By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic continues to write Dallas Mavericks history with another fantastic performance in a 121-114 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder.
Luka was two assists short of a triple-double with 38 points and 11 rebounds and matched Dirk Nowitzki’s record for most 35-point double-doubles in the Mavs history with his 37th.
He didn’t participate in Dallas’ loss to Chicago Bulls, but got back on the court after a one-game absence and got his team back on winning track with 13 of 27 from the floor and 8 of 10 at the free throw line.
Maxi Kleber had a crucial steal in the game’s final moments that prevented the comeback of the Tunder and ended the game with eight points and seven rebounds. Frank Ntilikina added six points with two assists for the winning side.
Aleksej Pokusevski went scoreless for Oklahoma but got nine rebounds and two assists.
Brooklyn Nets got themselves eight victories in the last nine games with a 112-100 win at Washington Wizards. Kristaps Porzingins got 20 points for the losing side, while Deni Avdija scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.
Memphis Grizzlies cruised past Atlanta Hawks with 128-103, as Santi Aldama scored 16 points, with five rebounds and two assists.
The US player of Serbian heritage, John Konchar, added nine points, with seven rebounds and five assists. Vit Krejci got four points and three rebounds for the Hawks, who sit out Bogdan Bogdanovic after playing 36 minutes and scoring 28 points in an OT win against Chicago Bulls.
San Antonio Spurs got a 112-111 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers with minor roles from European players. Jeremy Sochan scored two points with three rebounds and assists for the winning side, and Cedi Osman got two points for the Cavs.
Portland Trail Blazers crushed Minnesota Timberwolves 133-112, with Jusuf Nurkic posting a double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds. Rudy Gobert got an even stronger double-double performance with 16 points and 20 rebounds, but that didn’t help much against Damian Lillard, who got 38 points for the winning team.
LA Clippers got a convincing 113-93 win against Boston Celtis, with Kawhi Leonard’s first 20-point game in over 500 days, as he scored 25 points with nine rebounds.
Nicolas Batum gave a solid contribution to the LA team with seven points and rebounds, while Ivica Zubac got four points and three rebounds, and young Frenchmen Moussa Diabate two points and three rebounds.
Results:
Indiana Pacers – Miami Heat 82-87
Washington Wizards – Brooklyn Nets 100-112 (Porzingis 20p, avdija 8p, 7r)
Memphis Grizzlies – Atlanta Hawks 128-103 (Aldama 16p, Konchar 9p, 7r – Krejci 4p)
Dallas Mavericks – Oklahoma City Thunder 121-114 (Doncic 38p, 11r, 8as, Kleber 8p, 7r, Ntilikina 6p – Pokusevski 9r)
San Antonio Spurs – Cleveland Cavaliers 112-111 (Sochan 2p, rp, 3 as – Osman 2p)
Portland Trail Blazers – Minnesota Timberwolves 133-112 (Nurkic 14p, 16r – Gobert 16p, 20r)
LA Clippers – Boston Celtics 113-93 (Batum 7p, 7r, Zubac 4p, 3r, Diabate 2p, 3r)
Standings:
West
1. New Orleans Pelicans 18-8
2. Memphis Grizzlies 18-9
3. Denver Nuggets 16-10
4. Phoenix Suns 16-11
5. Sacramento Kings 14-11
6. Portland Trail Blazers 15-12
7. Los Angeles Clippers 16-13
8. Golden State Warriors 14-13
9. Utah Jazz 15-14
10. Dallas Mavericks 14-13
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-14
12. Los Angeles Lakers 11-15
13. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-16
14. San Antonio Spurs 9-18
15. Houston Rockets 8-18
East
1. Boston Celtics 21-7
2. Milwaukee Bucks 19-7
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-11
4. Brooklyn Nets 17-12
5. Philadelphia 76ers 14-12
6. Atlanta Hawks 14-14
7. Indiana Pacers 14-14
8. New York Knicks 14-13
9. Toronto Raptors 13-14
10. Miami Heat 13-15
11. Chicago Bulls 11-15
12. Washington Wizards 11-17
13. Orlando Magic 8-20
14. Charlotte Hornets 7-20
15. Detroit Pistons 7-22