By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Bucks secured the NBA’s best record with their 105-92 win Wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls despite being without star Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Antetokounmpo was listed as probable on the team’s injury report with right knee soreness leading up to the game. He took the court for a shortened version of his regular pregame routine before being ruled out.
However, the Bucks improved to 11-6 without Antetokounmpo this season as Jrue Holiday picked up the slack with 20 points, eight rebounds, and 15 assists.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulls who have also secured their presence in the play-ins.
In Dallas, Kyrie Irving capped a 19-point fourth quarter with a big three to finish with 31 points, and Dallas stayed in the race for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a 123-119 victory over the Sacramento Kings.
Slovenian star Luka Doncic added 29 points and 10 rebounds as the Mavericks (38-42) matched Oklahoma City’s record for the 10th seed in the West with two games remaining.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis had a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds, and 11 assists for the Kings, who have already ended a 16-year playoff drought and are all but locked into the third seed in the West.
In LA, Norman Powell scored 27 points, Kawhi Leonard added 25 in a game-high 43 minutes and the Clippers improved their playoff seeding chances with a 125-118 win over LeBron James and the Lakers on Wednesday night.
Croatian center Ivica Zubac added 17 points and 13 rebounds for the winning side
NBA RESULTS AND EURO SCORERS
Detroit – Brooklyn 108-123 (Hayes 4 p. 6 as.)
Indiana – New York 129-138 (Hartenstein 8 p. 7 r., Fourner 1 as.)
Atlanta – Washington 134-116 (Capela 9 p. 8 r.)
Boston – Toronto 97-93 (Anunoby 12 p.)
Milwaukee – Chicago 105-92 (Vucevic 21 p. 11 r.)
New Orleans – Memphis 138-131 (Valanciunas 4 p. 6 r. – Aldama 2 p.)
Dallas – Sacramento 123-119 (Doncic 29 p. 10 r., Kleber 3 p. – Sabonis 19 p. 11 r. 11 as., Len 2 p. 9 r.)
Clippers – Lakers 125-118 (Zubac 17 p. 11 r., Batum 5 p. 2 r. – Schroder 2 p. 4 as.)
2022-23 STANDINGS
EAST
TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
---|---|---|---|
MILWAUKEE | 58 | 22 | |
55 | 25 | ||
52 | 27 | ||
50 | 30 | ||
47 | 33 | ||
BROOKLYN | 44 | 36 | |
MIAMI | 42 | 37 | |
ATLANTA | 41 | 39 | |
40 | 40 | ||
38 | 42 | ||
34 | 45 | ||
34 | 46 | ||
34 | 46 | ||
CHARLOTTE | 26 | 54 | |
DETROIT | 16 | 64 |
WEST
TEAM | W | L | LAST 10 |
---|---|---|---|
DENVER | 52 | 27 | |
MEMPHIS | 50 | 30 | |
3 y- SACRAMENTO | 48 | 32 | |
44 | 35 | 7-3 | |
42 | 38 | ||
42 | 38 | ||
41 | 39 | ||
41 | 39 | 8-2 | |
9 | 40 | 40 | 5-5 |
38 | 42 | ||
38 | 42 | ||
36 | 43 | ||
33 | 46 | ||
20 | 59 | ||
20 | 60 |
y-clinched a Playoffs berth
p-clinched a Play-in 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