By Cesare Milanti / info@eurohoops.net
Having himself a pretty good night, Luka Doncic led the Dallas Mavericks to the 125-120 win at home against the Brooklyn Nets in a pretty balanced encounter, decided by the Slovenian phenomenon.
Shooting 16/25 from the field – including 9/14 from beyond the arc – and 8/10 at the charity stripe, he ended with a double-double of 49 points and 10 rebounds, adding also 7 assists while never missing the ball in 36 minutes on the court.
Maxi Kleber came off the bench scoreless but grabbed 5 rebounds and shared 2 assists, while former Partizan Belgrade’s playmaker Dante Exum had two points.
Victor Wembanyama and Lauri Markkanen shone
During the NBA Night, two young gems collapsed on the glass, as San Antonio beat Houston 126-122 in OT. Victor Wembanyama went scoreless from deep (0/6) but still came home with a double-double of 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Alperen Sengun replied with 25 points, 14 rebounds, and 7 assists. To contribute to the Spurs‘ victory, both Cedi Osman (off the bench) and Jeremy Sochan scored 14.
Nikola Jokic also lived a pretty good European night, going close to a triple-double with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists – with 9 turnovers – as Denver beat Memphis 108-104. Helping the Celtics get the 119-111 win over Miami, the newcomer Kristaps Porzingis had 17 points and 9 rebounds.
Shooting 12/23 for 35 points and 12 rebounds, Lauri Markkanen led Utah to the 120-118 win against the Clippers. The Finnisher had the better of Ivica Zubac (6 points and 2 rebounds) and Nicolas Batum (8 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists).
The 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP Dennis Schroder’s Toronto lost in OT against Chicago, but the German had a double-double of 10 points and 10 assists, dishing some magic to Jakob Poeltl, who ended with 8 points and 6 boards. O.G. Anunoby added 11 points. Helping the Bulls get the tough win, instead, Nikola Vucevic ended with a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
The Orlando Magic won on the road in Portland, pushed by its young talents. Franz Wagner had 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, while his brother Moritz went close to a double-double with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Paolo Banchero added 14 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Sasha Vezenkov came off the bench and delivered 10 points, but Sacramento lost to Golden State despite Domantas Sabonis’ monster double-double of 19 points and 18 rebounds – with 7 assists. Playing only six minutes and scoring 3 points, the other former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic could have least celebrated the Oklahoma City Thunder‘s 108-105 win over Cleveland.
Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 16 points off the bench and Clint Capela ended with a double-double of 13 points and 13 rebounds, but Atlanta couldn’t make it against New York at home. Detroit won 111-99, but Killian Hayes had only 6 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists, scoring the same amount as his countryman Theo Maledon on Charlotte’s losing end.
NBA Night Results
Charlotte Hornets – Detroit Pistons 99-111
Memphis Grizzlies – Denver Nuggets 104-108
Atlanta Hawks – New York Knicks 120-126
Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 119-111
Cleveland Cavaliers – Oklahoma City Thunder 105-108
Chicago Bulls – Toronto Raptors 104-103 OT
San Antonio Spurs – Houston Rockets 126-122
Dallas Mavericks – Brooklyn Nets 125-120
Utah Jazz – Los Angeles Clippers 120-118
Portland Trail Blazers – Orlando Magic 97-102
Sacramento Kings – Golden State Warriors 114-122
PHOTO CREDIT: Dallas Mavericks on X