By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A blowout win for the Sacramento Kings in Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday. Powered by Domantas Sabonis, they defeated the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, 123-89.
Extending his double-double streak to 51 games and posting a league-high 24th triple-double in the 2023-24 Regular Season, the Lithuanian superstar finished with 13 points, 17 rebounds, ten assists, and one block over 28 minutes.
Lasting 16 minutes, Ukrainian Alex Len threw in six points, four assists, three rebounds, and one block. Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov (right ankle sprain) remained sidelined but is nearing a return.
Just a regular day in the office for Domantas Sabonis 😅
13 PTS
17 REB
10 AST
Blowout win
51th straight double-doubleBut not enough to be an All-Star
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 21, 2024
On the losing end, Austrian Jakob Poeltl (torn ligament in fifth metacarpal of left hand) stayed on the injury list.
Aldama downplays clash with Green
Playing with left elbow soreness, Spanish Santi Aldama tucked in six triples on the way to a 27-point effort as the Memphis Grizzlies fell to the Golden State Warriors, 137-116. Besides 9/18 makes from the field, nine rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in Chase Center, he was part of a confrontation starring usual suspect Draymond Green.
Draymond Green consistently finds himself embroiled in conflicts 😂
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 21, 2024
“We both wanted to win. It seems to be like that with them, we have a little rivalry going on and you know it’s healthy,” Aldama commented on the incident, “So that’s it.”
For the Warriors, Croatian Dario Saric grabbed one rebound in a five-minute showing. Spanish Usman Garuba, on a two-way contract, was on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors.
Celtics add to big lead
Strolling to homecourt advantage in the 2024 Playoffs, the Boston Celtics held on for a win, 122-119, against the Milwaukee Bucks. Latvian Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists over 28 minutes. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk tucked in one three-pointer over five minutes. Portuguese Neemias Queta was inactive.
KP THROWS IT DOWN 😳
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 21, 2024
The Bucks ruled out Greek international Giannis Antetokounmpo (left hamstring tendinopathy) on the way to an 11-game deficit versus the leaders of the NBA standings. Italian Danilo Gallinari went for four points, one rebound, one block, one steal, and one assist in TD Garden. Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not play.
More European showings
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 104-107 (Nikola Jovic 14pts, 6reb, 1ast, 1blk)
Detroit Pistons – Indiana Pacers 103-122 (Tosan Evbuomwan 11pts, 4reb, Evan Fournier 5pts, 4ast, 3reb, 1stl, Simone Fontecchio INJ)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Utah Jazz 119-107 (Ousmane Dieng 1reb, Olivier Sarr GL – Omer Yurtseven 6pts, 3reb, Luka Samanic 0pts, Lauri Markkanen INJ)
Phoenix Suns – Philadelphia 76ers 115-102 (Jusuf Nurkic 10pts, 15reb, 3ast, 2blk – Nicolas Batum 8pts, 3reb, 1stl, 1blk)
Portland Trail Blazers – Los Angeles Clippers 103-116 (Rayan Rupert 8pts, 5reb, 3ast, Toumani Camara 3pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1stl – Ivica Zubac 14pts, 9reb, 4stl, 2ast, 2blk, Daniel Theis 10pts, 5reb, 2ast, Moussa Diabate INJ)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. q-Boston Celtics 55-14
2. Milwaukee Bucks 44-25
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 44-25
4. New York Knicks 41-27
5. Orlando Magic 41-28
6. Indiana Pacers 39-31
7. Miami Heat 38-31
8. Philadelphia 76ers 38-31
9. Chicago Bulls 34-35
10. Atlanta Hawks 30-38
11. Brooklyn Nets 26-43
12. Toronto Raptors 23-46
13. Charlotte Hornets 17-52
14. e-Detroit Pistons 12-57
15. e-Washington Wizards 11-58
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 48-20
2. Denver Nuggets 48-21
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 47-22
4. Los Angeles Clippers 43-25
5. New Orleans Pelicans 42-26
6. Sacramento Kings 40-28
7. Dallas Mavericks 40-29
8. Phoenix Suns 40-29
9. Los Angeles Lakers 37-32
10. Golden State Warriors 36-32
11. Houston Rockets 33-35
12. Utah Jazz 29-40
13. e-Memphis Grizzlies 23-47
14. e-Portland Trail Blazers 19-50
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 15-54
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