By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After sitting out one game, Victor Wembanyama drew up a spectacular performance, focusing his unique stretch inside the paint.
Despite the French prodigy posting a 26-point, 13-rebound double-double alongside five blocks, two assists, and two steals, the San Antonio Spurs lost to the Atlanta Hawks, 109-99, in State Farm Arena. Wemby made 11/13 two-pointers, including multiple dunks, as his side fell to 7-32 in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
Polish Jeremy Sochan finished with 23 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and two steals. Turkish Cedi Osman had three points and one rebound. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili did not generate a stat. French Sidy Cissoko (left ankle sprain) was sidelined.
For the hosts, Swiss Clint Capela ended up with a 13-point, 11-rebound double-double and four blocks. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic went for five points, two rebounds, one steal, and one assist. Czech Vit Krejci (left shoulder subluxation) stayed on the injury list.
Markkanen, Porzingis, and more
In Delta Center, the Utah Jazz routed the Indiana Pacers, 132-105, for a sixth consecutive victory. Finnish Lauri Markkanen logged a game-high 32 points behind 10/15 field goals plus ten rebounds and three assists. Italian Simone Fontecchio added eight points, four rebounds, and two assists. In brief outings, Turkish Omer Yurtseven grabbed two rebounds and Croatian Luka Samanic pulled down one rebound.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis tallied 15 points, six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks as the Boston Celtics beat the Toronto Raptors, 105-96, in Scotiabank Arena. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Portuguese Neemias Queta did not play. On the opposite end, German Dennis Schroder recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and Austrian Jakob Poeltl (left ankle sprain) remained on the injury list.
More games and European showings
Philadelphia 76ers – Houston Rockets 124-115 (Nicolas Batum 5pts, 5reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk, Furkan Korkmaz 2pts – Alperen Sengun 19pts, 9reb, 6ast, 2blk, 1ast, Boban Marjanovic DNP)
Dallas Mavericks – New Orleans Pelicans 125-120 (Maxi Kleber 4pts, 5reb, 2blk, 1ast, Luka Doncic INJ – Jonas Valanciunas 6pts, 6reb, 2ast, 2blk)
New York Knicks – Orlando Magic 94-98 (O.G. Anunoby 16pts, 4ast, 2reb, Isaiah Hartenstein 7pts, 12reb, 3ast, Evan Fournier DNP – Goga Bitadze 3pts, 11reb, 3ast, Moritz Wagner DNP, Franz Wagner INJ, Admiral Schofield INA)
Washington Wizards – Detroit Pistons 117-129 (Deni Avdija 12pts, 4ast, 2reb, 2blk, Bilal Coulibaly 2pts, 4reb, 2ast – Killian Hayes 4pts, 6ast, 1reb, Bojan Bogdanovic INJ, Malcolm Cazalon INA, Danilo Gallinari TRD)
Memphis Grizzlies – Golden State Warriors 116-107 (Santi Aldama 11pts, 6reb, 3blk, 1ast – Dario Saric 13pts, 7reb, 3ast, 1blk, Usman Garuba INA)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Chicago Bulls 109-91 (Nikola Vucevic 17pts, 10reb, 4ast, Onuralp Bitim INA)
Brooklyn Nets – Miami Heat 95-96 OT (Nikola Jovic 5pts, 3reb, 2ast)
Los Angeles Lakers – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-105 (Vasilije Micic 6pts, 1reb, 1ast, Ousmane Dieng 5pts, 3reb, Davis Bertans DNP, Olivier Sarr DNP, Aleksej Pokusevski INA)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 31-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 28-12
3. Philadelphia 76ers 25-13
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 23-15
5. Miami Heat 24-16
6. Indiana Pacers 23-17
7. New York Knicks 23-17
8. Orlando Magic 22-18
9. Chicago Bulls 19-23
10. Brooklyn Nets 16-23
11. Atlanta Hawks 16-23
12. Toronto Raptors 15-25
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-29
14. Washington Wizards 7-32
15. Detroit Pistons 4-36
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 28-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-12
3. Denver Nuggets 28-13
4. Los Angeles Clippers 25-14
5. Sacramento Kings 23-16
6. Dallas Mavericks 24-17
7. New Orleans Pelicans 24-17
8. Phoenix Suns 21-18
9. Utah Jazz 22-20
10. Los Angeles Lakers 20-21
11. Houston Rockets 19-20
12. Golden State Warriors 18-22
13. Memphis Grizzlies 15-25
14. Portland Trail Blazers 10-29
15. San Antonio Spurs 7-32
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images