By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo went to work in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 119-111 win against Portland Trail Blazers. The Greek Freak scored 37 points, along with seven rebounds and six assists in 35 minutes.
With Giannis making 16 of his 24 field goal attempts, Milwaukee improved to 12-4, and 9-1 at home this season. Two-time NBA MVP is among the top 3 league players with points and rebounds per game in the second half.
He still had some trouble from the free throw line hitting just five of his 12 attempts, following his 4/15 shooting during the loss to the Philadelphia 76ers and later confronting Montrezl Harrell while trying to work on his precision after the game.
“I take a lot of hard hits but at the end of the day it’s basketball,” Antetokounmpo said after the game. “I enjoy putting my body on the line. It puts a fire in my belly and wakes me up. When I get hit, I kind of enjoy it. I feel I’m part of the game, I’m locked in and I’m being aggressive.”
For the losing Blazers, Jusuf Nurkic had a very good game with 16 points and 10 rebounds, but Giannis took the spotlight. And also put the Bosnian center on the spectacular poster.
Cleveland Cavaliers grabbed another win, this time vs Atlanta Hawks – 114-102. Cedi Osman was among the top scorers with 23 points, shooting 8/10 from the field (3/4 from beyond the arc).
The Turkish player posted his season high, just after scoring 20 points in a win against Miami.
Clint Capela dominated the rebounds for the Hawks with 12 of them against the Cavs but only scored four points for the losing side.
Indiana Pacers took a convincing 123-102 victory against Orlando Magic, even though Franz Wagner had another great night with 20 points for the Florida team.
Nikola Vucevic played a big part in Chicago Bulls taking down Boston Celtics in the United Center. The Montenegrin center posted a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds in a surprisingly comfortable 121-107 triumph.
Nikola Jovic got another opportunity to start for the Miami Heat, but his team lost on the road against Minnesota Timberwolves 101-105.
The young Serbian forward had a solid all-around game with four points, five rebounds, and three assists, while Rudy Gobert posted four points as well for the winning team, with nine rebounds.
New Orleans Pelicans crushed Golden State Warriors with a 128-83 win, as the defending champions didn’t have the help of Klay Thompson, Steph Curry, and Draymond Green.
Jonas Valanciunas had a double-double for the winning team with 10 points and 13 rebounds, while the Spaniard and the MVP of the previous EuroBasket Willy Hernangomez scored five points, with two rebounds.
LA Clippers grabbed a 121-114 win against Utah Jazz, with Ivica Zubac scoring 14 points, with 14 rebounds.
Nicola Batum had seven points, five rebounds, and four assists for the winning team, while another great game from Lauri Markkanen didn’t help the Salt Lake City team triumph.
The Finish power forward put another double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while the Italian Simone Fontecchio added two points.
Aleksej Pokusevski missed the game against New York Knicks, and Oklahoma City Thunder suffered a 119-129 loss. Isaiah Hartenstein scored two points and grabbed eight rebounds for the losing team.
Results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 114-102 (Osman 23p – Capela 4p, 12r)
Indiana Pacers – Orlando Magic 123-102 (F. Wagner 20p)
Chicago Bulls – Boston Celtics 121-107 (Vucevic 12p, 13r)
Milwaukee Bucks – Portland Trail Blazers (Antetokounmpo 37p, Mamukelashvili 2p, Ibaka 1p – Nurkic 16p, 10r)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Miami Heat 105-101 (Gobert 4p, 9r – Jovic 4p, 5r, 3as)
New Orleans Pelicans – Golden State Warriors 128-83 (Valanciunas 10p, 13r, W. Hernangomez 5p, 2r)
Oklahoma City Thunder – New York Knicks 119-129 (Hartenstein 2p, 8r)
LA Clippers – Utah Jazz 121-114 (Zubac 14p, 14r, Batum 7p, 5r, 4as – Markkanen 25p, 10r, Fontecchio 2p)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 13-4
2. Milwaukee Bucks 12-4
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 11-6
4. Indiana Pacers 10-6
5. Washington Wizards 10-7
6. Atlanta Hawks 10-7
7. Toronto Raptors 9-8
8. New York Knicks 9-9
9. Philadelphia 76ers 8-8
10. Brooklyn Nets 8-9
11. Chicago Bulls 7-10
12. Miami Heat 7-11
13. Orlando Magic 5-13
14. Charlotte Hornets 4-14
15. Detroit Pistons 3-15
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 12-7
2. Phoenix Suns 10-6
3. Denver Nuggets 10-6
4. Los Angeles Clippers 11-7
5. Sacramento Kings 9-6
6. New Orleans Pelicans 10-7
7. Memphis Grizzlies 10-7
8. Portland Trail Blazers 10-6
9. Dallas Mavericks 9-7
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 9-8
11. Golden State Warriors 8-10
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-10
13. San Antonio Spurs 6-12
14. Los Angeles Lakers 5-10
15. Houston Rockets 3-14