By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Rudy Gobert posted a double-double as the Minnesota Timberwolves overpowered the Orlando Magic in Kia Center.
The French center registered 21 points and 12 rebounds alongside three blocks, one assist, and one steal. His side prevailed, 113-92. “The ball pressure, the focus, the energy, the urgency from the first play of the game was at a high level,” Gobert described the team effort leading to 26-10 in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season on Tuesday. Bosnian Luka Garza was inactive.
For the hosts, playing without German Franz Wagner (right ankle sprain), Moritz Wagner finished with 21 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Georgian Goga Bitadze had two points, six rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal. British Admiral Schofield was sidelined due to illness.
Another triple-double by Sabonis
Four triple-doubles in the last six games for Domantas Sabonis. The Lithuanian superstar piled up 37 points, 13 assists, 10 rebounds, and three steals for the Sacramento Kings in the win, 131-110, over the Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena. Ukrainian Alex Len chipped in six points, three rebounds, and one block. Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov did not play.
Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic tallied a team-high 26 points with 10/14 field goals for the Pistons. Starting for injured Cade Cunningham, French Killian Hayes went for four points, seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal. French Malcolm Cazalon was on assignment with the Motor City Cruise.
A rough game for Doncic
Dealing with right ankle swelling, Luka Doncic scored 31 points behind 9/21 field goals as the Dallas Mavericks fell, 120-103, to the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies in American Airlines Center. Lasting 36 minutes, the Slovenian sensation also put in six rebounds, six assists, and three steals.
German Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) and Spanish Santi Aldama (left knee contusion) remained on respective injury lists.
More games and European showings
New York Knicks – Portland Trail Blazers 112-84 (O.G. Anunoby 23pts, 4reb, 1stl, 1blk, Isaiah Hartenstein 5pts, 14reb, 3ast, 3stl, 1blk, Evan Fournier DNP – Toumani Camara 5pts, 6reb, 2ast, 2blk, 1stl, Rayan Rupert 4pts, 5reb, 1ast)
Los Angeles Lakers – Toronto Raptors 132-131 (Dennis Schroder 10pts, 6ast, 2reb, Jakob Poeltl INJ)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 28-8
2. Milwaukee Bucks 25-12
3. Philadelphia 76ers 23-12
4. New York Knicks 22-15
5. Miami Heat 21-15
6. Indiana Pacers 21-15
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 21-15
8. Orlando Magic 21-16
9. Chicago Bulls 17-21
10. Brooklyn Nets 16-21
11. Toronto Raptors 15-22
12. Atlanta Hawks 14-21
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-26
14. Washington Wizards 6-30
15. Detroit Pistons 3-34
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 26-10
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-11
3. Denver Nuggets 26-12
4. Los Angeles Clippers 23-13
5. Sacramento Kings 22-14
6. New Orleans Pelicans 22-15
7. Dallas Mavericks 22-16
8. Houston Rockets 18-17
9. Phoenix Suns 19-18
10. Los Angeles Lakers 19-19
11. Utah Jazz 18-20
12. Golden State Warriors 17-19
13. Memphis Grizzlies 14-23
14. Portland Trail Blazers 10-26
15. San Antonio Spurs 5-30
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images