By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a double-double leading the Milwaukee Bucks to the win, 144-116, versus the Utah Jazz in Vivint Arena Friday.
The Freak went for 24 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, and two steals lasting 25 minutes in the blowout. Jumping to 53-20, the Bucks strengthened their grip on the top seed of the projected bracket of the 2023 NBA Playoffs. His brother Thanasis had four points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 12 minutes in his first appearance since early March. Slovenian Goran Dragic dealing with a sore knee has yet to debut with the Bucks.
Starting instead of injured Finnish Lauri Markkanen, Italian Simone Fontecchio was the top performer for the hosts of the NBA Regular Season contest. He scored a game-high and individual NBA-high 26 points behind 9/16 field goals and also grabbed two rebounds in 25 minutes. But poor defense prevented the Jazz from being competitive against the leaders of the standings and placed them half a game outside the Western Conference’s Play-In zone.
Slovenian Luka Doncic neared a triple-double with 34 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists, but the Dallas Mavericks lost, 117-109, to the Charlotte Hornets in American Airlines Center. French Frank Ntilikina had eight points and three assists over 22 minutes and German Maxi Kleber combined four points and two rebounds. For the winning side, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk chipped in 13 points and French Theo Maledon produced four assists.
German Dennis Schroder poured 13 of his 21 points in the fourth quarter fueling the Los Angeles Lakers’ push for the important home win, 116-111, over the Oklahoma City Thunder. On the losing end, French Ousmane Dieng grabbed one rebound in two minutes, but Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski dressing for the first time since December, Croatian Dario Saric, and French Olivier Sarr all stayed on the bench.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis showed 23 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three blocks, and Israeli Deni Avdija added 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists for the Washington Wizards in the win, 136-124, against the San Antonio Spurs in Capital One Arena. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili recorded ten points, five rebounds, and three assists for the visitors.
In his latest standout performance, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis got 27 points, nine assists, and nine rebounds as the Sacramento Kings overpowered the Phoenix Suns, 135-127, in Golden 1 Center.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 23-point, 15-rebound double-double helping the Chicago Bulls rout the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-96, in Moda Center.
More action and European showings
Boston Celtics – Indiana Pacers 120-95
Toronto Raptors – Detroit Pistons 118-97 (O.G. Anunoby 17pts, Jakob Poeltl 4pts, 11reb, 2blk, 2stl – Killian Hayes 6pts, 7ast, 4stl)
Memphis Grizzlies – Houston Rockets 151-114 (Santi Aldama 8pts – Alperen Sengun 7pts, Boban Marjanovic 4pts, Usman Garuba 2pts)
Golden State Warriors – Philadelphia 76ers 120-112 (Furkan Korkmaz 2pts)
2022-23 STANDINGS
EAST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE | 53 | 20 | |
| 51 | 23 | ||
| 49 | 24 | ||
| 47 | 28 | ||
| 42 | 33 | ||
| MIAMI | 40 | 34 | |
| BROOKLYN | 39 | 34 | |
| ATLANTA | 36 | 37 | |
| 36 | 38 | ||
| 35 | 38 | ||
| 33 | 41 | ||
| 33 | 41 | ||
| ORLANDO | 31 | 43 | |
| CHARLOTTE | 24 | 51 | |
| DETROIT | 16 | 58 |
WEST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENVER | 49 | 24 | |
| MEMPHIS | 46 | 27 | |
| 3 SACRAMENTO | 44 | 29 | |
| 39 | 35 | 6-4 | |
| 38 | 35 | ||
| 39 | 36 | ||
| 37 | 37 | ||
| 37 | 37 | 7-3 | |
| 9 NEW ORLEANS | 36 | 37 | 5-5 |
| 36 | 38 | ||
| 36 | 38 | ||
| 35 | 38 | ||
| 32 | 41 | ||
| 19 | 55 | ||
| 18 | 56 |
y-clinched a Playoffs berth
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