By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 40 points, grabbed 7 rebounds, and dished 5 assists in his personal season-high against the Los Angeles Lakers, but Milwaukee lost 133-129 at home.
Anthony Davis was decisive for the purple-and-yellow franchise, as he had a monstrous double-double of 44 points and 10 rebounds.
LeBron James added another double-double of 28 points and 10 assists to seal the deal, officially passing Magic Johnson for the 6th most assists of all-time.
Elsewhere, Lauri Markkanen keeps on being Utah’s most precious piece. The Finnish superstar dragged his team to the 139-119 victory against Indiana, recording a double-double of 24 points and 13 rebounds.
This was Simone Fontecchio’s NBA game with more minutes (21). The Italian forward scored 9 points with 3/4 from the perimeter.
The Wagner brothers and Paolo Banchero were all put in Orlando’s starting five against Cleveland. The Germans had 16 points apiece, while the Italian talent added 22. The Cavs won 107-96.
Nikola Jokic came close to a triple-double of 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists, but Denver found the 117-109 loss on the road against Atlanta. Bogdan Bogdanovic came back to the court, scoring 5 points.
Another European big couldn’t help his team, as Washington fell down against Charlotte 117-116 despite Kristaps Porzingis’ 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Juancho Hernangomez joined the list, playing 16 minutes off the bench while having 3 points and 6 rebounds in Toronto’s 114-105 loss against Brooklyn.
Memphis managed to overcome Philadelphia 117-109 despite Embiid’s 35 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists. Santi Aldama had 13 points and 5 rebounds off the bench.
The Pelicans beat San Antonio 117-99 on the road with a big contribution by Jonas Valanciunas, who had a double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Alperen Sengun and the Houston Rockets followed as the team from Texas got the 122-121 win on the road against Phoenix. The Turkish 20-year-old had 13 points.
Finally, the Vucevic-Dragic duo couldn’t give Chicago the victory against Golden State. The Warriors won 119-111, but the Montenegrin center had 23 points and 11 rebounds, while the Slovenian scored 14 points off the bench.
Results:
Charlotte Hornets – Washington Wizards 117-116 (Porzingis 21 p, 11 r)
Atlanta Hawks – Denver Nuggets 117-109 (Jokic 24 p, 10 r, 8 a; Bogdanovic 5 p)
Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 116-120 OT
Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors 114-105 (Hernangomez 3 p, 6 r)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Orlando Magic 107-96 (Mo Wagner 16 p, 9 r, Franz Wagner 16 p; Banchero 22 p)
Milwaukee Bucks – Los Angeles Lakers 129-133 (Antetokounmpo 40 p, 7 r, 5 a)
Memphis Grizzlies – Philadelphia 76ers 117-109 (Aldama 13 p, 5 r)
San Antonio Spurs – New Orleans Pelicans 99-117 (Valanciunas 21 p, 11 r)
Phoenix Suns – Houston Rockets 121-122 (Sengun 13 p)
Utah Jazz – Indiana Pacers 139-119 (Markkanen 24 p, 13 r; Fontecchio 9 p)
Golden State Warriors – Chicago Bulls 119-111 (Vucevic 23 p, 11 r, Dragic 14 p)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 18-5
2. Milwaukee Bucks 15-6
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-8
4. Atlanta Hawks 13-10
5. Indiana Pacers 12-10
6. Brooklyn Nets 13-11
7. Philadelphia 76ers 12-11
8. Toronto Raptors 11-11
9. Miami Heat 11-12
10. Washington Wizards 11-12
11. New York Knicks 10-12
12. Chicago Bulls 9-13
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-15
14. Detroit Pistons 6-18
15. Orlando Magic 5-18
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 15-7
2. Denver Nuggets 14-8
3. New Orleans Pelicans 14-8
4. Memphis Grizzlies 13-9
5. Los Angeles Clippers 13-10
6. Utah Jazz 14-11
7. Sacramento Kings 11-9
8. Golden State Warriors 12-11
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-11
10. Portland Trail Blazers 11-11
11. Dallas Mavericks 10-11
12. Los Angeles Lakers 9-12
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 9-13
14. Houston Rockets 6-16
15. San Antonio Spurs 6-17
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images