By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Five late free throws made by Luka Doncic guided the Dallas Mavericks to the win, 107-101, against the Golden State Warriors in the latest edition of NBA Sundays.
The Slovenian superstar produced a game-high 34 points alongside 11 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and one block. He committed nine turnovers as well. However, pouring nine of his side’s 11 last points and assisting on the remaining bucket sealed the deal after the Mavs recovered from the 21-point deficit marking the third quarter. Latvian Davis Bertans tallied seven points, three rebounds, and one block, and German Maxi Kleber added two points, six rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. Serbian Boban Marjanovic stayed on the bench and French Frank Ntilikina (right ankle sprain) on the injury list. The hosts figured Serbian Nemanja Bjelica packing five points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block.
Croatian Ivica Zubac posted a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double and blocked an NBA-best six shots as the Los Angeles Clippers edged the Houston Rockets, 99-98. German Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in 12 points, four rebounds, and two blocks coming off the bench. French Nicolas Batum added five points, five rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one block. On the losing end, Turkish Alperen Sengun finished with 15 points and three rebounds, while German Dennis Schroder had 11 points, ten assists, and eight rebounds. Spanish rookie Usman Garuba (right wrist surgery recovery) is out.
The streaking Denver Nuggets made short work of the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-92, for yet another visiting team prevailing Sunday. Serbian Nikola Jokic, 2020-21 NBA Regular Season MVP, generated eight points, 18 rebounds, 11 assists, and one steal in 26 minutes. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar (right foot surgery recovery) has been out for nearly a couple of months. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (left foot plantar fasciitis) was placed on the Blazers injury list last week.
French Rudy Gobert logged a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double to go along with three blocks and one assist helping the Utah Jazz defeat the Phoenix Suns, 118-114. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 11 points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Spanish Juancho Hernangomez did not enter the game. As for Croatian Dario Saric (right knee), he has yet to return to action for the Suns after the 2021 NBA Finals.
French Killian Hayes assisted to the game-winning bucket for the Detroit Pistons in the 127-126 overtime victory versus the Charlotte Hornets. Besides the seven assists, including the key pass to Kelly Olynyk, he put in six points, seven rebounds, and one steal over 31 minutes. Lithuanian forward Arnoldas Kulboka, a Hornets two-way player, remained on a G League assignment.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double for the New Orleans Pelicans in the rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, 123-95. Spanish backup center Willy Hernangomez ended up with two points, one rebound, and one steal in three minutes. Lakers’ two-way French forward Sekou Doumbouya was inactive.
Georgian Goga Bitadze registered two points, five rebounds, and two assists as the Indiana Pacers beat the Boston Celtics, 128-107. Spanish Ricky Rubio (left knee) has been sidelined for the remainder of the season. For the visitors, German Daniel Theis had five points and five rebounds.
Earlier at the Madison Square Garden, the Philadelphia 76ers secured the win, 125-109, against the New York Knicks.
Sunday results:
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 109-125
Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz 114-118
Indiana Pacers – Boston Celtics 128-107
Charlotte Hornets – Detroit Pistons 126-127 OT (116-116)
Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Clippers 98-99
Golden State Warriors – Dallas Mavericks 101-107
Portland Trail Blazers – Denver Nuggets 92-124
Los Angeles Lakers – New Orleans Pelicans 95-123
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat5 40-21
2. Chicago Bulls 39-22
3. Philadelphia 76ers 37-23
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 36-24
5. Milwaukee Bucks 36-25
6. Boston Celtics 36-27
7. Toronto Raptors 32-27
8. Brooklyn Nets 32-29
9. Charlotte Hornets 30-32
10. Atlanta Hawks 29-31
11. Washington Wizards 27-33
12. New York Knicks 25-36
13. Indiana Pacers 21-41
14. Detroit Pistons 15-45
15. Orlando Magic 14-47
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 49-12
2. Golden State Warriors 43-18
3. Memphis Grizzlies 42-20
4. Utah Jazz 38-22
5. Dallas Mavericks 36-25
6. Denver Nuggets 36-25
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 32-31
9. Los Angeles Lakers 27-33
10. New Orleans Pelicans 25-36
11. Portland Trail Blazers 25-36
12. San Antonio Spurs 24-37
13. Sacramento Kings 22-40
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 19-41
15. Houston Rockets 15-45
Photo Credit: Getty Images