By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
With just two games last night, all the focus was on the two best teams in the East as the Bucks and the Celtics battle for the top spot. It was all Boston as the Celtics won convincingly 140-99 in a game that practically ended in the third period with the Celtics leading by 49 points.
Jason Tatum had a brilliant game scoring 40 points and Jalen Brown added 30 more. On the other side, Giannis Antetokounbo had 24 points and seven rebounds. The Slovenian point gourd Goran Dragic added nine points in a losing effort.
The Bucks remain in the number one spot in the East but Boston is now closing in with 53 wins, just two less than the Bucks.
As for the Denver Nuggets, without Nikola Jokic, the New Orleans Pelican won easily 107-88.
Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas had a strong double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds.
NBA ROUNDUP
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 99-140 (Antetokounmpo 24p, 7r, Dragic 9p)
Denver Nuggets – New Orleans Pelicans 88-107 (Valanciunas 15p, 12r)
2022-23 STANDINGS
EAST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MILWAUKEE | 55 | 22 | |
| 53 | 24 | ||
| 50 | 26 | ||
| 48 | 29 | ||
| 44 | 33 | ||
| BROOKLYN | 41 | 35 | |
| MIAMI | 40 | 37 | |
| ATLANTA | 38 | 38 | |
| 38 | 38 | ||
| 36 | 40 | ||
| 34 | 42 | ||
| 33 | 43 | ||
| ORLANDO | 32 | 44 | |
| CHARLOTTE | 26 | 51 | |
| DETROIT | 16 | 60 |
WEST
| TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| DENVER | 51 | 25 | |
| MEMPHIS | 48 | 28 | |
| 3 y-SACRAMENTO | 46 | 30 | |
| 41 | 35 | 4-6 | |
| 41 | 36 | ||
| 40 | 37 | ||
| 39 | 38 | ||
| 39 | 38 | 6-4 | |
| 9 | 38 | 38 | 6-4 |
| 38 | 39 | ||
| 37 | 40 | ||
| 36 | 40 | ||
| 32 | 44 | ||
| 19 | 57 | ||
| 18 | 59 |
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