By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Entering the 2023 NBA Preseason, the Denver Nuggets prevailed, 115-107, over the Phoenix Suns in Footprint Center on Tuesday.
Serbian Nikola Jokic played 18 minutes, all in the first half. He contributed nine points, three rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Rookie Julian Strawther poured in a game-high 20 points. In contrast to the visitors, the Suns sat out most of their starters with Kevin Durant, Bradley Beal, and Devin Booker all to the sidelines. Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic was among the solid showings with ten points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 16 minutes for the team coached by Frank Vogel.
Packing 15 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, Alperen Sengun lifted the Houston Rockets to the 122-103 victory against the Indiana Pacers in Toyota Center. The Turkish center lasted 24 minutes in the preseason opener. However, his teammate Dillon Brooks instead lasted less than five minutes due to an ejection for a flagrant foul 2 to the groin of German Daniel Theis. The starting center of the Pacers registered two points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal over 18 minutes in the losing effort.
Early exits for Ivica Zubac and Nikola Jovic
Plenty of European action in Seattle’s Climate Pledge Arena. The Los Angeles Clippers edged out the Utah Jazz, 103-98, with France’s Moussa Diabate and Nicolas Batum combining for 16 points, nine and seven. Croatian Ivica Zubac had four points over five minutes until leaving the friendly game with back spasms. For the Jazz, Finnish Lauri Markkanen scored 16 points, Italian Simone Fontecchio had seven points, Turkish Omer Yurtseven got two points, and Croatian Luka Samanic went scoreless with 0/7 from the field over nine minutes.
Serbian Nikola Jovic was forced to an early exit due to knee soreness, after putting up two points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block over seven minutes for the Miami Heat in the win, 113-109, versus the Charlotte Hornets in Kaseya Center. For the losing side, French Frank Ntilikina missed all of his four shots over nine minutes.
Germany’s Franz Wagner produced nine points and his brother Moritz Wagner threw in six points and five rebounds as the Orlando Magic defeated the New Orleans Pelicans, 122-105, in Smoothie King Center. Georgian Goga Bitadze added seven points, four rebounds, and two blocks. At the opposite end, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas finished with seven points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.
Danilo Gallinari is back
Italian Danilo Gallinari registered 15 points, four rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes. In his first appearance after missing the entire 2022-23 with a torn ACL in his left knee, he helped the Washington Wizards blow out the Cairns Taipans, 145-82, in Capital One Arena. French Bilal Coulibaly added five points, six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.
Opening the preseason with a 106-66 victory over the New Zealand Breakers in Moda Center, the Portland Trail Blazers featured a promising debut by Belgian Toumani Camara. The 23-year-old forward, 52nd pick of the 2023 draft, recorded 13 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal over 14 minutes.
Playing without Giannis Antetokounmpo in FedExForum, the Milwaukee Bucks lost, 108-102, to the Memphis Grizzlies. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo tallied three points and five rebounds in five minutes. Spanish Santi Aldama had seven points, six rebounds, and one block over 19 minutes for the hosts.
Also, Swiss center Clint Capela chipped in seven points and ten rebounds to go with one block as the Atlanta Hawks secured the win, 108-107, against the Cleveland Cavaliers in State Farm Arena.
Photo Credit: Getty Images