By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Up in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets reclaimed the 1st seed by beating 116-107 the Minnesota Timberwolves thanks to the two-time MVP Nikola Jokic.
The Serbian Joker erupted for a double-double of 41 points and 11 rebounds, while also sharing 7 assists and stealing the ball three times. He delivered an excellent shooting night with 16/20 from the field, including a perfect 2/2 from beyond the arc.
On the losing side, another European big delivered as Rudy Gobert ended with a double-double of 13 points and 15 rebounds while shooting 6/7 from the field.
The Nuggets’ head coach praised Jokic’s effort against the French. “Nikola [Jokic] always embraces the physicality. He never shies away from it. Rudy Gobert is going to be a Hall of Fame player one day. Rudy Gobert is going to be regarded as one of the best defenders of his generation. And it just speaks to how great Nikola is. I don’t think anybody in the NBA can guard Nikola 1-on-1”, he said.
Commenting on his third MVP chance, Nikola Jokic praised the team’s effort in the post-game press conference. “I think I’m playing good basketball. The team is playing good basketball. I think there is a lot of guys playing really good basketball in the league and a couple of guys deserve to have that award”, the 29-year-old superstar addressed.
Results of the Night and other European performances
Cleveland Cavaliers – Memphis Grizzlies 110-98
Atlanta Hawks – Charlotte Hornets 114-115 (Micic 2 p, 5 a; Pokusevski 10 p, 6 r; Bertans 6 p; Capela 15 p, 6 r; Bogdanovic 19 p, 8 a)
Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors 106-102 (Schroder 21 p, 7 r, 9 a)
Miami Heat – Dallas Mavericks 92-111 (Doncic 29 p, 9 r, 9 a; Jovic 6 p, 5 r, 4 a)
Milwaukee Bucks – Orlando Magic 117-99 (Moritz Wagner 7 p, 4 r)
Oklahoma City Thunder – San Antonio Spurs 127-89 (Mamukelashvili 11 r)
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 116-107
Los Angeles Clippers – Phoenix Suns 108-124 (Nurkic 3 p, 10 a, 19 r)
Standings
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Boston Celtics– e | 62 | 17 | .785 | — | 39-10 | 15-1 | 35-3 | 27-14 | 2-4 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 2 Milwaukee Bucks– x | 49 | 31 | .613 | 13.5 | 34-17 | 10-7 | 31-11 | 18-20 | 2-2 | 4-6 | W 2 |
| 3 New York Knicks– x | 47 | 32 | .595 | 15 | 32-17 | 10-5 | 25-14 | 22-18 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 2 |
| 4 Cleveland Cavaliers– ps | 47 | 33 | .588 | 15.5 | 30-20 | 10-5 | 25-14 | 22-19 | 3-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 5 Orlando Magic– ps | 46 | 34 | .575 | 16.5 | 31-19 | 9-7 | 28-12 | 18-22 | 2-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 6 Indiana Pacers– ps | 46 | 34 | .575 | 16.5 | 31-19 | 11-5 | 25-15 | 21-19 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 3 |
| 7 Philadelphia 76ers– ps | 45 | 35 | .563 | 17.5 | 29-21 | 7-8 | 23-16 | 22-19 | 1-2 | 7-3 | W 6 |
| 8 Miami Heat– ps | 44 | 36 | .550 | 18.5 | 30-20 | 13-3 | 20-19 | 24-17 | 2-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 9 Chicago Bulls– pi | 37 | 42 | .468 | 25 | 20-28 | 6-9 | 20-21 | 17-21 | 7-3 | 3-7 | L 2 |
| 10 Atlanta Hawks– pi | 36 | 44 | .450 | 26.5 | 22-29 | 8-8 | 21-20 | 15-24 | 4-2 | 5-5 | L 4 |
| 11 Brooklyn Nets– o | 32 | 48 | .400 | 30.5 | 24-26 | 5-9 | 20-21 | 12-27 | 1-4 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 12 Toronto Raptors– o | 25 | 55 | .313 | 37.5 | 18-32 | 1-15 | 14-27 | 11-28 | 1-3 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 13 Charlotte Hornets– o | 20 | 60 | .250 | 42.5 | 13-37 | 6-10 | 11-30 | 9-30 | 1-1 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 14 Washington Wizards– o | 15 | 65 | .188 | 47.5 | 11-39 | 4-12 | 7-33 | 8-32 | 0-2 | 3-7 | L 4 |
| 15 Detroit Pistons– o | 13 | 66 | .165 | 49 | 10-40 | 2-13 | 7-32 | 6-34 | 1-2 | 1-9 | L 5 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Denver Nuggets– x | 56 | 24 | .700 | — | 32-18 | 10-6 | 33-8 | 23-16 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 3 |
| 2 Minnesota Timberwolves– x | 55 | 25 | .688 | 1 | 37-14 | 12-4 | 29-10 | 26-15 | 1-4 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 3 Oklahoma City Thunder– x | 55 | 25 | .688 | 1 | 35-16 | 12-4 | 31-8 | 24-17 | 3-1 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 4 LA Clippers– p | 51 | 29 | .638 | 5 | 30-20 | 9-7 | 25-14 | 26-15 | 0-1 | 7-3 | L 1 |
| 5 Dallas Mavericks– sw | 50 | 30 | .625 | 6 | 31-20 | 11-5 | 25-15 | 25-15 | 1-0 | 9-1 | W 5 |
| 6 New Orleans Pelicans– ps | 47 | 32 | .595 | 8.5 | 28-21 | 9-7 | 21-18 | 26-14 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
| 7 Phoenix Suns– ps | 47 | 33 | .588 | 9 | 27-23 | 8-9 | 25-16 | 22-17 | 3-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 8 Sacramento Kings– ps | 45 | 34 | .570 | 10.5 | 29-20 | 10-6 | 23-15 | 22-19 | 5-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
| 9 Los Angeles Lakers– pi | 45 | 35 | .563 | 11 | 25-25 | 7-10 | 28-14 | 17-21 | 4-1 | 7-3 | L 2 |
| 10 Golden State Warriors– pi | 44 | 35 | .557 | 11.5 | 24-25 | 7-9 | 20-19 | 24-16 | 1-4 | 8-2 | W 2 |
| 11 Houston Rockets– o | 39 | 40 | .494 | 16.5 | 26-23 | 9-7 | 27-14 | 12-26 | 2-5 | 5-5 | W 1 |
| 12 Utah Jazz– o | 29 | 50 | .367 | 26.5 | 14-35 | 5-11 | 20-20 | 9-30 | 2-2 | 0-10 | L 13 |
| 13 Memphis Grizzlies– o | 27 | 53 | .338 | 29 | 14-35 | 8-8 | 9-30 | 18-23 | 1-3 | 4-6 | L 3 |
| 14 Portland Trail Blazers– o | 21 | 58 | .266 | 34.5 | 8-41 | 1-15 | 11-28 | 10-30 | 5-3 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 15 San Antonio Spurs– o | 20 | 60 | .250 | 36 | 13-37 | 3-13 | 10-29 | 10-31 | 3-2 | 5-5 | L 1 |
PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images