By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic had his second 50-points game of his career and his season high in the Dallas Mavericks‘ 112-106 on-the-road win against Houston, bringing the Texas derby home.
The Slovenian superstar added 10 assists and 8 rebounds, and shot 17/30 from the field, including 6/12 from the perimeter, and 10/12 at the charity stripe.
Dairis Bertans helped with 11 points off the bench, while Alperen Sengun had 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists in the Rockets‘ loss.
In the other game of the night, the Brooklyn Nets won 118-100 at home against the Milwaukee Bucks, with Kevin Durant (24 p, 5 r, 6 a) winning the duel against Giannis Antetokounmpo, who had 26 points, 13 rebounds, and 7 assists.
Another 2x European MVP went close to a triple-double, as Nikola Jokic put up 29 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds with 12/21 from the field against Portland. Jusuf Nurkic had 11 points and 7 rebounds in the Trail Blazers‘ loss.
The British O.G. Anunoby was decisive in Toronto’s on-the-road 118-107 victory against Cleveland, scoring 25 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Cedi Osman had a losing effort of 13 points off the bench.
After praising Jonas Valanciunas after his dominant performance against the San Antonio Spurs, Willy Hernangomez had 5 points and 6 rebounds in New Orleans’ win against OKC.
The Lithuanian center had 10 points and 7 rebounds in the starting five, while Aleksej Pokusevski scored 17 points, capturing 6 rebounds and 4 steals, in the home side loss.
In the battle of European rookies, Paolo Banchero led the Orlando Magic against Jeremy Sochan’s Spurs.
The Italian had 18 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists, while the Polish forward ended the game with 13 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Franz and Moritz Wagner had yet again convincing offensive performances, combining for 38 points in Orlando’s 133-113 win.
Kristaps Porzingis came back and had 7 points and 13 rebounds, enough to help Washington get the job done against Sacramento. Once again, Domantas Sabonis posted a triple-double with 20 points, 15 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10/10 FT.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost against Philadelphia, but Ivica Zubac went close to a double-double with 7 points and 12 rebounds. Batum added 10 off the bench.
The two Bogdanovic faced off, and Bogdan helped Atlanta get the 130-105 win with 19 points off the bench. Bojan scored 23 while Killian Hayes had 17 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists for Detroit.
Rudy Gobert almost recorded a double-double in Minnesota’s loss against Boston, with 8 points and 12 rebounds.
Nikola Vucevic, instead, did it with 21 points and 12 rebounds in Chicago’s thrilling 118-117 win against New York. Goran Dragic added 9 points.
Santi Aldama keeps on being consistent, scoring 10 points off the bench in Memphis’ win against Phoenix.
Dennis Schroder had 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists in the Lakers‘ 134-130 loss at home against Charlotte.
Results:
Orlando Magic – San Antonio Spurs 133-113 (Banchero 18 p, 6 r, 4 a; Franz Wagner 21 p, Moritz Wagner 17 p, 8 r; Sochan 13 p, 9 r, 4 a)
Philadelphia 76ers – Los Angeles Clippers 119-114 (Zubac 7 p, 12 r; Batum 10 p)
Atlanta Hawks – Detroit Pistons 130-105 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 19 p; Bojan Bogdanovic 23 p, Hayes 17 p, 5 r, 5 a)
Boston Celtics – Minnesota Timberwolves 121-109 (Gobert 8 p, 12 r)
Brooklyn Nets – Milwaukee Bucks 118-100 (Antetokounmpo 26 p, 13 r, 7 a)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 107-118 (O.G. Anunoby 25 p, 9 r; Osman 13 p)
New York Knicks – Chicago Bulls 117-118 (Vucevic 21 p, 12 r; Dragic 9 p)
Miami Heat – Indiana Pacers 108-111
Houston Rockets – Dallas Mavericks 106-112 (Doncic 50 p, 10 a, 8 r; Bertans 11 p; Sengun 19 p, 8 r, 7 a)
Oklahoma City Thunder – New Orleans Pelicans 125-128 OT (Willy Hernangomez 5 p, 6 r; Valanciunas 10 p, 7 r; Pokusevski 17 p, 6 r, 4 s)
Denver Nuggets – Portland Trail Blazers 120-107 (Jokic 29 p, 11 a, 8 r; Nurkic 11 p, 7 r)
Phoenix Suns – Memphis Grizzlies 100-125 (Aldama 10 p)
Sacramento Kings – Washington Wizards 111-125 (Porzingis 7 p, 13 r; Sabonis 20 p, 15 r, 10 a)
Los Angeles Lakers – Charlotte Hornets 130-134 (Schroder 9 p, 4 r, 5 a)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 23-10
2. Milwaukee Bucks 22-10
3. Cleveland Cavs 22-12
4. Brooklyn Nets 21-12
5. Philadelphia 76ers 19-12
6. NY Knicks 18-15
7. Atlanta Hawks 17-16
8. Indiana Pacers 17-16
9. Miami Heat 16-17
10. Toronto Raptors 15-18
11. Chicago Bulls 14-18
12. Washington Wizards 13-21
13. Orlando Magic 13-21
14. Charlotte Hornets 9-24
15. Detroit Pistons 8-27
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 20-11
2. Memphis Grizzlies 20-11
3. New Orleans Pelicans 20-12
4. Phoenix Suns 19-14
5. LA Clippers 19-15
6. Sacramento Kings 17-14
7. Utah Jazz 19-16
8. Dallas Mavs 17-16
9. Portland Trail Blazers 17-16
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-17
11. Golden State 15-18
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 14-19
13. LA Lakers 13-19
14. San Antonio Spurs 10-22
15. Houston Rockets 9-23
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images