By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Completing a triple-double by halftime, an uncommon achievement for Nikola Jokic Tuesday night. LeBron James emerged as the all-time leading scorer of the NBA but the Joker dazzling reached triple-double figures before the break for the second time in his career, leading the Denver Nuggets to the blowout win, 146-112, against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Ball Arena. Going up to 38-17, securing the top seed in the Western Conference is the task at hand with an advantage of 4.5 games over second-placed Memphis Grizzlies.
The Serbian star, reigning back-to-back season MVP, in his 19th triple-double for the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season finished with 20 points, 16 assists, 12 rebounds, one steal, and one block in just 28 minutes. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar added 12 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one block over 22 minutes. At the losing end, French Rudy Gobert started but did not score limited to 0/2 in 19 minutes but tallied five rebounds and one block.
Back in action after a one-game absence, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 16-point, 14-rebound double-double to go with one block and one assist helping the New Orleans Pelicans past the Atlanta Hawks, 116-107, at Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans overcame Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic coming off the bench to register a team-high 22 points. Swiss starter Clint Capela had 13 points and eight rebounds.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic logged a 28-point, 17-rebound double-double and also recorded six assists and three steals as the Chicago Bulls fell, 104-89, to the Grizzlies at FedExForum. Slovenian Goran Dragic was held to one assist and one steal in 15 minutes. Spanish Santi Aldama chipped in five points, five rebounds, one assists, one steal, and one block for the hosts.
More action and European showings
Orlando Magic – New York Knicks 98-102 (Franz Wagner 18pts, 4ast, Paolo Banchero 16pts, 8reb, 5ast, Moritz Wagner 13pts – Isaiah Hartenstein 2pts, 3reb)
Brooklyn Nets – Phoenix Suns 112-116 (Dario Saric 1reb)
Los Angeles Lakers – Oklahoma City Thunder 130-133 (Dennis Schroder 10pts)
2022-23 STANDINGS
EAST
| 1 | Boston Celtics | 38-16 |
| 2 | Milwaukee Bucks | 37-17 |
| 3 | Philadelphia 76ers | 34-18 |
| 4 | Cleveland Cavaliers | 34-22 |
| 5 | Brooklyn Nets | 32-22 |
| 6 | Miami Heat | 29-25 |
| 7 | New York Knicks | 30-26 |
| 8 | Atlanta Hawks | 27-28 |
| 9 | Chicago Bulls | 26-28 |
| 10 | Indiana Pacers | 25-30 |
| 11 | Toronto Raptors | 25-30 |
| 12 | Washington Wizards | 24-29 |
| 13 | Orlando Magic | 22-33 |
| 14 | Charlotte Hornets | 15-40 |
| 15 | Detroit Pistons | 14-41 |
WEST
| 1 | Denver Nuggets | 38-17 |
| 2 | Memphis Grizzlies | 33-21 |
| 3 | Sacramento Kings | 30-23 |
| 4 | Los Angeles Clippers | 31-26 |
| 5 | Phoenix Suns | 30-26 |
| 6 | Dallas Mavericks | 29-26 |
| 7 | Golden State Warriors | 28-26 |
| 8 | New Orleans Pelicans | 29-27 |
| 9 | Minnesota Timberwolves | 29-28 |
| 10 | Utah Jazz | 27-28 |
| 11 | Oklahoma City Thunder | 26-28 |
| 12 | Portland Trail Blazers | 26-28 |
| 13 | Los Angeles Lakers | 25-30 |
| 14 | San Antonio Spurs | 14-40 |
| 15 | Houston Rockets | 13-41 |
-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