By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Recovering from a loss and at the bottom end of the first back-to-back of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, the Dallas Mavericks enjoyed Luka Doncic pouring a season-high 44 points in the 114-105 victory against the Orlando Magic.
The Slovenian connected 17/26 from the field, dished out five assists, grabbed three rebounds, and drew one steal in 37 minutes.
It was the 6th straight game from the start of the season that Doncic scored more than 30 points. The last player to do that was Michael Jordan.
German Maxi Kleber logged two points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal with French Frank Ntilikina (right ankle) and Latvian Davis Bertans (right knee) out.
For the Magic, Italian Paolo Banchero scored 18 points and German Franz Wagner had 11 points with Moritz Wagner (right ankle) sidelined.
Striking the label of the lone winless team, the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Denver Nuggets, 121-110, in more NBA Sundays action.
They overcame Serbian back-to-back MVP Nikola Jokic logging 23 points, 14 rebounds, six assists, and two blocks. German Dennis Schroder (thumb) stayed on the injury list.
Upon agreeing to a contract extension, Croatian sharpshooter Bojan Bogdanovic produced 21 points for the Detroit Pistons in the win, 128-114, opposite the Golden State Warriors.
Coming off the bench and lasting 18 minutes, French Killian Hayes chipped in four points, five assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
French Rudy Gobert packed nine points, 12 rebounds, and two blocks in the Minnesota Timberwolves‘ loss, 107-98, to the San Antonio Spurs.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl tallied four points, 14 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and two steals for the winners. Polish Jeremy Sochan (illness) was a late scratch.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas contributed 11 points with Zion Williamson returning to action and the New Orleans Pelicans beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 112-91.
The hosts featured Croatian Ivica Zubac at four points, French Nicolas Batum with three points, and fellow French Moussa Diabate with a fruitless five-minute showing.
Turkish Cedi Osman was held to three points but the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the New York Knicks, 121-108. For the losing side, French Evan Fournier and German Isaiah Hartenstein had 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis posted a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double alongside two blocks and fellow starter Israeli Deni Avdija logged six points in 11 minutes for the Washington Wizards routed by the Boston Celtics, 112-94.
Turkish starter Alperen Sengun registered 16 points and nine rebounds, and Spanish reserve Usman Garuba had three points and seven rebounds as the Houston Rockets fell to the Phoenix Suns, 124-109.
Sunday NBA results:
Los Angeles Clippers – New Orleans Pelicans 91-112
Boston Celtics – Washington Wizards 112-94
Cleveland Cavaliers – New York Knicks 121-108
Detroit Pistons – Golden State Warriors 128-114
San Antonio Spurs – Minnesota Timberwolves 107-98
Dallas Mavericks – Orlando Magic 114-105
Phoenix Suns – Houston Rockets 124-109
Los Angeles Lakers – Denver Nuggets 121-110
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 5-0
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-1
3. Atlanta Hawks 4-2
4. Boston Celtics 4-2
5. Charlotte Hornets 3-3
6. New York Knicks 3-3
7. Washington Wizards 3-3
8. Toronto Raptors 3-3
9. Philadelphia 76ers 3-4
10. Chicago Bulls 3-4
11. Indiana Pacers 3-4
12. Miami Heat 2-5
13. Detroit Pistons 2-5
14. Brooklyn Nets 1-5
15. Orlando Magic 1-6
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 5-1
2. Portland Trail Blazers 5-1
3. Utah Jazz 5-2
4. San Antonio Spurs 5-2
5. New Orleans Pelicans 4-2
6. Memphis Grizzlies 4-2
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-3
8. Denver Nuggets 4-3
9. Dallas Mavericks 3-3
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 3-3
11. Golden State Warriors 3-4
12. Los Angeles Clippers 2-4
13. Sacramento Kings 1-4
14. Los Angeles Lakers 1-5
15. Houston Rockets 1-6
Photo Credit: Getty Images