By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Despite having a rough night from beyond the arc, shooting 1/8 from three, Nikola Jokic dominated the encounter against the Golden State Warriors, spending 36 minutes on the court in the 108-105 win with a 35-point double-double.
With such a result, the Nuggets increased the record to an 8-1 overall, unbeaten (6-0) at home. “We feel like it’s a good group of guys and we are playing the right way. I think that’s why we’re winning the games”, the Serbian superstar commented after the victory. Dario Saric started for the guests and ended up with 4 points and 8 rebounds.
The back-to-back NBA MVP also talked about his personal performances leading Denver. “I’m just trying to play the game the right way. And as long as we’re winning I think I’m doing a good job”, Nikola Jokic shared before underlining the beauty of his group. “We don’t have the pressure of being a champion, we’re just trying to enjoy the moment”, he added.
Victor Wembanyama lost in his Garden debut
Playing for the first time in his – hopefully long – NBA career in the Madison Square Garden, Victor Wembanyama went close to a double-double with 14 points and 9 rebounds, but the San Antonio Spurs lost by 21 points (126-105) to New York. Jeremy Sochan added 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 dimes. For the Knicks, Isaiah Hartenstein contributed with 13 points on 6/9 from the field off the bench.
Talking about (former) Knicks centers, Kristaps Porzingis’ personal good moment continues, as the Latvian unicorn had 29 points and 6 boards against Philadelphia, but the 76ers got pushed by Joel Embiid’s 27-point double-double to the tight 106-103 victory over Boston.
Continuing on big men’s dominant performances, Jusuf Nurkic was on fire for the Phoenix Suns in the 116-115 win in OT against Chicago, going back home with 20 points, 17 rebounds, 8 assists, and the game-winning layup with 7.3 seconds left in the game. Nikola Vucevic responded with 26 points and 6 rebounds, but he wasn’t enough.
Luka’s 31 points aren’t sufficient against Toronto
Despite being ejected in the third quarter after receiving his second technical foul of the night, Giannis Antetokounmpo went still close to a double-double with 15 points and 9 rebounds in Milwaukee’s 120-118 win against Detroit.
Facing Jonas Valanciunas in a big men showdown, Rudy Gobert had the better of the Lithuanian with a monster double-double of 17 points and 21 rebounds, while the former Toronto Raptors center only had 8 points and 6 rebounds in New Orleans’ 122-101 loss against Minnesota.
Luka Doncic had his usual all-around game with 31 points, 7 rebounds, and 8 assists, but Dallas lost by 11 (127-116) at home against the Raptors, dragged by O.G. Anunoby’s 26 points in the making. Dennis Schroder led the Canadians from the playmaking spot with 18 points and 5 rebounds. Jakob Poeltl didn’t have the best of nights with 4 points and 6 rebounds, but he got the win.
Powering Houston to the 128-94 win over the Los Angeles Lakers with 19 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, Alperen Sengun had a pretty good night as well. Santi Aldama tried off the bench for Memphis with 12 points and 8 rebounds but ended on a losing note against the Miami Heat.
Deni Avdija keeps struggling from the field (3/10 FG) and delivered 9 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists in Washington’s 132-116 win on the road over Charlotte. Coming off the bench, Danilo Gallinari had 18 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists with 4/7 from deep. Theo Maledon had 9 points in the Hornets‘ loss.
The Los Angeles Clippers lost to Brooklyn in James Harden’s confrontation with his former team, but Ivica Zubac still went away with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds. Lauri Markkanen went close to a double-double with 24 points and 9 rebounds, but Utah suffered a 16-point loss against Indiana. Simone Fontecchio added 10 points and 5 rebounds for the Jazz.
Finally, both Sasha Vezenkov and Filip Petrusev didn’t play for the Sacramento Kings in the 121-118 tough win in overtime against Portland, but Domantas Sabonis powered up his team by flirting with a triple-double. The Lithuanian had 27 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists on 11/14 from the field.
Domantas Sabonis showed out in the Kings‘ OT win tonight 💪
27 PTS, 11 REB, 9 AST, 11/14 FG pic.twitter.com/RhQIffrBqB
— NBA (@NBA) November 9, 2023
NBA Night Results
Charlotte Hornets – Washington Wizards 116-132
Indiana Pacers – Utah Jazz 134-118
Philadelphia 76ers – Boston Celtics 106-103
Brooklyn Nets – Los Angeles Clippers 100-93
New York Knicks – San Antonio Spurs 126-105
Chicago Bulls – Phoenix Suns 115-116 OT
Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Lakers 128-94
Memphis Grizzlies – Miami Heat 102-108
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 120-118
Minnesota Timberwolves – New Orleans Pelicans 122-101
Oklahoma City Thunder – Cleveland Cavaliers 128-120
Dallas Mavericks – Toronto Raptors 116-127
Denver Nuggets – Golden State Warriors 108-105
Sacramento Kings – Portland Trail Blazers 121-118 OT
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 6-1
2. Boston Celtics 5-2
3. Milwaukee Bucks 5-2
4. Indiana Pacers 5-3
5. Atlanta Hawks 4-3
6. Orlando Magic 4-3
7. Brooklyn Nets 4-4
8. New York Knicks 4-4
9. Toronto Raptors 4-4
10. Miami Heat 4-4
11. Cleveland Cavaliers 3-5
12. Chicago Bulls 3-6
13. Charlotte Hornets 2-5
14. Washington Wizards 2-5
15. Detroit Pistons 2-7
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 8-1
2. Dallas Mavericks 6-2
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 5-2
4. Golden State Warriors 6-3
5. Oklahoma City Thunder 5-3
6. Houston Rockets 4-3
7. Phoenix Suns 4-4
8. New Orleans Pelicans 4-4
9. Sacramento Kings 3-4
10. Los Angeles Clippers 3-4
11. San Antonio Spurs 3-5
12. Los Angeles Lakers 3-5
13. Portland Trail Blazers 3-5
14. Utah Jazz 2-7
15. Memphis Grizzlies 1-7
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images