By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic had 26 points, tied a career-high with 18 assists, and grabbed 16 rebounds for the Nuggets, but the Pelicans held on for a 115-110 victory.
The Serb champion had an amazing game, but Zion Williamson scored 26 points, Brandon Ingram had 21 and New Orleans got the job done.
Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas scored 22 to help the Pelicans win its second straight NBA In-Season Tournament game, improving the Pelicans’ record in West Group B to 2-1 and leaving Denver with the same mark.
De’Aaron Fox scored a season-high 43 points, and the Sacramento Kings overcame 27 points from French rookie Victor Wembanyama to hold off the San Antonio Spurs 129-120.
Lithuanian forward Domantas Sabonis had 27 points and 14 rebounds as Sacramento won its fifth straight, while Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov added five points and four rebounds in 17 minutes of action.
For the Spurs Polish forward, Jeremy Sochan had eight points, eight rebounds, and six assists, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili had six points, three rebounds and three assists and Turkish swingman Cedi Osman added three points and two rebounds.
The Bucks beat Charlotte on the road 130-99 behind Damian Lillard who scored 27 points and remained unbeaten in NBA In-Season Tournament play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo returned from injury and had 16 points, nine assists, and eight rebounds for the Bucks. Greek Freak’s brother Thanasis added two points.
The rest of the day’s results and euro-scorers are the following
RESULTS
Washington – New York 99-120 (Avdjia 18 p. Gallinari 7 p. Coulibaly 6 p – Hartenstein 3 p. Fournier 2 p.)
Atlanta – Philadelphia 116-126 (Capela 17 p. 11 r. Bogdanovic 13 p.)
Detroit – Cleveland 100-108 (Hayes 4 p.)
Toronto – Boston 105-108 (Schroder 23 p. 7 r. 6 as. Poelt 11 p. 8 r. – Porzingis 15 p. 12 r.)
Chicago – Orlando 97-103 (F.Wagner 21 p. Bitadze 2 p. M.Wagner 10 p. – Vucevic 10 p. 10 r.)
Utah – Phoenix 128-131 (Markkanen 21 p. Fontecchio 8 p. – Nurkic 15 p. 7 r.)
Portland – Lakers 95-107 (Camara 10 p.)
Houston – Clippers 100-106 (Sengun 23 p. 10 r. – Zubac 12 p. Theis 2 p.)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 10-2
2. Philadelphia 76ers 9-3
3. Milwaukee Bucks 8-4
4. Miami Heat 8-4
5. Indiana Pacers 7-4
6. New York Knicks 7-5
7. Orlando Magic 7-5
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 6-6
7. Brooklyn Nets 6-6
8. Atlanta Hawks 6-6
11. Toronto Raptors 5-7
12. Chicago Bulls 4-9
13. Charlotte Hornets 3-8
14. Washington Wizards 2-10
15. Detroit Pistons 2-11
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 9-3
2. Dallas Mavericks 9-3
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 8-3
4. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-4
5. Sacramento Kings 7-4
6. Houston Rockets 6-4
7. Los Angeles Lakers 7-6
10. New Orleans Pelicans 6-6
9. Phoenix Suns 6-6
8. Golden State Warriors 6-7
12. Los Angeles Clippers 4-7
11. Utah Jazz 4-8
13. San Antonio Spurs 3-9
14. Portland Trail Blazers 3-9
15. Memphis Grizzlies 2-9
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins