By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming out of the All-Star break, Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic registered 25 points, 12 rebounds, nine assists, four steals, and one block powering the Denver Nuggets to the win, 128-110, against the Sacramento Kings. The Joker put up eight points in the final quarter as his side gained separation heading to the fourth win in a row. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar (right foot) has been on the injury list since early January.
Before Thursday’s 2021-22 NBA Regular Season contest, the players of both teams stood together in the middle of the court during a moment of silence for Ukraine. Ukrainian Alex Len did not play for the Kings. Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis tallied 33 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block in the losing effort. Portuguese two-way center Neemias Queta was on assignment with the Stockton Kings.
Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic scored a season-high 27 points and Italian Danilo Gallinari added a season-high 26 points but the Atlanta Hawks fell to the Chicago Bulls, 112-108. Swiss Clint Capela posted a 14-point, 17-rebound double-double in the losing effort. French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot did not play. As for the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic paired 12 points with ten rebounds but fellow Montenegrin Marko Simonovic did not suit up.
Croatian Dario Saric (right knee) remains out but the NBA-leading Phoenix Suns kept the streak going with a 124-104 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Four European players came off the bench for the hosts, as Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski had 13 points, Czech Vit Krejci scored eight points and French Theo Maledon put in two points but French Olivier Sarr did not get on the board.
Despite Finnish Lauri Markkanen making 22 points after spending one month on the injury list, the Cleveland Cavaliers lost, 106-103, to the Detroit Pistons. Turkish Cedi Osman was held to seven fruitless minutes. For the winning side, French Killian Hayes contributed two points, five assists, five rebounds, two steals, and one block.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica generated six points behind 3/3 field goals and three assists helping the Golden State Warriors rout the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-95. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (left foot) was forced to the injury list before the game.
German Daniel Theis chipped in four points and two rebounds as the Boston Celtics defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 129-106. Recent free-agent addition to the Nets, Slovenian Goran Dragic was not available to debut with his new team.
Spanish Santi Aldama and French Killian Tillie did not leave the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies in the loss, 119-114, versus the Minnesota Timberwolves. French Yves Pons (left thigh soreness) was sidelined.
Thursday results:
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 106-103
Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics 106-129
Chicago Bulls – Atlanta Hawks 112-108
Minnesota Timberwolves – Memphis Grizzlies 119-114
Oklahoma City Thunder – Phoenix Suns 104-124
Portland Trail Blazers – Golden State Warriors 95-132
Sacramento Kings – Denver Nuggets 110-128
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Chicago Bulls 39-21
2. Miami Heat 38-21
3. Philadelphia 76ers 35-23
4. Milwaukee Bucks 36-24
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-24
6. Boston Celtics 35-26
7. Toronto Raptors 32-25
8. Brooklyn Nets 31-29
9. Charlotte Hornets 29-31
10. Atlanta Hawks 28-31
11. Washington Wizards 27-31
12. New York Knicks 25-34
13. Indiana Pacers 20-40
14. Detroit Pistons 14-45
15. Orlando Magic 13-47
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 49-10
2. Golden State Warriors 43-17
3. Memphis Grizzlies 41-20
4. Utah Jazz 36-22
5. Dallas Mavericks 35-24
6. Denver Nuggets 34-25
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-28
8. Los Angeles Clippers 30-31
9. Los Angeles Lakers 27-31
10. Portland Trail Blazers 25-35
11. San Antonio Spurs 23-36
12. New Orleans Pelicans 23-36
13. Sacramento Kings 22-39
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-41
15. Houston Rockets 15-43
Photo Credit: Getty Images