By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Milwaukee Bucks won at the Madison Square Garden against New York Knicks 111-107, with Giannis Antetokounmpo again leading the way.
The Greek Freak got another double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, as the Bucks improved to 26-14, even after being 17 points down.
Milwaukee trimmed the deficit with consecutive three-pointers, and Antetokoumpo felt the game is changing in their favor.
“Once we made one, then we made the second one. Then we made the third one,” Giannis said.
He also got five assists, and two blocks and tied Joel Embiid for the most 20/10/5/2 games this season.
Serb star Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets got an easy 122-109 win against Los Angeles Lakers, who played without Lebron James.
The two-time MVP notched another triple-double with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 16 assists.
He also didn’t miss, shooting 5/5 from the field, and 3/3 from the free-throw line. Jokic tied with Draymond Green for the most triple-doubles on 100 percent FG and 100 percent from beyond the arc (1/1).
“A truly selfless superstar. I know a lot of players that if they took five shots in 35 minutes would be (mad) right now. Nikola doesn’t care whether he takes five or 25. There are not many guys like him that I’ve ever been around,” the Denver Nuggets coach Mike Malone said after the game.
Slovenian Vlatko Cancar got two points for the winning side, as German Denis Schroder scored 14 for the Lakers, who also played without injured Anthony Davis.
Two European big men collided in Washington, as Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas and the New Orleans Pelicans defeated Latvian Kristaps Porzingins and the Wizards 132-112.
Valanciunas had a great game with 27 points and 12 rebounds, and Porzingis got a double-double as well, with 23 points and 10 boards, but it wasn’t enough for the home team.
Chicago Bulls lost to Boston Celtics 99-107 at TD Garden, even after a great game from Nikola Vucevic.
The Montenegrin center got himself another double-double with 21 points and 13 rebounds. Goran Dragic added just two points for the losing side.
Memphis Grizzlies won against San Antonio Spurs 121-113, with Santi Aldama scoring 13 points.
Jakob Poeltl also got 13 for the losing team, as Jeremy Sochan scored seven, with five rebounds.
Sacramento Kings blew out Orlando Magic 136-111 at home, as Domantas Sabonis got a near triple-double with 12 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists.
Paolo Banchero led the way for the guests with 17 points and eight boards, as Franz Wagner scored just a point less, and his older brother Moriz 12 points.
NBA results:
Washington Wizards – New Orleans Pelicans 112-132 (Porzingis 23p, 10r, Avdija 4p, 4r – Valanciunas 27p, 12r)
Boston Celtics – Chicago Bulls 107-99 (Vucevic 21p, 13r, Dragic 2p, 2r)
New York Knicks – Milwaukee Bucks 107-111 (Fournier 3p, Hartenstein 4r – G. Antetokounmpo 22p, 10r)
Memphis Grizzlies – San Antonio Spurs 121-113 (Aldama 13p – Poeltl 13p, 7r, Sochan 7p, 5r)
Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Lakers 122-109 (Jokic 14p, 11r, 16as, Cancar 2p – Schroder 14p)
Sacramento Kings – Orlando Magic 136-111 (Sabonis 12p, 10r, 8as – Banchero 17p, F. Wagner 16p, M. Wagner 12p)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston 29-12
2. Brooklyn 27-13
3. Milwaukee 26-14
4. Cleveland 26-15
5. Philadelphia 24-15
6. Indiana 23-18
7. NY Knicks 22-19
8. Miami 21-20
9. Chicago 19-22
10. Atlanta 19-21
11. Washington 17-24
12. Toronto 17-23
13. Orlando 15-26
14. Charlotte 11-30
15. Detroit 11-32
Western Conference
1. Denver 27-13
2. Memphis 27-13
3. New Orleans 15-16
4. Dallas 23-18
5. Sacramento 21-18
6. Golden State 20-20
7. LA Clippers 21-21
8. Phoenix 20-21
9. Minnesota 20-21
10. Portland 19-20
11. LA Lakers 19-22
12. Utah 20-23
13. Oklahoma 18-22
14. San Antonio 13-28
15. Houston 10-30