By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Three consecutive triple-doubles for Domantas Sabonis and four straight losses for the Sacramento Kings.
The latest misstep saw the Lithuanian big end up with 21 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. But the Indiana Pacers, his former team, secured the win, 126-121, in Golden 1 Center. Sabonis lasted 38 minutes, connecting 8/13 field goals en route to his 12th triple-double in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season. He became the third player in franchise history with three straight triple-doubles.
Checking in for 11 minutes, Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov tallied seven points, three rebounds, one steal, and one block. Ukrainian Alex Len missed one shot and turned the ball over twice over five minutes.
Markkanen drops 26 points in a losing effort
Moving to Delta Center, Finnish Lauri Markkanen producing 26 points behind 7/13 field goals was not enough for the Utah Jazz. He added ten rebounds, four assists, and one steal in the loss, 134-129, to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Italian Simone Fontecchio finished with 12 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal. Croatian Luka Samanic and Turkish Omer Yurtseven did not play.
The winning side featured Serbian Vasilije Micic at six points and one assist over nine minutes. Latvian Davis Bertans, Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski, and French Olivier Sarr did not leave the bench. French Ousmane Dieng (illness) was ruled out.
Vucevic leads the Bulls
The Chicago Bulls prevailed, 116-110, over the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double plus seven assists, two steals, and one block. Turkish Onuralp Bitim was on assignment with the Windy City Bulls.
For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, German Dennis Schroder combined seven points and five assists. Austrian Jakob Poeltl (left ankle sprain) remained on the injury list.
More games and European showings
New York Knicks – Washington Wizards 113-109 (O.G. Anunoby 19pts, 7reb, 2blk, 1ast, Isaiah Hartenstein 6pts, 17reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk, Evan Fournier 1reb – Deni Avdija 15pts, 8reb, 1ast, Bilal Coulibaly 5pts, 3reb, 2ast)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Memphis Grizzlies 118-103 (Rudy Gobert 17pts, 10reb, 6blk, 4ast, Luka Garza 0pts – Santi Aldama 13pts, 5reb, 1stl, 1blk)
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 25-17
6. Miami Heat 24-17
7. Indiana Pacers 24-17
8. Orlando Magic 22-19
9. Chicago Bulls 20-23
10. Atlanta Hawks 17-23
11. Brooklyn Nets 16-24
12. Toronto Raptors 16-26
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-30
14. Washington Wizards 7-33
15. Detroit Pistons 4-37
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 28-13
3. Denver Nuggets 28-14
4. Los Angeles Clippers 26-14
5. New Orleans Pelicans 25-17
6. Dallas Mavericks 24-18
7. Sacramento Kings 23-18
8. Phoenix Suns 22-18
9. Utah Jazz 22-21
10. Los Angeles Lakers 21-21
11. Houston Rockets 19-21
12. Golden State Warriors 18-22
13. Memphis Grizzlies 15-26
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