By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Orlando Magic European duo of Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero starred in their team’s 120 – 101 win over the Los Angeles Lakers. This result snapped a seven-game losing streak of the Magic against the 17-time NBA champions.
Wagner finished with 26 points while Banchero delivered 25 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. They set the tone early with consecutive points as the Magic led 67 – 51 at halftime.
The Lakers were productive after the break but the Magic were unstoppable themselves to increase their lead to 99 – 74 near the end of the third period, to essentially finish off their opponents before the last quarter.
Mo Wagner contributed 13 points plus eight rebounds to the Magic win and Goga Bitadze had a double-double of 10 points plus 10 boards.
Nikola Jokic came one assist shy of the triple-double, posting 29 points, 16 rebounds and nine dimes as the Denver Nuggets routed the Chicago Bulls 123 – 101 at home to grab their second straight win.
Jokic shot 9-16 from the field over the 33 minutes he spent on the floor while also leading the Nuggets in steals with three. From the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic had 19 points and seven rebounds but he and his teammates couldn’t do much against both Jokic and Michael Porter Jr. (27 points, six rebounds).
The Nuggets took a 22-point win also despite losing star guard Jamal Murray 8:40 into the game with a right hamstring tightness.
Lauri Markkanen’s 22 points and eight rebounds weren’t near enough for the Utah Jazz that were overwhelmed 113 – 95 by the Minnesota Timberwolves and Anthony Edwards (31 points, eight rebounds, six assists).
Against his former team, Rudy Gobert had 11 points, 10 rebounds and a season-high-tying four blocks.
Saturday’s (4/11) NBA Results and notable Euro Scorers:
Philadelphia 76ers – Phoenix Suns 112 – 100
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Hornets 124 – 125
Orlando Magic – Los Angeles Lakers 120 – 101 (Banchero 25 points 10 rebounds, seven assists/Wagner 26 points)
New Orleans Pelicans – Atlanta Hawks 105 – 123 (Clint Capela 17 points seven rebounds/Bogdan Bogdanovic 10 points, five rebounds)
Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics 114 – 124 (Kristaps Porzingis 22 points, seven rebounds)
Houston Rockets – Sacramento Kings 107 – 89 (Alperen Sengun 15 points, nine rebounds, six assists/Domantas Sabonis 11 points, 15 rebounds
Minnesota Timberwolves – Utah Jazz 123 – 95 (Markkanen 22 points, nine rebounds/Gobert 11 points, 10 rebounds four blocks)
Denver Nuggets – Chicago Bulls 123 – 101 (Jokic 29 points, 16 rebounds, nine assists/Vucevic 19 points, seven rebounds)
Standings via NBA.com:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
 Boston Celtics |
5 | 0 | 1.000 | — | 5-0 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 3-0 | 0-0 | 5-0 | W 5 |
2
 Philadelphia 76ers |
4 | 1 | .800 | 1 | 2-1 | 2-0 | 3-0 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 4-1 | W 4 |
3
 Atlanta Hawks |
4 | 2 | .667 | 1.5 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 4-2 | W 4 |
4
 Orlando Magic |
4 | 2 | .667 | 1.5 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 2-0 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 4-2 | W 2 |
5
 Milwaukee Bucks |
3 | 2 | .600 | 2 | 3-2 | 0-0 | 3-1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 3-2 | W 1 |
6
 Brooklyn Nets |
3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 3-2 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 3-1 | 0-0 | 3-3 | L 1 |
7
 Indiana Pacers |
3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 3-3 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 3-3 | L 1 |
8
 Charlotte Hornets |
2 | 3 | .400 | 3 | 2-2 | 1-0 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 2-3 | W 1 |
9
 Miami Heat |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 2-3 | 1-0 | 2-1 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 2-4 | W 1 |
10
 New York Knicks |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 2-3 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-0 | 2-4 | L 2 |
11
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 2-3 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 2-4 | L 1 |
12
 Detroit Pistons |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 1-1 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 2-4 | L 3 |
13
 Toronto Raptors |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 1-3 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 2-4 | L 1 |
14
 Chicago Bulls |
2 | 5 | .286 | 4 | 2-2 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1-3 | 1-0 | 2-5 | L 3 |
15
 Washington Wizards |
1 | 4 | .200 | 4 | 0-4 | 0-2 | 1-1 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 1-4 | L 3 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
 Denver Nuggets |
6 | 1 | .857 | — | 5-1 | 2-1 | 4-0 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 6-1 | W 2 |
2
 |
5 | 1 | .833 | 0.5 | 5-1 | 2-1 | 1-1 | 4-0 | 0-0 | 5-1 | W 5 |
3
 Dallas Mavericks |
4 | 1 | .800 | 1 | 2-1 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 0-0 | 4-1 | L 1 |
4
 New Orleans Pelicans |
4 | 2 | .667 | 1.5 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 2-2 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 4-2 | L 1 |
5
 LA Clippers |
3 | 2 | .600 | 2 | 2-2 | 0-1 | 3-0 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 3-2 | L 1 |
6
 San Antonio Spurs |
3 | 2 | .600 | 2 | 3-2 | 1-1 | 1-1 | 2-1 | 1-0 | 3-2 | W 2 |
7
 Minnesota Timberwolves |
3 | 2 | .600 | 2 | 2-0 | 2-0 | 3-0 | 0-2 | 0-0 | 3-2 | W 2 |
8
 Los Angeles Lakers |
3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 2-2 | 2-1 | 3-0 | 0-3 | 1-1 | 3-3 | L 1 |
9
 Portland Trail Blazers |
3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 2-2 | 1-0 | 3-3 | W 3 |
10
 Oklahoma City Thunder |
3 | 3 | .500 | 2.5 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 1-3 | 2-0 | 0-0 | 3-3 | L 2 |
11
 Houston Rockets |
2 | 3 | .400 | 3 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 2-1 | 0-2 | 0-1 | 2-3 | W 2 |
12
 Sacramento Kings |
2 | 3 | .400 | 3 | 2-3 | 1-2 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1-0 | 2-3 | L 2 |
13
 Phoenix Suns |
2 | 4 | .333 | 3.5 | 2-3 | 1-1 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 2-4 | L 3 |
14
 Utah Jazz |
2 | 5 | .286 | 4 | 2-4 | 0-2 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 0-0 | 2-5 | L 2 |
15
 Memphis Grizzlies |
0 | 6 | .000 | 5.5 | 0-5 | 0-2 | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-1 | 0-6 | L 6 |
Photo: Getty Images