By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming in with a 0-2 record, the Atlanta Hawks took down the Milwaukee Bucks behind a dominating display in Fiserv Forum.
Swiss Clint Capela posting a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double was among the European contributions. The starting center added one assist and one steal lasting 23 minutes. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic threw in 17 points with 6/10 from the field, including four triples. Six assists, two steals, and one rebound described his remaining efforts over 26 minutes off the bench. Trae Young with 20 points and 11 assists highlighted a balanced offensive showing on the road.
A key part of the win was limiting Damian Lillard to six points. Playing 29 minutes, Greek international Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied a game-high 26 points alongside 11 rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal in the losing effort. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo had two points, two assists, and one steal in eight minutes.
Wembanyama struggles, Sabonis and Vezenkov triumph
Moving to Crypto.com Arena, the Los Angeles Clippers blew out Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs, 123-83. The French prodigy finished with 11 points, five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal to go with five turnovers. Turkish Cedi Osman had 12 points, one block, one steal, one assist, and one rebound. Both Polish Jeremy Sochan and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili did not score.
Jumping to 2-1 in style, the hosts enjoyed Croatian Ivica Zubac putting up 16 points alongside eight rebounds and one block over 22 minutes. Lasting 15 minutes, French Nicolas Batum chipped in two rebounds, one steal, and one assist. Fellow French reserve Moussa Diabate added two assists and one rebound in five minutes.
Elsewhere, the Sacramento Kings defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 132-127, in overtime. Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis put in a 12-point, 15-rebound double-double plus five assists and one steal. Coming off the bench, Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov added 11 points, four rebounds, and one block. Ukrainian center Alex Len did not check in.
In the NBA Sundays opener, the Denver Nuggets made short work of the Oklahoma City Thunder with Serbian Nikola Jokic posting a double-double. French Ousmane Dieng and Olivier Sarr, and Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski and Vasilije Micic came off the bench for the hosts but Latvian Davis Bertans did not play.
The remaining European showings in NBA Sundays
Houston Rockets – Golden State Warriors 95-106 (Alperen Sengun 19pts, 7ast, 5reb, Boban Marjanovic DNP – Dario Saric 4pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1blk
Philadelphia 76ers – Portland Trail Blazers 126-98 (Furkan Korkmaz 4pts, Filip Petrusev 1reb – Toumani Camara 12pts, 3reb, 2ast, 2blk, Rayan Rupert 0pts)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Orlando Magic 2-0
2. Indiana Pacers 2-0
3. Boston Celtics 2-0
4. Detroit Pistons 2-1
5. Philadelphia 76ers 2-1
6. Milwaukee Bucks 1-1
7. Charlotte Hornets 1-1
8. Washington Wizards 1-1
9. Miami Heat 1-2
10. New York Knicks 1-2
11. Cleveland Cavaliers 1-2
12. Chicago Bulls 1-2
13. Atlanta Hawks 1-2
14. Toronto Raptors 1-2
15. Brooklyn Nets 0-2
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 3-0
2. New Orleans Pelicans 2-0
3. Dallas Mavericks 2-0
4. Phoenix Suns 2-1
5. Golden State Warriors 2-1
6. Sacramento Kings 2-1
7. Los Angeles Clippers 2-1
8. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-1
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1
10. Los Angeles Lakers 1-2
11. Utah Jazz 1-2
12. San Antonio Spurs 1-2
13. Houston Rockets 0-3
14. Portland Trail Blazers 0-3
15. Memphis Grizzlies 0-3
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images