By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
A season-high 21 points for Israeli Deni Avdija to go along with five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. Fellow European starter Latvian Kristaps Porzingis produced a game-high 25 points and the Washington Wizards beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 102-92, for a fourth straight win. On the opposite end of Sunday’s matchup, Spanish Santi Aldama also started and ended up with 15 points, seven rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal.
Elsewhere on the NBA Sundays schedule, delivering a 26-point, 22-rebound double-double, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis additionally registered eight assists for the Sacramento Kings in the win, 122-115, against the Golden State Warriors. “He was a monster in the paint. He was a monster on the glass,” commented head coach Mike Brown, “You need games like that from your stars in order to get over the hump from time to time.”
The Denver Nuggets cruised past the Chicago Bulls, 126-103. Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic contributed eight points, 14 assists, six rebounds, and three steals. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar added three points. For the losing side, Slovenian Goran Dragic finished with 11 points and six assists, and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic had nine points and six rebounds.
More games and notable European showings:
New York Knicks – Oklahoma City Thunder 135-145 (Isaiah Hartenstein 14pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1stl, Evan Fournier 2ast, 1stl – Aleksej Pokusevski 12pts, 3ast, 2reb, 1ast, 1blk)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Minnesota Timberwolves 124-129 (Cedi Osman 14pts, 4reb, 2ast – Rudy Gobert 15pts, 13reb, 2blk, 1ast, 1stl)
Philadelphia 76ers – Utah Jazz 105-98 (Lauri Markkanen 15pts, 10reb)
Los Angeles Lakers – Brooklyn Nets 116-103
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 10-2
2. Boston Celtics 10-3
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-5
4. Atlanta Hawks 8-5
5. Washington Wizards 8-6
6. Toronto Raptors 7-7
7. Philadelphia 76ers 7-7
8. Indiana Pacers 6-6
9. Miami Heat 6-7
10. New York Knicks 6-7
11. Brooklyn Nets 6-8
12. Chicago Bulls 6-8
13. Orlando Magic 4-9
14. Charlotte Hornets 3-11
15. Detroit Pistons 3-11
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 9-4
2. Portland Trail Blazers 9-4
3. Phoenix Suns 8-4
4. Utah Jazz 10-5
5. Memphis Grizzlies 9-5
6. Dallas Mavericks 7-5
7. New Orleans Pelicans 7-6
8. Los Angeles Clippers 7-6
9. Sacramento Kings 6-6
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 6-7
11. San Antonio Spurs 6-7
12. Minnesota Timberwolves 6-8
13. Golden State Warriors 5-8
14. Los Angeles Lakers 3-10
15. Houston Rockets 2-11
-The top six teams of each conference directly advance to Playoffs
-Teams seeded seventh to tenth to compete in the Play-In tournament
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