By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis helping the Sacramento Kings finally turn the page amounts to a 40-win season, the first for the franchise based in California’s capital since 2005-06.
Highlighting the latest edition of NBA Saturdays, the Kings secured the win, 128-119, against the Phoenix Suns in Footprint Center.
Among heavy-hitters, Sabonis contributed 17 points, eight rebounds, four assists, and two steals over 35 minutes. Seven of Monty Williams’ players scored in double-digits. The Suns, playing without Kevin Durant for a second straight outing in the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season, could not build on a four-game winning streak, instead got distanced 3.5 games from Western Conference’s second seed, shared by the Kings and Memphis Grizzlies.
German Franz Wagner exited with an ankle injury in the fourth quarter but the Orlando Magic dominated the Miami Heat in overtime en route to the 126-114 victory. Wagner finished with 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists. Coming off the bench, his brother Moritz put in eight points and five rebounds. Italian Paolo Banchero neared a triple-double with 17 points, ten rebounds, and nine assists.
Jimmy Butler scored 38 points and forced the extra period but the Heat fell short of a third win in as many meetings of Florida’s NBA franchises this season, including an overtime win on the last visit at Amway Center one month ago. In better news, Turkish Omer Yurtseven recovered from an ankle injury and logged one rebound in his first appearance since the 2022 Preseason.
Working for a spot in the Play-Ins, the Chicago Bulls moved past the Houston Rockets with a win, 119-111, in Toyota Center. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic logged an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double to go with six assists and one steal Saturday. For the Rockets, Turkish Alperen Sengun registered ten points, five rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block. Spanish Usman Garuba had one assist and one rebound.
More NBA Saturdays action and European showings
Charlotte Hornets – Utah Jazz 111-119 (Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 3pts – Lauri Markkanen 13pts, 13reb, Simone Fontecchio 9pts)
Los Angeles Clippers – New York Knicks 106-95 (Ivica Zubac 8pts, 6reb, Nicolas Batum 2pts – Isaiah Hartenstein 4pts, 5reb)
Detroit Pistons – Indiana Pacers 115-121 (Killian Hayes 17pts, 13ast, 6reb, 2stl)
Atlanta Hawks – Boston Celtics 125-134 (Clint Capela 12pts, 9reb)
Memphis Grizzlies – Dallas Mavericks 112-108 (Santi Aldama 10pts, 5reb – Davis Bertans 6pts, 2stl, Maxi Kleber 4pts, 8reb)
Golden State Warriors – Milwaukee Bucks 125-116 OT (111-111)
New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder 96-110 (Jonas Valanciunas 13pts – Dario Saric 4pts, 6reb, Ousmane Dieng 3pts)
2022-23 STANDINGS
EAST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE | 48 | 19 | |
| 47 | 21 | ||
| 44 | 22 | ||
| 42 | 27 | ||
| 38 | 29 | ||
| NEW YORK | 39 | 30 | |
| MIAMI | 36 | 33 | |
| ATLANTA | 34 | 34 | |
| 32 | 36 | ||
| 31 | 36 | ||
| 31 | 36 | ||
| 31 | 37 | ||
| ORLANDO | 28 | 40 | |
| CHARLOTTE | 22 | 47 | |
| DETROIT | 15 | 53 |
WEST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENVER | 46 | 21 | |
| SACRAMENTO | 40 | 26 | |
| 3 MEMPHIS | 40 | 26 | |
| 37 | 30 | 7-3 | |
| 36 | 33 | ||
| 35 | 33 | ||
| 34 | 34 | ||
| 34 | 34 | 3-7 | |
| 9 LA LAKERS | 33 | 34 | 7-3 |
| 33 | 35 | ||
| 32 | 35 | ||
| 32 | 35 | ||
| 31 | 36 | ||
| 17 | 49 | ||
| 15 | 52 |
e-eliminated from Playoffs
-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