By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
On a mission to lock in the second seed in the playoff bracket of the Eastern Conference, the Milwaukee Bucks rallied past the Philadelphia 76ers and returned to the win column on Thursday evening. They prevailed, 114-105, in Fiserv Forum.
Giannis Antetokounmpo overcame left hamstring soreness on the way to 32 points behind 9/12 field goals and 14/18 free throws. Grabbing 11 rebounds shaped his 51st triple-double in the 2023-24 campaign. Lasting 37 minutes, he threw in seven assists and one steal. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not play, but Italian Danilo Gallinari had one rebound and one assist in five minutes.
“We have players that can be vocal throughout the game. We need players to be vocal, no matter the outcome of the game or the circumstances. If we are up, be vocal. If we are down, be vocal. The voice is very very very very important,” the Greek Freak put forward communication as the key, “I think it was really good tonight.”
For the 76ers, French Nicolas Batum finished with five points, three assists, and two rebounds.
Vucevic has 19 points in a losing effort
In the United Center, the Los Angeles Clippers earned a win, 126-111, over the Chicago Bulls. Croatian Ivica Zubac chipped in six points, eight rebounds, and two assists. Providing more help inside the paint, German Daniel Theis added four points, three assists, and two rebounds. French Moussa Diabate was on a G League assignment with the Ontario Clippers.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic producing 19 points, six rebounds, and five assists was not enough for the hosts amid a sprint to clinch a berth in the Play-Ins. Turkish teammate Onuralp Bitim recorded two points and two assists.
Rockets overcome Avdija and Coulibaly
Moving forward in the NBA Regular Season without Turkish Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain / right knee bone bruise), the Houston Rockets defeated the Washington Wizards, 135-119, in Toyota Center. Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not leave the bench in a comfortable win for the team coached by Ime Udoka.
At the losing end, Israeli Deni Avdija went for 24 points, nine rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Fellow starter, French Bilal Coulibaly tallied ten points, four assists, three rebounds, and two steals.
More European showings
Boston Celtics – Phoenix Suns 127-112 (Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk DNP, Kristaps Porzingis INJ, Neemias Queta GL – Jusuf Nurkic 8pts, 20reb, 6ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Dallas Mavericks 126-119 (Maxi Kleber 3pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Luka Doncic INJ – Ousmane Dieng GL, Olivier Sarr GL)
Portland Trail Blazers – New York Knicks 93-105 (Toumani Camara 7pts, 4ast, 3stl, Rayan Rupert DNP – O.G. Anunoby 12pts, 9reb, 2ast, 2stl, Isaiah Hartenstein 9pts, 9reb, 2ast, Bojan Bogdanovic 5pts, 1ast)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. q-Boston Celtics 52-14
2. Milwaukee Bucks 43-24
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-24
4. New York Knicks 39-27
5. Orlando Magic 38-28
6. Indiana Pacers 37-30
7. Philadelphia 76ers 36-30
8. Miami Heat 35-30
9. Chicago Bulls 32-35
10. Atlanta Hawks 29-36
11. Brooklyn Nets 26-40
12. Toronto Raptors 23-43
13. Charlotte Hornets 17-49
14. Detroit Pistons 12-53
15. e-Washington Wizards 11-55
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 46-20
2. Denver Nuggets 46-20
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 45-21
4. Los Angeles Clippers 42-23
5. New Orleans Pelicans 39-26
6. Sacramento Kings 38-27
7. Phoenix Suns 38-28
8. Dallas Mavericks 38-29
9. Los Angeles Lakers 36-31
10. Golden State Warriors 34-31
11. Houston Rockets 31-35
12. Utah Jazz 28-37
13. Memphis Grizzlies 23-44
14. Portland Trail Blazers 19-47
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 14-52
q-qualified for Playoffs
e-eliminated from Playoffs
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins