By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Giannis Antetokounmpo paved the way for the Milwaukee Bucks in the win, 129-118, against the Golden State Warriors in Fiserv Forum. Starring on NBA Saturdays, the Greek Freak registered 33 points behind 13/22 field goals combined with nine rebounds and five assists. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not get playing time. For the visitors, Croatian Dario Saric put in 12 points, six assists, six rebounds, and one steal in a start, but Spanish Usman Garuba did not leave the bench.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double plus seven assists and two blocks as the New Orleans Pelicans prevailed, 118-108, over the Dallas Mavericks in American Airlines Center. For the hosts, Slovenian Luka Doncic (right ankle sprain) missed a second straight game, but German Maxi Kleber (right small toe dislocation) returned with two points, two rebounds, one assist, and one block after sitting out nearly two months.
In Delta Center, the Utah Jazz rallied past the Los Angeles Lakers, 132-125. Finnish Lauri Markkanen ended up with a team-high 29 points alongside nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. Fellow starter, Italian Simone Fontecchio had four assists and four rebounds. Croatian Luka Samanic and Turkish Omer Yurtseven did not play.
More NBA Saturdays games and European showings
Boston Celtics – Houston Rockets 145-113 (Kristaps Porzingis 17pts, 7reb, 5ast, 3blk, 1stl, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 6pts, 1reb, Neemias Queta INA – Alperen Sengun 19pts, 10reb, 4stl, 3ast, Boban Marjanovic 2pts, 3reb)
Atlanta Hawks – Washington Wizards 99-127 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 14pts, 3reb, 3stl, 2ast, Clint Capela 4pts, 8reb, 1blk, Vit Krejci INJ – Deni Avdija 19pts, 14reb, 9ast, 1stl, 1blk, Bilal Coulibaly 12pts, 6reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk, Danilo Gallinari DNP)
Memphis Grizzlies – New York Knicks 94-106 (Santi Aldama INJ – O.G. Anunoby 18pts, 5reb, 4blk, 2ast, 1stl, Isaiah Hartenstein 12pts, 20reb, 4blk, 2ast, 2stl)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Orlando Magic 112-100 (Vasilije Micic 7pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, Ousmane Dieng 2reb, Davis Bertans DNP, Olivier Sarr ILL, Aleksej Pokusevski INA – Goga Bitadze 8pts, 9reb, 2ast, 2stl, Moritz Wagner 4pts, 4reb, 2ast, 1blk, Admiral Schofield DNP, Franz Wagner INJ)
San Antonio Spurs – Chicago Bulls 116-122 (Jeremy Sochan 11pts, 7reb, 2ast, Cedi Osman 9pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, Sandro Mamukelashvili 8pts, 8reb, 2blk, 1ast, 1stl, Sidy Cissoko INJ, Victor Wembanyama INJ – Nikola Vucevic 24pts, 16reb, 5ast, 3blk, Onuralp Bitim INA)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 30-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 27-12
3. Philadelphia 76ers 24-13
4. Indiana Pacers 23-15
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 22-15
6. New York Knicks 23-16
7. Miami Heat 22-16
8. Orlando Magic 22-16
9. Chicago Bulls 21-18
10. Brooklyn Nets 19-22
11. Atlanta Hawks 15-23
12. Toronto Raptors 15-24
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-28
14. Washington Wizards 7-31
15. Detroit Pistons 3-36
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 27-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-11
3. Denver Nuggets 27-13
4. Los Angeles Clippers 25-13
5. Sacramento Kings 23-15
6. New Orleans Pelicans 24-16
7. Dallas Mavericks 23-17
8. Phoenix Suns 20-18
9. Utah Jazz 21-20
10. Houston Rockets 19-19
11. Los Angeles Lakers 19-21
12. Golden State Warriors 18-21
13. Memphis Grizzlies 14-25
14. Portland Trail Blazers 10-28
15. San Antonio Spurs 7-31
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images