By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Sacramento Kings got their 12th victory (12-9) thanks to another excellent performance from Domantas Sabonis, who led them to a convincing 123-96 win in Los Angeles against the Clippers.
The Lithuanian big man had an almost-perfect night vs. short-handed Clippers, with 24 points, six assists, five rebounds, and 10/11 from the floor. Ukrainian Alex Len added two points for the winning side.
“While everyone warms up, I’m always ready. I feel like that’s where I can take advantage“, Sabonis said.
Ivica Zubac got another double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds for the injury-plagued LA team that played without Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Luke Kennard, and Norman Powell. Nicolas Batum went scoreless, while Moussa Diabate scored four points with five rebounds.
Toronto Raptors also got their 12th victory (12-11) with O. G. Anunoby matching his season-high 32 points in a 121-108 win against Orlando Magic.
The British swingman also added three steals, with 12/17 shooting. Anunoby is the only player in the NBA with 400 points and 45 steals this season. Juancho Hernangomez spent four minutes on the court, scoring a point, because of an ankle injury. Luckily, X-rays did not reveal a fracture.
Franz Wagner had nine points for the Florida team, the No. 1 pick from the previous Draft Paolo Banchero, with Moritz Wagner scoring five points for the team with the worst league record (5-19).
Milwaukee Bucks got a 105-96 win in Charlotte, with Giannis Anteotokounmpo being out due to left knee soreness.
Sandro Mamukelashvili got six points and rebounds for the winning side, with Thanasis Anteotokounmpo adding two and three rebounds.
Oklahoma City Thunder won in Minneapolis against Minnesota Timbervulves 135-128, with another solid performance from Aleksej Pokusevski.
The young Serbian player almost had a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds. Ousmane Dieng went scoreless but grabbed two rebounds and an assist.
Rudy Gobert had another subpar performance for the Timberwolves, with six points and four rebounds. He played over nine minutes before being ejected for intentionally tripping Kenrich Williams.
Andrew Wiggins exploded with 36 points in a 120-101 victory against Houston Rockets, while Steph Curry had a double-double with 30 points and ten assists.
Alperen Sengun scored 12 points with four rebounds for the losing side, while Usman Garuba added four points with ten rebounds.
Utah Jazz lost to Portland Trailblazers 111-116 with a career night from Anfernee Simons, who scored 45 points.
Jusuf Nurkic had a strong double-double with 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Oregon team.
Lauri Markanen was among the leading scorers of the hosts with 21 points, while Simone Fontecchio added three points, two rebounds, and an assist.
Luka Doncic led Dallas Mavs to another win. More on his near-triple-double night HERE.
Results:
New York Knicks – Dallas Maverick 100-121 (Mykhailiuk 3p – Doncic 30p, Kleber 13p)
LA Clippers – Sacramento Kings 96-123 (Zubac 13p, 15r, Diabate 4p, 5r, Batum 3r – Sabonis 24, Len 2)
Charlotte Hornets – Milwaukee Bucks 96-105 (Mamukelashvili 6p, 6r, T. Antetokounmpo 2p, 3r)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Oklahoma City Thunder 128-135 (Gobert 6p, 4r – Pokusevski 12p, 8r)
Toronto Raptors – Orlando Magic 121-108 (Anunobz 32 – Banchero, F. Wagner 9p, M. Wagner 5p)
Golden State Warriors – Houston Rockets 120-101 (Sengun 12p, Garuba 4p, 10r)
Utah Jazz – Portland Trail Blazers 111-116 (Markkanen 21p, Fontecchio 3p – Nurkic 15p, 14r)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 18-5
2. Milwaukee Bucks 16-6
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 12-11
9. Miami Heat 11-12
10. Washington Wizards 11-12
11. New York Knicks 10-13
12. Chicago Bulls 9-13
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-16
14. Detroit Pistons 6-18
15. Orlando Magic 5-19
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 15-7
2. Denver Nuggets 14-8
3. New Orleans Pelicans 14-8
4. Memphis Grizzlies 13-9
5. Sacramento Kings 12-9
6. Golden State Warriors 13-11
7. Los Angeles Clippers 13-11
8. Utah Jazz 14-12
9. Portland Trail Blazers 12-11
10. Dallas Mavericks 11-11
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-12
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 10-13
13. Los Angeles Lakers 9-12
14. Houston Rockets 6-17
15. San Antonio Spurs 6-17