Jokic, Nuggets outduel Giannis, Bucks

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Nikola Jokic scored 31 points, dished out 11 assists and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Denver Nuggets past Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks 129 – 106.

It was a clash not only between the two conference leaders right now in the NBA standings but also the last two MVPs and current favorites for the 2023 award.. Antetokounmpo finished with 31 points of his own, along with nine rebounds, four assists and four steals but he and the Bucks couldn’t much the Nuggets‘ firepower, especially in the second half. Giannis’ 24 points came before the break.

Jamal Murray provided Denver with 26 points, nine assists and six boards as hit team dropped 66 points after the break to take down the Bucks.

Clint Capela produced 17 points and a game-high 17 rebounds to help the Atlanta Hawks defeat the Indiana Pacers 143-130. It was the most productive performance by the Hawks this season and arrived despite the ejection of scoring leader Trae Young in the third period after throwing the ball to a referee.

Bogdan Bogdanovic finished with nine points for the Hawks who remain eighth in the Eastern Conference.

Giannis and Jokic weren’t the only MVP candidates to play Saturday (25/3). In Phoenix, Joel Embiid delivered 28 points and 10 rebounds but the Phoenix Suns prevailed 125 – 105 behind 29 points plus five assists by Devin Booker.

Sixers‘ Tyrese Maxey put up 37 points on 7-11 3-point shooting.

Domantas Sabonis produced 16 points, 15 rebounds and seven assists to register a league-best 60th season double-double to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz 121 – 113. While the Kings grabbed their second win in a row, the Jazz suffered their third consecutive loss, in the absence of Lauri Markkanen (left hand contussion).

The rest of Saturday’s results and notable Euro-performers:

Miami Heat – Brooklyn Nets 100 – 129

Los Angeles Clippers – New Orleans Pelicans 110 – 131 (Jonas Valanciunas 17 points – 13 rebounds – Ivica Zubac 13 points – five rebounds)

2022-23 STANDINGS

EAST

TEAM	W	L	LAST 10
1 y-MILWAUKEE	53	21	7-3
2 y-BOSTON	51	23	6-4
3 y-PHILADELPHIA	49	25	9-2
4 CLEVELAND	47	28	8-2
5 NEW YORK	42	33	4-6
6 BROOKLYN	40	34	4-6
7 MIAMI	40	35	6-4
8 ATLANTA	37	37	5-5
9 TORONTO	36	38	5-5
10 CHICAGO	35	38	6-4
11 WASHINGTON	33	41	3-7
12 INDIANA	33	42	4-6
13 ORLANDO	31	43	4-7
14 e-CHARLOTTE	24	51	4-6
15 e-DETROIT	16	58	1-9

WEST

TEAM	W	L	LAST 10
1 y-DENVER	50	24	6-5
2 y-MEMPHIS	46	27	8-2
3 SACRAMENTO	45	29	7-3
4 PHOENIX	39	35	4-6
5 LA CLIPPERS	39	36	6-4
6 GOLDEN STATE	39	36	4-6
7 MINNESOTA	37	37	5-5
8 LA LAKERS	37	37	7-3
9 NEW ORLEANS	37	37	6-4
10 OKLAHOMA CITY	36	38	6-4
11 DALLAS	36	38	3-7
12 UTAH	35	39	4-6
13 PORTLAND	32	41	3-7
14 e-SAN ANTONIO	19	55	3-7
15 e-HOUSTON	18	56	3-7

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