By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Kristaps Porzingis left with a left ankle sprain in the third quarter, but the Washington Wizards beat the Orlando Magic, 138-118, in Capital One Arena. The Latvian big recorded 17 points, six rebounds, and one block in the shortened showing on NBA Saturdays. Israeli teammate Deni Avdija did not score but had four rebounds and one steal. On the losing end, German Franz Wagner banked in 20 points, Italian Paolo Banchero ended up with 15 points, and German Moritz Wagner got four points.
With Giannis Antetokounmpo (sore left knee) sitting out a fifth straight game of the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, the Milwaukee Bucks lost, 114-102, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse. Turkish Cedi Osman chipped in 13 points, three assists, and three rebounds, and Spanish Ricky Rubio finished with three points, five assists, three rebounds, and two steals, both coming off the bench for the Cavs. Evan Mobley scored a career-high 38 points.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis neared a second triple-double in a row with 16 points, ten assists, and nine rebounds for the Sacramento Kings but fell shy of the win against the red-hot Philadelphia 76ers. The visitors at Golden 1 Center prevailed, 129-127, despite missing both Joel Embiid and James Harden.
Turkish Alperen Sengun posted a 19-point, 16-rebound double-double plus seven assists, three blocks, and one assist. However, the Houston Rockets failed to snap the losing streak falling, 113-104, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in Target Center. Spanish Usman Garuba tallied seven rebounds, two assists, and one block over 11 minutes.
British O.G. Anunoby dealing with a sore right ankle produced 12 points before an early exit for the Toronto Raptors in the loss, 106-104, to the Boston Celtics. More injuries in Marcus Smart (right ankle) and Robert Williams (left knee) for the visitors.
More games and European showings:
Atlanta Hawks – Charlotte Hornets 118-122 (Clint Capela 12pts, 9reb, 2stl, 1blk)
Phoenix Suns – Indiana Pacers 112-107 (Dario Saric 1pt, 3ast, 2reb)
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 35-12
2. Philadelphia 76ers 30-16
3. Milwaukee Bucks 29-17
4. Brooklyn Nets 28-17
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 29-19
6. New York Knicks 25-22
7. Miami Heat 25-22
8. Atlanta Hawks 24-23
9. Indiana Pacers 23-25
10. Chicago Bulls 21-24
11. Washington Wizards 20-26
12. Toronto Raptors 20-27
13. Orlando Magic 17-29
14. Charlotte Hornets 13-34
15. Detroit Pistons 12-36
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 33-13
2. Memphis Grizzlies 31-14
3. Sacramento Kings 26-19
4. New Orleans Pelicans 26-20
5. Dallas Mavericks 25-22
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 24-24
7. Los Angeles Clippers 24-24
8. Golden State Warriors 23-23
9. Utah Jazz 24-25
10. Phoenix Suns 23-24
11. Oklahoma City Thunder 22-24
12. Portland Trail Blazers 21-24
13. Los Angeles Lakers 21-25
14. San Antonio Spurs 14-32
15. Houston Rockets 10-36
-Top six teams of each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seeded 7th to 10th will compete in Play-In tournament
Photo Credit: Getty Images