By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Posting a triple-double, his seventh in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season, Luka Doncic fell short of enjoying a win in Crypto.com Arena.
The Slovenian star recorded 33 points, 13 rebounds, and ten assists plus two blocks and two steals as the Dallas Mavericks lost, 127-110, to the Los Angeles Lakers. Due to a sprained right ankle, he sat out the three previous games. Limited to 2/9 three-pointers, bouncing back was met with struggling from beyond the arc. He played 36 minutes.
Coming off the bench, German teammate Maxi Kleber finished with six points, three assists, two blocks, and one rebound over 21 minutes.
Wemby drops 27 points in a loss
Introducing himself to the TD Garden, Victor Wembanyama scored 27 points as the San Antonio Spurs fell, 117-98, to the Boston Celtics. The French prodigy made 10/19 field goals, besides tallying five rebounds, one assist, and one block over 27 minutes.
Polish Jeremy Sochan was held to five points and 2/9 shots alongside seven rebounds, four assists, three steals, and one block. Turkish Cedi Osman finished with two points, five rebounds, and one assist, and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili produced two points and two rebounds. French Sidy Cissoko (left ankle sprain) stayed on the injury list.
For the winning side, Portuguese Neemias Queta chipped in six points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not get on the board. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (right knee inflammation) was sidelined.
Sengun posts a double-double in New York
Turkish Alperen Sengun made 7/16 field goals en route to an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Houston Rockets in the loss, 109-94, to the New York Knicks. Lasting 40 minutes, he added five assists, four blocks, and one steal. Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not play in the Madison Square Garden.
For the Knicks, British O.G. Anunoby put in 15 points, five rebounds, four steals, and one block. German Isaiah Hartenstein added seven points, 11 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and two blocks. In contrast to the two starters, French Evan Fournier once more stayed on the bench.
More games and European showings
Detroit Pistons – Minnesota Timberwolves 117-124 (Bojan Bogdanovic 20pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1blk, Killian Hayes 8pts, 8ast, 1reb, Danilo Gallinari DNP, Malcolm Cazalon INJ – Rudy Gobert 19pts, 16reb, 2ast, 1blk, Luka Garza DNP)
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 106-104 (Bogdan Bogdanovic 12pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Clint Capela 12pts, reb, 1stl, Vit Krejci INJ – Goga Bitadze 10pts, 10reb, 3ast, 2blk, 1stl, Moritz Wagner DNP, Admiral Schofield INJ, Franz Wagner INJ)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Milwaukee Bucks 135-95 (Thanasis Antetokounmpo 1ast, 1blk, Giannis Antetokounmpo INJ)
Toronto Raptors – Miami Heat 121-97 (Dennis Schroder 9pts, 6as, 1reb, 1stl, Jakob Poeltl INJ – Nikola Jovic 10pts, 7reb, 2ast, 1blk)
New Orleans Pelicans – Charlotte Hornets 132-112 (Jonas Valanciunas 4pts, 7reb – Frank Ntilikina 1reb, 1ast)
Utah Jazz – Golden State Warriors PPD
Portland Trail Blazers – Brooklyn Nets 105-103 (Toumani Camara 6pts, 6reb, 1ast, Rayan Rupert DNP)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 32-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 28-13
3. Philadelphia 76ers 26-13
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 24-15
5. New York Knicks 24-17
6. Miami Heat 24-17
7. Indiana Pacers 23-17
8. Orlando Magic 22-19
9. Chicago Bulls 19-23
10. Atlanta Hawks 17-23
11. Brooklyn Nets 16-24
12. Toronto Raptors 16-25
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-30
14. Washington Wizards 7-32
15. Detroit Pistons 4-37
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 29-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-13
3. Denver Nuggets 28-14
4. Los Angeles Clippers 26-14
5. New Orleans Pelicans 25-17
6. Sacramento Kings 23-17
7. Dallas Mavericks 24-18
8. Phoenix Suns 22-18
9. Utah Jazz 22-20
10. Los Angeles Lakers 21-21
11. Houston Rockets 19-21
12. Golden State Warriors 18-22
13. Memphis Grizzlies 15-25
14. Portland Trail Blazers 11-29
15. San Antonio Spurs 7-33
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images