By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
The Minnesota Timberwolves are having a great season so far, and one of the main reasons for their success is the French international Rudy Gobert.
Despite having a crucial impact on defense, Gobert often contributes significantly on offense, as seen in the 119-114 win over the Portland Trail Blazers in Minneapolis.
The French center scored 26 points on 9-10 shooting with 16 rebounds and three blocks, joining Karl-Anthony Towns and Kevin Garnett as the only players in franchise history with 25/15 games on a 90+ field goal percentage.
On the losing side, his compatriot Rayan Rupert had a solid showing with 13 points and six rebounds.
While Gobert’s double-double was enough for Minnesota, Domantas Sabonis’ wasn’t for the Sacramento Kings, even with a 22-point lead. After a big turnaround, the Chicago Bulls won 109-113 on the road.
Sabonis had 18 points and 21 rebounds but fouled out before the end of the game. On the other side, Nikola Vucevic also had a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds.
As for other European players, Dennis Schroder had 13 points and nine assists in a Brooklyn Nets 102-106 defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies, with Santi Aldama emerging victorious with 12 points.
The Milwaukee Bucks defeated the LA Clippers 102-106 even without the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo, with Damian Lillard leading the way with 41 points, while Deni Avdija’s double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds wasn’t enough for the Washington Wizards to defeat the Utah Jazz on the road, losing 127-115.
NBA results:
Brooklyn – Memphis 102-106 (Schroder 13p, 9r – Aldama 12p)
Milwaukee – LA Clippers 113-106 (Gallinari 4p – Theis 7p, 6r, Zubac 6p, 11r)
Minnesota – Portland 119-114 (Gobert 25p, 16r – Rupert 13p, 6r)
Utah – Washington 127-115 (Samanic 5p, Yurtseven 6r – Avdija 16p, 11r, Coulibaly 7p)
Sacramento – Chicago 109-113 (Sabonis 18p, 21r, Len 4p – Vucevic 10p, 13r, Bitim 1p)
LA Lakers – Oklahoma 116-104 (Sarr 3p)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Boston Celtics– ps | 48 | 12 | .800 | — | 33-6 | 15-1 | 29-3 | 19-9 | 2-3 | 10-0 | W 11 |
| 2 Milwaukee Bucks | 41 | 21 | .661 | 8 | 29-13 | 10-7 | 25-7 | 16-14 | 2-1 | 8-2 | W 6 |
| 3 Cleveland Cavaliers | 39 | 21 | .650 | 9 | 26-15 | 9-5 | 20-11 | 19-10 | 2-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 4 New York Knicks | 36 | 25 | .590 | 12.5 | 25-13 | 7-4 | 20-11 | 16-14 | 0-0 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 5 Philadelphia 76ers | 35 | 25 | .583 | 13 | 23-17 | 5-6 | 19-13 | 16-12 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 6 Orlando Magic | 35 | 26 | .574 | 13.5 | 24-15 | 6-6 | 21-8 | 14-18 | 2-1 | 8-2 | W 3 |
| 7 Miami Heat | 34 | 26 | .567 | 14 | 22-16 | 11-2 | 16-13 | 18-13 | 1-0 | 8-2 | W 1 |
| 8 Indiana Pacers | 34 | 28 | .548 | 15 | 25-15 | 10-2 | 20-12 | 14-16 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| 9 Chicago Bulls | 29 | 32 | .475 | 19.5 | 16-22 | 4-9 | 16-15 | 13-17 | 6-3 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| 10 Atlanta Hawks | 26 | 34 | .433 | 22 | 15-26 | 7-6 | 15-16 | 11-18 | 3-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 11 Brooklyn Nets | 24 | 37 | .393 | 24.5 | 16-19 | 2-8 | 15-18 | 9-19 | 0-3 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 12 Toronto Raptors | 23 | 38 | .377 | 25.5 | 16-23 | 1-11 | 13-18 | 10-20 | 1-2 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| 13 Charlotte Hornets | 15 | 46 | .246 | 33.5 | 9-29 | 4-6 | 8-22 | 7-24 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 4 |
| 14 Detroit Pistons | 9 | 51 | .150 | 39 | 6-30 | 2-12 | 4-25 | 5-26 | 1-2 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 15 Washington Wizards | 9 | 52 | .148 | 39.5 | 6-32 | 2-10 | 3-25 | 6-27 | 0-1 | 0-10 | L 15 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Minnesota Timberwolves | 43 | 19 | .694 | — | 30-10 | 9-2 | 23-8 | 20-11 | 1-3 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 2 Oklahoma City Thunder | 42 | 19 | .689 | 0.5 | 26-15 | 10-4 | 24-6 | 18-13 | 3-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 3 Denver Nuggets | 42 | 19 | .689 | 0.5 | 24-13 | 5-5 | 24-5 | 18-14 | 0-0 | 7-3 | W 6 |
| 4 LA Clippers | 39 | 21 | .650 | 3 | 24-16 | 8-5 | 21-8 | 18-13 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 5 New Orleans Pelicans | 36 | 25 | .590 | 6.5 | 24-18 | 9-6 | 18-12 | 18-13 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 6 Phoenix Suns | 35 | 26 | .574 | 7.5 | 21-19 | 7-8 | 20-13 | 15-13 | 2-0 | 5-5 | L 2 |
| 7 Sacramento Kings | 34 | 26 | .567 | 8 | 23-16 | 7-6 | 16-11 | 18-15 | 4-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 8 Dallas Mavericks | 34 | 27 | .557 | 8.5 | 21-18 | 8-5 | 18-14 | 16-13 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 2 |
| 9 Los Angeles Lakers | 34 | 29 | .540 | 9.5 | 23-20 | 7-6 | 22-10 | 12-19 | 3-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
| 10 Golden State Warriors | 32 | 28 | .533 | 10 | 16-21 | 5-9 | 16-15 | 16-13 | 1-4 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 11 Utah Jazz | 28 | 34 | .452 | 15 | 14-22 | 5-6 | 19-11 | 9-23 | 2-2 | 2-8 | W 1 |
| 12 Houston Rockets | 26 | 34 | .433 | 16 | 18-18 | 7-5 | 20-10 | 6-24 | 1-4 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 13 Memphis Grizzlies | 21 | 41 | .339 | 22 | 13-28 | 7-7 | 7-24 | 14-17 | 1-2 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 14 Portland Trail Blazers | 17 | 43 | .283 | 25 | 8-33 | 1-13 | 9-20 | 8-23 | 4-3 | 2-8 | L 1 |
| 15 San Antonio Spurs | 13 | 48 | .213 | 29.5 | 8-26 | 1-9 | 7-21 | 6-27 | 1-1 | 3-7 | W 2 |