By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Packing away several key players in the offseason, the Utah Jazz secured the services of Lauri Markkanen, among other players plus multiple draft picks.
The Finnisher delivered a game-high 31 points and 12 rebounds in the overtime win, 122-121, versus the New Orleans Pelicans in the first NBA Sundays of the 2022-23 Regular Season.
Kelly Olynyk connected the game-winning bucket and Will Hardy’s side improved to 3-0. For the hosts, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas was limited to six points.
Further adjusting to the Minnesota Timberwolves, French Rudy Gobert put up a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double in the 116-106 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Following a couple of briefer showings at the start of his NBA career, French Ousmane Dieng went for five points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal in 23 minutes for the Thunder. Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski had two points in 13 minutes.
Turkish Cedi Osman helped the Cleveland Cavaliers survive overtime and the Washington Wizards, 117-107. Coming off the bench, he ended up with 16 points, including a three-point play in the extra period. To the opposite end, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis produced an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, and Israeli Deni Avdija had two points with 1/6 shots.
Another European double-double dropping Sunday belonged to Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis. He finished with 19 points and 14 rebounds for the Sacramento Kings in the loss, 130-125, to the Golden State Warriors in Chase Center. Stephen Curry paved the way for the defending champions by banking in seven triples in a 33-point effort.
Jumping to 3-0 behind a finishing 11-2 run, the Portland Trail Blazers edged the Los Angeles Lakers, 106-104. Damian Lillard poured 41 points and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic chipped in six points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. The Blazers recently sidelined French Olivier Sarr for six weeks with a right wrist injury.
French Theo Maledon logged four points lasting 15 minutes for the Charlotte Hornets in the comfortable win, 126-109, against the Atlanta Hawks. For the losing side, Swiss Clint Capela posted a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double, and Czech Vit Krejci registered one assist in a brief outing.
Chris Paul became the third NBA player with 11,000 assists but the Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Phoenix Suns, 112-95. French Nicolas Batum had three points and Croatian Ivica Zubac had two points.
Sunday NBA results:
Los Angeles Lakers – Portland Trail Blazers 104-106
Atlanta Hawks – Charlotte Hornets 109-126
Cleveland Cavaliers – Washington Wizards 117-107 OT (103-103)
New Orleans Pelicans – Utah Jazz 121-122 OT (110-110)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves 106-116
Golden State Warriors – Sacramento Kings 130-125
Los Angeles Clippers – Phoenix Suns 95-112
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 3-0
2. Milwaukee Bucks 2-0
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1
4. Charlotte Hornets 2-1
5. Atlanta Hawks 2-1
6. Washington Wizards 2-1
7. New York Knicks 1-1
8. Brooklyn Nets 1-1
9. Indiana Pacers 1-2
10. Toronto Raptors 1-2
11. Miami Heat 1-2
12. Chicago Bulls 1-2
13. Detroit Pistons 1-2
14. Orlando Magic 0-3
15. Philadelphia 76ers 0-3
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 3-0
2. Portland Trail Blazers 3-0
3. New Orleans Pelicans 2-1
4. Phoenix Suns 2-1
5. Golden State Warriors 2-1
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-1
7. Los Angeles Clippers 2-1
8. Denver Nuggets 2-1
9. San Antonio Spurs 2-1
10. Memphis Grizzlies 2-1
11. Dallas Mavericks 1-1
12. Sacramento Kings 0-3
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 0-3
14. Los Angeles Lakers 0-3
15. Houston Rockets 0-3
Photo Credit: Getty Images