By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic went close to the umpteenth triple-double of the season, scoring 34 points with 12 rebounds and 9 assists, shooting 14/22 from the field and 4/4 at the charity stripe, joining Jamal Murray, who ended with 35 points.
Just a few days after his former coach Dejan Milosevic passed away, the Serbian back-to-back NBA MVP shone. “The last couple of days, just been supporting him, comforting him, hugging him. Nikola went out there and he honored Dejan’s memory and his legacy, by playing at the level he played at. Not easy to do with a heavy heart. But Nikola is a special person”, Mike Malone commented.
On the losing end, Kristaps Porzingis had 21 points and 8 rebounds with 6/11 from the field and 3/5 from beyond the arc.
Elsewhere, Jusuf Nurkic had 5 points, 15 rebounds, and 9 rebounds over Jonas Valanciunas – who finished with 16 points, 11 rebounds, and 3 assists – in Phoenix’s victory over New Orleans.
NBA Results and other European performances
Charlotte Hornets – San Antonio Spurs 124-120 (Sochan 11 p, 8 r, 8 a; Osman 5 p, 3 r)
Orlando Magic – Philadelphia 76ers 109-124 (Mo Wagner 4 p, 2 r; Bitadze 2 p, 2 r, 2 a; Batum 3p, 5 a)
Boston Celtics – Denver Nuggets 100-102
Miami Heat – Atlanta Hawks 108-109 (Capela 9 p, 11 r; Bogdanovic 17 p)
New Orleans Pelicans – Phoenix Suns 109-123
Portland Trail Blazers – Indiana Pacers 118-115
Los Angeles Lakers – Brooklyn Nets 112-130
Standings (via NBA.com)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
32 | 10 | .762 | — | 23-6 | 11-1 | 20-1 | 12-9 | 2-3 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 2
|
28 | 13 | .683 | 3.5 | 21-11 | 6-6 | 19-4 | 9-9 | 2-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 3
|
27 | 13 | .675 | 4 | 18-10 | 5-3 | 16-6 | 11-7 | 0-2 | 6-4 | W 4 |
| 4
|
24 | 15 | .615 | 6.5 | 16-9 | 5-3 | 15-8 | 9-7 | 2-0 | 8-2 | W 6 |
| 5
|
25 | 17 | .595 | 7 | 17-10 | 4-3 | 13-5 | 12-12 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| 6
|
24 | 18 | .571 | 8 | 18-12 | 9-1 | 12-8 | 12-10 | 1-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| 7
|
24 | 18 | .571 | 8 | 20-11 | 9-2 | 13-8 | 11-10 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 8
|
22 | 20 | .524 | 10 | 16-12 | 5-4 | 13-6 | 9-14 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| 9
|
20 | 23 | .465 | 12.5 | 13-16 | 3-6 | 13-10 | 7-13 | 4-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 10
|
18 | 23 | .439 | 13.5 | 12-19 | 6-5 | 8-11 | 10-12 | 2-1 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 11
|
17 | 24 | .415 | 14.5 | 13-13 | 1-4 | 10-10 | 7-14 | 0-3 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 12
|
16 | 26 | .381 | 16 | 10-19 | 0-10 | 10-11 | 6-15 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 13
|
9 | 30 | .231 | 21.5 | 7-18 | 3-6 | 5-13 | 4-17 | 1-1 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 14
|
7 | 33 | .175 | 24 | 5-27 | 2-9 | 3-14 | 4-19 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 15
|
4 | 37 | .098 | 27.5 | 4-20 | 1-7 | 2-18 | 2-19 | 0-2 | 2-8 | L 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
30 | 11 | .732 | — | 21-6 | 5-1 | 17-2 | 13-9 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 4 |
| 2
|
28 | 13 | .683 | 2 | 16-10 | 7-2 | 16-5 | 12-8 | 2-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 3
|
29 | 14 | .674 | 2 | 17-10 | 2-4 | 17-4 | 12-10 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 4
|
26 | 14 | .650 | 3.5 | 20-11 | 6-3 | 17-4 | 9-10 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 1 |
| 5
|
25 | 18 | .581 | 6 | 17-16 | 5-6 | 13-9 | 12-9 | 0-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 6
|
24 | 18 | .571 | 6.5 | 18-15 | 7-5 | 13-9 | 11-9 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 7
|
23 | 18 | .561 | 7 | 15-13 | 5-5 | 13-8 | 10-10 | 3-1 | 4-6 | L 4 |
| 8
|
23 | 18 | .561 | 7 | 16-14 | 5-7 | 12-11 | 11-7 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 4 |
| 9
|
22 | 21 | .512 | 9 | 12-16 | 4-6 | 15-6 | 7-15 | 2-1 | 8-2 | L 1 |
| 10
|
21 | 22 | .488 | 10 | 16-14 | 5-3 | 15-8 | 6-14 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 11
|
19 | 21 | .475 | 10.5 | 14-10 | 7-2 | 15-6 | 4-15 | 0-3 | 4-6 | L 3 |
| 12
|
18 | 22 | .450 | 11.5 | 11-17 | 3-6 | 11-11 | 7-11 | 1-2 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| 13
|
15 | 26 | .366 | 15 | 12-21 | 6-6 | 4-15 | 11-11 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 14
|
12 | 29 | .293 | 18 | 5-23 | 1-6 | 7-12 | 5-17 | 2-2 | 3-7 | W 2 |
| 15
|
7 | 34 | .171 | 23 | 5-19 | 1-7 | 3-16 | 4-18 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 4 |
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images
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