By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Third win in a row for the Utah Jazz prevailing, 113-104, opposite the New York Knicks Monday evening. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic chipped in 20 points netting 6/14 field goals and pulled down four rebounds with French Rudy Gobert (left calf strain) on the injury list. French Evan Fournier finished with 16 points but for the losing side. Croatian two-way player Luka Samanic was inactive.
British OG Anunoby went for 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds aiding the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets, 116-101. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was limited to one scoreless minute, while German Isaac Bonga was assigned to the Raptors 905 and Slovenian Goran Dragic (personal) remained away from the team. Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka of the Hornets was held to G League action.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with two steals in 34 minutes as the Chicago Bulls fell short, 127-124, against the Phoenix Suns. Fellow Montenegrin Marko Simonovic is on a G League assignment. As for the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season leaders, Croatian Dario Saric (right knee) remained sidelined.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica (back) was ruled out for the fifth straight game but the Golden State Warriors clinched the win, 110-98, at the Oklahoma City Thunder. French Theo Maledon registered two rebounds and one assist for the hosts with Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski on assignment and Czech Vit Krejci (ankle) out.
Turkish Omer Yurtseven tallied four points for the Miami Heat in the 121-100 victory over the Washington Wizards. Israeli Deni Avdija had five points, six rebounds, four assists, and two steals for the Wizards, while Latvian Davis Bertans got two points and French Joel Ayayi stayed in the G League.
Monday results:
Charlotte Hornets – Toronto Raptors 101-116
Washington Wizards – Miami Heat 100-121
Chicago Bulls – Phoenix Suns 124-127
Oklahoma City Thunder – Golden State Warriors 98-110
Utah Jazz – New York Knicks 113-104
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat 35-20
2. Milwaukee Bucks 34-21
3. Chicago Bulls 33-21
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 33-21
5. Philadelphia 76ers 32-21
6. Toronto Raptors 29-23
7. Brooklyn Nets 29-24
8. Boston Celtics 30-25
9. Charlotte Hornets 28-27
10. Atlanta Hawks 25-28
11. Washington Wizards 24-29
12. New York Knicks 24-30
13. Indiana Pacers 19-36
14. Detroit Pistons 12-41
15. Orlando Magic 12-43
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 43-10
2. Golden State Warriors 41-13
3. Memphis Grizzlies 37-18
4. Utah Jazz 33-21
5. Dallas Mavericks 31-23
6. Denver Nuggets 29-24
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 28-25
8. Los Angeles Clippers 27-28
9. Los Angeles Lakers 26-28
10. New Orleans Pelicans 21-32
11. Portland Trail Blazers 21-33
12. San Antonio Spurs 20-34
13. Sacramento Kings 20-35
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 17-36
15. Houston Rockets 15-38
Photo Credit: Getty Images