By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Crypto.com Arena, formerly known as Staples Center, witnessed another great performance from Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic.
The two-time NBA MVP flirted with a triple-double in a 106-114 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, marking the third consecutive road victory against the LA franchise for the current champions.
Jokic finished the match with 24 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists on 9-20 shooting from the field as the Denver Nuggets improved to 36-16.
At the same time, in another legendary arena, Luka Doncic dominated as well. The Slovenian superstar also flirted with a triple-double as the Dallas Mavericks defeated the New York Knicks 108-122 at Madison Square Garden.
Luka ended the match with 39 points, 11 assists, and eight rebounds on 13-24 shooting from the field, including 7-14 from beyond the arc.
He also had four steals and one block, recording his fifth 35/5/10 game with 5+ steals. Only James Harden has more as an active player.
“They were playing very aggressively, and we had to win this game no matter what,” Doncic said.
As for other European players, Franz Wagner recorded 34 points with seven rebounds and assists in a 127-111 Orlando Magic win over the San Antonio Spurs, and Victor Wembanyama had 15 points.
Nikola Vucevic had 20 points and 10 rebounds in the Chicago Bulls’ 110-118 road win over the Memphis Grizzlies, and Santi Aldama added 15 points for the hosts.
The Milwaukee Bucks suffered another defeat under the guidance of Doc Rivers, with Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring just 17 points in a heavy 105-129 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, and Rudy Gobert had a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds.
NBA results:
Indiana Pacers – Golden State Warriors 109-131 (Saric 11p, 7r)
Orlando Magic – San Antonio Spurs 127-111 (F. Wagner 34p, 7r, 7as, M. Wagner 11p – Wemby 15p, Sochan 9p, Osman 3p)
Brooklyn Nets – Cleveland Cavs 95-118
New York Knicks – Dallas Mavs 108-122 (Hartenstein 10p – Doncic 39p, 8r, 11as, Kleber 2p)
Memphis Grizzlies – Chicago Bulls 110-118 (Aldama 15p – Vucevic 20p, 10r)
Milwaukee Bucks – Minnesota 105-129 (Giannis 17p, 7as – Gobert 16p, 11r)
Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz 129-115 (Nurkic 16p, 8r – Markkanen 22p)
LA Lakers – Denver Nuggets 106-114 (Jokic 24p, 13r, 9as)
Portland Trail Blazers – Detroit Pistons 122-128 OT (Camara 9p, 10r)
Standings via NBA.com
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
39 | 12 | .765 | — | 26-6 | 11-1 | 24-3 | 15-9 | 2-3 | 7-3 | W 2 |
| 2
|
34 | 16 | .680 | 4.5 | 22-10 | 7-4 | 18-8 | 16-8 | 2-0 | 9-1 | W 8 |
| 3
|
33 | 19 | .635 | 6.5 | 24-12 | 9-7 | 21-6 | 12-13 | 2-1 | 4-6 | L 3 |
| 4
|
33 | 19 | .635 | 6.5 | 22-10 | 6-3 | 19-7 | 14-12 | 0-0 | 8-2 | L 1 |
| 5
|
30 | 20 | .600 | 8.5 | 19-12 | 5-4 | 17-9 | 13-11 | 0-2 | 3-7 | L 3 |
| 6
|
29 | 24 | .547 | 11 | 22-13 | 9-2 | 17-11 | 12-13 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 7
|
28 | 24 | .538 | 11.5 | 20-15 | 11-2 | 15-12 | 13-12 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
| 8
|
28 | 24 | .538 | 11.5 | 18-14 | 6-5 | 16-7 | 12-17 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 9
|
25 | 27 | .481 | 14.5 | 14-17 | 3-6 | 15-12 | 10-15 | 5-2 | 6-4 | W 2 |
| 10
|
22 | 29 | .431 | 17 | 13-21 | 6-5 | 12-14 | 10-15 | 3-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 11
|
20 | 31 | .392 | 19 | 14-15 | 2-5 | 12-16 | 8-15 | 0-3 | 3-7 | L 3 |
| 12
|
18 | 33 | .353 | 21 | 12-21 | 0-11 | 10-13 | 8-20 | 1-2 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 13
|
10 | 40 | .200 | 28.5 | 7-24 | 3-6 | 5-21 | 5-19 | 1-1 | 1-9 | L 9 |
| 14
|
9 | 41 | .180 | 29.5 | 6-29 | 2-10 | 3-22 | 6-19 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 4 |
| 15
|
8 | 43 | .157 | 31 | 5-25 | 1-10 | 4-23 | 4-20 | 1-2 | 4-6 | W 2 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1
|
36 | 16 | .692 | — | 24-8 | 6-2 | 19-5 | 17-11 | 1-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 2
|
36 | 16 | .692 | — | 20-11 | 4-5 | 21-4 | 15-12 | 0-0 | 8-2 | W 3 |
| 3
|
35 | 16 | .686 | 0.5 | 21-12 | 10-4 | 20-6 | 15-10 | 3-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 4
|
34 | 16 | .680 | 1 | 21-12 | 7-3 | 19-5 | 15-11 | 0-1 | 8-2 | L 1 |
| 5
|
31 | 21 | .596 | 5 | 18-14 | 5-7 | 16-11 | 15-10 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 3 |
| 6
|
30 | 21 | .588 | 5.5 | 21-17 | 7-6 | 15-10 | 15-11 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 4 |
| 7
|
29 | 21 | .580 | 6 | 18-13 | 6-5 | 14-9 | 15-12 | 3-1 | 6-4 | L 2 |
| 8
|
29 | 23 | .558 | 7 | 18-18 | 7-5 | 14-13 | 15-10 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 3 |
| 9
|
27 | 26 | .509 | 9.5 | 18-17 | 6-4 | 17-9 | 10-17 | 2-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 10
|
26 | 27 | .491 | 10.5 | 13-19 | 5-6 | 17-7 | 9-20 | 2-2 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 11
|
24 | 25 | .490 | 10.5 | 12-19 | 3-8 | 13-13 | 11-12 | 1-4 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 12
|
23 | 27 | .460 | 12 | 16-13 | 7-3 | 18-9 | 5-18 | 1-4 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 13
|
18 | 34 | .346 | 18 | 12-23 | 6-6 | 5-19 | 13-15 | 1-1 | 3-7 | L 7 |
| 14
|
15 | 36 | .294 | 20.5 | 6-28 | 1-9 | 9-14 | 6-22 | 3-3 | 3-7 | L 3 |
| 15
|
10 | 42 | .192 | 26 | 7-21 | 1-8 | 5-21 | 5-21 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 6 |