By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Joel Embiid dominated the Los Angeles Lakers with a triple-double, scoring 30 points and contributing 11 rebounds and assists in a decisive 138-94 victory for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Nicolas Batum added 10 points, seven rebounds, and four assists for the winning side, while Turkish international Furkan Korkmaz chipped in with five points and three assists.
Embiid and the Sixers spoiled LeBron James’ record-breaking night, as the King became the player with the most minutes played in NBA history.
In another game, the Denver Nuggets pulled off a surprising 104-113 turnaround win on the road against the Los Angeles Clippers, despite missing key players Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Aaron Gordon.
Despite Ivica Zubac’s dominant performance under the rims, and the Clippers having an 88-77 lead after three quarters, the Nuggets, led by Reggie Jackson and DeAndre Jordan, managed to stage an impressive comeback.
Zubac finished as the second-highest scorer for the Clippers with 23 points and 14 rebounds. Jackson and Jordan stepped up admirably, filling the roles of Jokic and Murray for the Colorado team. The experienced U.S. guard notched 35 points and 13 assists on an efficient 15/19 shooting, while the veteran center recorded a double-double against his former team with 21 points and 13 rebounds.
Notable performances from European players included Deni Avdija and Danilo Gallinari, both scoring 16 points in the Washington Wizards‘ 107-126 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Simone Fontecchio had a solid outing with 14 points, and Omer Yurtseven scored seven with 10 rebounds in the Utah Jazz‘s narrow 114-112 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Jonas Valanciunas contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds for the losing side.
NBA results:
Detroit – Washington 107-126 (Hayes 4r, 3as – Avdija 16p, Gallinari 16p, Coulibaly 5p, 4r)
Indiana – Portland 110-114 (Camara 5p)
Philadelphia – LA Lakers 138-94 (Embiid 30p, 11r, 11as, Batum 10p, 7r, Korkmaz 5p)
Utah – New Orleans 114-112 (Fontecchio 14p, Yurtseven 7p, 10r – Valanciunas 14p, 13r)
LA Clippers – Denver 104-113 (Zubac 23p, 14r, Theis 4p)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 13-4
2. Orlando Magic 12-5
3. Milwaukee Bucks 12-5
4. Philadelphia 76ers 12-5
5. Miami Heat 10-7
6. New York Knicks 9-7
7. Indiana Pacers 9-7
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-8
9. Atlanta Hawks 8-8
10. Brooklyn Nets 8-8
11. Toronto Raptors 8-9
12. Charlotte Hornets 5-10
13. Chicago Bulls 5-13
14. Washington Wizards 3-14
15. Detroit Pistons 2-15
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 12-4
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-5
3. Denver Nuggets 12-6
4. Phoenix Suns 11-6
5. Dallas Mavericks 10-6
6. Sacramento Kings 9-6
7. Houston Rockets 8-6
8. Los Angeles Lakers 10-8
9. New Orleans Pelicans 9-9
10. Golden State Warriors 8-9
11. Los Angeles Clippers 7-9
12. Utah Jazz 6-11
13. Portland Trail Blazers 5-12
14. Memphis Grizzlies 3-13
15. San Antonio Spurs 3-14
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins