By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Less than two weeks after the previous win against the defending NBA champions, the Houston Rockets did it again on Friday evening. Retaining hopes to win West’s Group B of the NBA In-Season Tournament was the additional prize.
Another brilliant performance by Turkish upstart Alperen Sengun in the 105-86 victory versus the Denver Nuggets. His 21-point, 18-rebound double-double was paired with eight assists, two steals, and one block. Serbian teammate Boban Marjanovic did not play. Jalen Green recorded the team-high 25 points in the eighth win over nine home games in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
Visiting the Toyota Center, Serbian Nikola Jokic went for 38 points, 19 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals. But he was not enough to prevent the drop to 10-6 with a fifth loss in seven games. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) remained sidelined, projected to miss the entire season.
Giannis shakes off illness in a narrow win
Initially labeled as questionable to play due to an illness, Giannis Antetokounmpo put in 31 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Milwaukee Bucks in the win, 131-128, over the Washington Wizards. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not check in for the team coached by Adrian Griffin.
French Bilal Coulibaly (left knee contusion) sat out for the Wizards. Coming off the bench, Italian Danilo Gallinari finished with seven points, four rebounds, and one assist. Israeli Deni Avdija produced two points, five assists, and five rebounds in Fiserv Forum.
The losing streak continues for Wemby, Spurs
In Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors held on to defeat the San Antonio Spurs, 118-112. French Victor Wembanyama was not enough for the visitors despite 22 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal over 35 minutes.
Turkish Cedi Osman ended up with 11 points in the 11th straight loss for the Spurs. Polish Jeremy Sochan tallied seven points, six rebounds, and four assists. However, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili did not play and French Sidy Cissoko was on assignment.
Coming off the bench for the team guided by Steve Kerr, Croatian Dario Saric threw in 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Spanish Usman Garuba did not suit up.
More action and European showings
Orlando Magic – Boston Celtics 113-96 (Moritz Wagner 27pts, 3reb, Franz Wagner 17pts, 8reb, 6ast, 1blk, Goga Bitadze 6pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk, Admiral Schofield DNP – Kristaps Porzingis 9pts, 4reb, 2ast, 2stl, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk DNP, Neemias Queta INA)
Memphis Grizzlies – Phoenix Suns 89-110 (Santi Aldama 21pts, 5reb – Jusuf Nurkic 6pts, 11reb, 6ast, 2stl, 2blk)
New York Knicks – Miami Heat 100-98 (Isaiah Hartenstein 2pts, 5reb, 2stl, 1ast, 1blk, Evan Fournier DNP, Duane Washington Jr. INA – Nikola Jovic INA)
Toronto Raptors – Chicago Bulls 121-108 (O.G. Anunoby 26pts, 6reb, 3ast, 1stl, Dennis Schroder 17pts, 5ast, Jakob Poeltl 15pts, 10reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk – Nikola Vucevic 9pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1stl, Onuralp Bitim INA)
Indiana Pacers – Detroit Pistons 136-113 (Killian Hayes 6pts, 3ast, Malcolm Cazalon INA, Bojan Bogdanovic INJ)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Sacramento Kings 111-124 (Rudy Gobert 12pts, 11reb, 2blk, Luka Garza INA – Domantas Sabonis 15pts, 11reb, 5ast, 3blk, 2stl, Filip Petrusev DNP, Sasha Vezenkov DNP, Alex Len INJ)
Los Angeles Clippers – New Orleans Pelicans 106-116 (Ivica Zubac 11pts, 5reb, 1blk, Daniel Theis 3pts, 4reb, 3blk, 2ast, Moussa Diabate DNP – Jonas Valanciunas 12pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 12-4
2. Orlando Magic 11-5
3. Milwaukee Bucks 11-5
4. Philadelphia 76ers 10-5
5. Miami Heat 10-6
6. Indiana Pacers 9-6
7. New York Knicks 9-6
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-7
9. Toronto Raptors 8-8
10. Atlanta Hawks 7-7
11. Brooklyn Nets 6-8
12. Charlotte Hornets 5-9
13. Chicago Bulls 5-12
14. Washington Wizards 2-13
15. Detroit Pistons 2-14
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-4
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-4
3. Dallas Mavericks 10-5
4. Phoenix Suns 10-6
5. Denver Nuggets 10-6
6. Sacramento Kings 9-6
7. Houston Rockets 8-6
8. New Orleans Pelicans 9-7
9. Los Angeles Lakers 9-7
10. Golden State Warriors 8-9
11. Los Angeles Clippers 6-8
12. Portland Trail Blazers 4-11
13. Utah Jazz 4-11
14. Memphis Grizzlies 3-12
15. San Antonio Spurs 3-13
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
In-Season Tournament
Eastern Conference
Group A
1. y-Indiana Pacers 4-0
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 2-1
3. Philadelphia 76ers 2-2
4. Atlanta Hawks 1-2
5. x-Detroit Pistons 0-4
Group B
1. Milwaukee Bucks 3-0
2. New York Knicks 2-1
3. Miami Heat 2-1
4. Charlotte Hornets 1-2
5. x-Washington Wizards 0-4
Group C
1. Orlando Magic 3-1
2. Boston Celtics 2-1
3. Brooklyn Nets 2-1
4. x-Toronto Raptors 1-2
5. x-Chicago Bulls 0-3
Western Conference
Group A
1. y-Los Angeles Lakers 4-0
2. Phoenix Suns 3-1
3. x-Utah Jazz 2-2
4. x-Portland Trail Blazers 1-3
5. x-Memphis Grizzlies 0-4
Group B
1. New Orleans Pelicans 3-1
2. Houston Rockets 2-1
3. x-Denver Nuggets 2-2
4. x-Dallas Mavericks 1-2
5. x-Los Angeles Clippers 1-3
Group C
1. Sacramento Kings 3-0
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-1
3. Golden State Warriors 2-1
4. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 1-2
5. x-San Antonio Spurs 0-4
-Top seed of each group and best runner-up of each conference advance
y-clinched berth in Quarterfinals
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: Getty Images