-28
13. Indiana Pacers 19-34
14. Detroit Pistons 12-38
15. Orlando Magic 12-41
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 41-9
2. Golden State Warriors 39-13
3. Memphis Grizzlies 36-18
4. Utah Jazz 31-21
5. Dallas Mavericks 29-23
6. Denver Nuggets 28-23
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 26-25
8. Los Angeles Clippers 26-27
9. Los Angeles Lakers 25-27
10. Portland Trail Blazers 21-31
11. New Orleans Pelicans 19-32
12. San Antonio Spurs 19-33
13. Sacramento Kings 19-34
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-34
15. Houston Rockets 15-36
Photo Credit: Getty Images