By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite missing key players, including Jimmy Butler, the Miami Heat blew out the Milwaukee Bucks in Fiserv Forum on Tuesday.
Serbian Nikola Jovic entered the starting lineup and set his NBA-high at 24 points, also a game-high. “I know how much work I need to put in to be able to play,” noted the native of Leicester after making 8/13 from the field, including five triples in 30 minutes. He added seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Piling up 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 11 assists, Bam Adebayo posted a triple-double helping push the team coached by Erik Spoelstra to 29-25 in the 2023-24 NBA Regular Season.
Greek Freak Giannis Antetokounmpo registered a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double plus eight assists and two blocks. He lasted 34 minutes, tucking in 11/18 field goals. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo had two points and one assist over eight minutes. In close distance from neighboring teams on the Eastern Conference table, the Bucks sit between the Cleveland Cavaliers and New York Knicks, ranked third. Dropping to 35-20 with a sixth loss over nine outings with Doc Rivers in charge, the distance from the leading Boston Celtics increased to 7.5 games.
Sabonis and Gobert extend streaks
The Phoenix Suns overcame Domantas Sabonis and outlasted the Sacramento Kings, 130-125. A third triple-double in a row by the Lithuanian star was not enough. A huge effort with 35 points, 18 rebounds, 12 assists, and three blocks in Footprint Center. Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov (right ankle sprain) was sidelined, but Ukrainian Alex Len recorded three rebounds and one steal. On the winning side, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic threw in nine points, nine rebounds, two assists, two blocks, and two steals, while French Theo Maledon stayed on the bench.
A sixth consecutive double-double for Rudy Gobert throughout February as the Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 121-109, in Moda Center. The French center paired 16 points with 15 rebounds to go with one assist and one block over 37 minutes. On the floor for four minutes, Bosnian Luka Garza chipped in five points and one rebound. For the hosts, Belgian Toumani Camara logged 14 points, four rebounds, and two assists, and French Rayan Rupert was assigned to the Rip City Remix.
More games and European showings
Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics 110-118 (Dennis Schroder 9pts, 5reb, 3ast – Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk DNP, Neemias Queta DNP, Kristaps Porzingis INJ)
Orlando Magic – Oklahoma City Thunder 113-127 (Franz Wagner 15pts, 7reb, 2ast, Moritz Wagner 11pts, 5reb, Goga Bitadze 1reb, 1ast, Admiral Schofield INA – Ousmane Dieng 2pts, 4ast, 1reb, 1stl, Aleksej Pokusevski DNP, Olivier Sarr INA)
Los Angeles Lakers – Detroit Pistons 125-111 (Evan Fournier 13pts, 6reb, 4ast, Simone Fontecchio 8pts, 4reb, 4ast, Tosan Evbuomwan DNP, Malcolm Cazalon INA)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 42-12
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-17
3. Milwaukee Bucks 35-20
4. New York Knicks 33-21
5. Philadelphia 76ers 32-21
6. Indiana Pacers 30-25
7. Miami Heat 29-25
8. Orlando Magic 29-25
9. Chicago Bulls 26-28
10. Atlanta Hawks 24-30
11. Brooklyn Nets 21-32
12. Toronto Raptors 19-35
13. Charlotte Hornets 12-41
14. Washington Wizards 9-44
15. Detroit Pistons 8-45
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 38-16
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-17
3. Los Angeles Clippers 35-17
4. Denver Nuggets 36-18
5. Phoenix Suns 32-22
6. New Orleans Pelicans 32-22
7. Dallas Mavericks 31-23
8. Sacramento Kings 30-23
9. Los Angeles Lakers 29-26
10. Golden State Warriors 26-25
11. Utah Jazz 26-28
12. Houston Rockets 24-29
13. Memphis Grizzlies 18-36
14. Portland Trail Blazers 15-38
15. San Antonio Spurs 11-43
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images