By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Milwaukee Bucks held off a late Orlando Magic push and won 109-102 thanks to Giannis Anteotokounmpo’s 34 points and 13 rebounds double-double.
A pivotal moment happened with two minutes on the clock when Antetokounmpo’s charging call was reversed. He then made a free throw and scored on a layup, giving the Bucks a seven-point lead with 1:22 remaining.
Giannis shot 8 for 11 from the free throw line and is on 73 percent since shooting woes during November when he had 34 percent from the line in a three-game span.
“As I’ve said, ten games ago, I wasn’t at my best. Now I’m making some. I’m shooting it better, and hopefully, I can keep this up. And I believe I’m going to keep this up,” Antetokounmpo said,
Sandro Mamukelashvili scored eight points with six rebounds for the winning side, while Franz Wagner led the Magic with 25 points. No. 1 pick from the latest NBA draft, Paolo Banchero had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and seven assists, while Moritz Wagner added 19 points with 12 rebounds for the losing side.
Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks crushed Phoenix Suns at American Airlines Center with a 130-111 victory.
The Slovenian superstar had 33 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in a blow-out win, while Maxi Kleber added eight points and three rebounds.
“I’m really happy,” Doncic said after the second consecutive win, “I like this.”
Joel Embiid scored 39 points, but it wasn’t enough for the Philadelphia Seventisixers against Houston Rockets, who won in double overtime 123-132.
The Cameronian big man, who might represent the French national team in the future, fouled out late in the first overtime as the Sixers lost the third game in a row.
Furkan Korkmaz scored just three points for the losing team, while his fellow countryman Alperen Sengun got eight points and rebounds for the hosts. Usman Garuba went scoreless, with just one rebound in his six minutes.
LA Clippers won against Charlotte Hornets 119-117 thanks to a game-winning shot from Kawhi Leonard on his return.
As for the European players, Nicola Batum had a solid role for the winning side with 13 points, while Ivica Zubac stopped just before another double-double with nine points and eight rebounds.
Oklahoma City Thunder won for the first time since March 2018 in Atlanta against the Hawks 121-114.
On his second game of the season, Bogdan Bogdanovic had 17 points for the losing side, while his fellow countryman Aleksej Pokusevski fell out of the starting five and scored just two points, with three assists and two rebounds in 13 minutes.
Clint Capela had another strong double-double with 14 points and 16 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough for Nate McMillan’s team.
Memphis Grizzlies defeated Miami Heat 101-93, with the young Spaniard Santi Aldama giving another excellent performance.
He got himself another double-double, with 18 points and ten rebounds, as the second scorer of the winning team.
Toronto Raptors lost to Boston Celtics 110-116, with O. G. Anunoby scoring 13 points with five rebounds for the losing side.
Results:
Charlotte Hornets – LA Clippers 117-119 (Maledon 5p – Batun 13p, Zubac 9p, 8r)
Orlando Magic – Milwaukee Bucks 102-109 (F. Wagner 25p, Banchero 20p, 12r, M. Wagner 19p, 12r – G. Anteotokounmpo 34p, 13r, Mamukelashvili 8p, 6r)
Atlanta Hawks – Oklahoma City Thunder 114-121 (Bogdanovic 17p, Capela 14p, 16r – Pokusevski 2p, 3as)
Toronto Raptors – Boston Celtics 110-116 (Anunoby 13p)
Houston Rockets – Philadelphia 76ers 132-123 (108-108) (Sengun 8p, 8r – Embiid 39p, Korkmaz 3p)
Memphis Grizzlies – Miami Heat 101-93 (Aldama 18p, 10r)
Dallas Mavericks – Phoenix Suns 130-111 (Doncic 33p, Kleber 8p – Saric 3p, 6r)
Golden State Warriors – Indiana Pacers 104-112
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 20-5
2. Milwaukee Bucks 17-6
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-9
4. Atlanta Hawks 13-11
5. Indiana Pacers 13-11
6. Brooklyn Nets 13-12
7. Philadelphia 76ers 12-12
8. Toronto Raptors 12-12
9. Miami Heat 11-13
10. New York Knicks 11-13
11. Washington Wizards 11-13
12. Chicago Bulls 9-14
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-17
14. Detroit Pistons 6-19
15. Orlando Magic 5-20
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 16-8
2. New Orleans Pelicans 15-8
3. Memphis Grizzlies 15-9
4. Denver Nuggets 14-9
5. Sacramento Kings 13-9
6. Los Angeles Clippers 14-11
7. Portland Trail Blazers 13-11
8. Utah Jazz 14-12
9. Dallas Mavericks 12-11
6. Golden State Warriors 13-12
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-12
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-13
13. Los Angeles Lakers 10-12
14. Houston Rockets 7-17
15. San Antonio Spurs 6-18