By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic registered his third triple-double in December by posting 40 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 131 – 120.
This was the fifth triple-double for Doncic in 2023-24 so far and 61st since he moved to the NBA in 2018. Thanks to his performances, the Mavs are 5-1 over their last six games.
“It’s everybody, it’s not just me. All my teammates helped me get to that.” said Doncic. He had 30 of his points by halftime to push the Mavericks towards getting a 74 – 63 lead at the break. “In the first half I just went for it because they didn’t double me. And in the second half they doubled me, so we just played out of that.”
Tim Hardaway added 25 points plus six rebounds for the Mavericks while former EuroLeague guard Dante Exum had 18 points.
Domantas Sabonis flirted with the triple-double as he put on 20 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists to help the Sacramento Kings beat the Utah Jazz 125 – 104 at home.
Half of Sabonis’ assists resulted in 3-pointers by the unstoppable last night Keegan Murray. The Kings wing set a new franchise record 12 triples (out of 15) to finish with 42 points, apart of eight rebounds.
The Jazz couldn’t keep up with Murray and the Kings’ offense overall. Lauri Markkanen had 18 points plus six rebounds while Simone Fontecchio scored seven in an off night (3-9 from the field).
Nikola Jokic’s 24 points, 12 assists and six rebounds would have been enough for the Denver Nuggets against the Oklahoma City Thunder, if not for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s last-second dagger.
Gilgeous-Alexander made a turnaround jumper with just one second left on the game clock to hand the Thunder a 118 – 117 win over the reigning champions on the road.
“I just tried to get to something that I shot many times, something I was comfortable shooting,” Shai said after the game.
Chet Holgrem had 17 points, 11 rebounds and nine (!) blocks for the Thunder. Former EuroLeague MVP Vasilije Micic was DNP, having now made nine appearances over his team’s 24 games.
The rest of Saturday’s results and notable Euro performers:
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 146 – 114 (Giannis Antetokounmpo 22 points/eight rebounds/six assists)
Charlotte Hornets – Philadelphia 76ers 82 – 135
Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 127 – 116
Miami Heat – Chicago Bulls 118 – 116 (Nikola Vucevic 12 points (3-13 shots)/11 rebounds)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Indiana Pacers 127 – 109
Golden State Warriors – Brooklyn Nets 124 – 120 (Dario Saric 12 points, six rebounds)
Los Angeles Clippers – New York Knicks 144 – 122 (Ivica Zubac 13 points, 11 rebounds)
Standings, via NBA.com:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
19 | 5 | .792 | — | 18-4 | 9-1 | 13-0 | 6-5 | 0-2 | 8-2 | W 4 |
| 2
|
18 | 7 | .720 | 1.5 | 16-7 | 5-3 | 13-2 | 5-5 | 1-1 | 8-2 | W 3 |
| 3
|
18 | 7 | .720 | 1.5 | 14-5 | 4-2 | 10-3 | 8-4 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 6 |
| 4
|
16 | 8 | .667 | 3 | 11-5 | 3-1 | 11-2 | 5-6 | 0-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 5
|
15 | 11 | .577 | 5 | 12-10 | 5-0 | 7-5 | 8-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| 6
|
14 | 11 | .560 | 5.5 | 11-6 | 2-3 | 7-3 | 7-8 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 7
|
13 | 11 | .542 | 6 | 11-9 | 6-2 | 7-5 | 6-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 3 |
| 8
|
14 | 12 | .538 | 6 | 10-7 | 2-2 | 7-6 | 7-6 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 9
|
13 | 12 | .520 | 6.5 | 11-8 | 1-3 | 8-5 | 5-7 | 0-1 | 6-4 | L 2 |
| 10
|
10 | 15 | .400 | 9.5 | 7-13 | 3-2 | 3-7 | 7-8 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
| 11
|
10 | 15 | .400 | 9.5 | 6-14 | 0-7 | 7-7 | 3-8 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 1 |
| 12
|
10 | 17 | .370 | 10.5 | 7-11 | 3-3 | 7-7 | 3-10 | 2-2 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 13
|
7 | 17 | .292 | 12 | 7-13 | 3-5 | 4-10 | 3-7 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 4 |
| 14
|
4 | 20 | .167 | 15 | 3-18 | 1-7 | 2-8 | 2-12 | 0-0 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 15
|
2 | 24 | .077 | 18 | 2-16 | 1-7 | 1-12 | 1-12 | 0-0 | 0-10 | L 23 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
19 | 5 | .792 | — | 13-3 | 4-0 | 11-1 | 8-4 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| 2
|
16 | 8 | .667 | 3 | 10-7 | 3-2 | 8-4 | 8-4 | 2-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 3
|
16 | 9 | .640 | 3.5 | 11-7 | 5-2 | 7-5 | 9-4 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 4
|
17 | 10 | .630 | 3.5 | 12-8 | 2-2 | 10-2 | 7-8 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 5
|
15 | 9 | .625 | 4 | 13-9 | 4-4 | 9-3 | 6-6 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 2 |
| 6
|
15 | 10 | .600 | 4.5 | 13-8 | 4-2 | 11-3 | 4-7 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 7 |
| 7
|
13 | 9 | .591 | 5 | 12-8 | 5-2 | 11-1 | 2-8 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 5 |
| 8
|
15 | 11 | .577 | 5 | 12-8 | 4-2 | 10-2 | 5-9 | 1-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 9
|
15 | 11 | .577 | 5 | 10-9 | 3-2 | 9-4 | 6-7 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 10
|
13 | 12 | .520 | 6.5 | 10-8 | 3-4 | 6-8 | 7-4 | 2-0 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 11
|
11 | 14 | .440 | 8.5 | 9-12 | 3-6 | 6-6 | 5-8 | 0-2 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 12
|
9 | 17 | .346 | 11 | 8-14 | 3-5 | 7-5 | 2-12 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 13
|
6 | 18 | .250 | 13 | 5-15 | 2-6 | 1-11 | 5-7 | 0-1 | 3-7 | L 4 |
| 14
|
6 | 18 | .250 | 13 | 2-14 | 1-4 | 2-8 | 4-10 | 1-2 | 3-7 | L 6 |
| 15
|
4 | 20 | .167 | 15 | 4-14 | 1-4 | 2-11 | 2-9 | 1-1 | 1-9 | W 1 |