By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Chicago Bulls needed a win over the Detroit Pistons, which hasn’t been that difficult to achieve this season. However, Nikola Vucevic stepped up and ensured the job was done.
The Montenegrin center followed DeMar DeRozan and continued with great performances in the Bulls’ jersey as Chicago secured its ninth win in the last 10 games against the Pistons, clinching a 105-127 road victory.
Vooch finished the match with another double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds, shooting 12-21 from the field. That marked his 28th game with 25 points and 10 rebounds in Chicago, an achievement not seen by a Bull in the last 30 years.
The Bulls secured ninth place in the Eastern Conference standings and will have a home-court advantage over the Atlanta Hawks at the start of the Play-Ins. On the other hand, the Detroit Pistons broke franchise records with their 67th loss of the season.
As for other European players, Luka Samanic came close to a career-high, leading the Utah Jazz to a 124-121 win over the Houston Rockets.
The Croatian player scored 22 points, just one point shy of his personal best. He also had six rebounds and shot 7-17 from the field. Omer Yurtseven also contributed with 10 points.
The Sacramento Kings fell to the New Orleans Pelicans 123-135 in another Lithuanian matchup.
Domantas Sabonis recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds for the losing side, while Jonas Valančiūnas had 13 points and 10 rebounds for the Pelicans. Sasha Vezenkov added five points for the Kings.
Five European players had solid performances in the New York Knick’s 109-118 win over the Boston Celtics.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 14 points for the winning side, O.G. Anunoby added 12, and Isaiah Hartenstein had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds. On the other side, Kristaps Porzingis had 14 and eight, while Svy Mikhailiuk added nine points.
NBA results:
Detroit Pistons – Chicago Bulls 105-127 (Fournier 5p – Vucevic 27p, 11r)
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 109-118 (Porzingis 14p, 8r, Mykhailiuk 9p – Bojan 14p, Anunoby 12p, Hartenstein 11p, 13r)
Utah Jazz – Houston Rockets 124-121 (Samanic 22p, Yurtseven 10p)
Portland Trail Blazers – Golden State Warriors 92-100 (Rupert 2p – Saric 1r, 1as)
Sacramento Kings – New Orleans Pelicans 123-135 (Sabonis 18p, 10r, Vezenkov 5p, Len 2p – Valanciunas 13p, 10r)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Boston Celtics– e | 62 | 18 | .775 | — | 39-11 | 15-2 | 35-4 | 27-14 | 2-4 | 6-4 | L 2 |
| 2 Milwaukee Bucks– x | 49 | 31 | .613 | 13 | 34-17 | 10-7 | 31-11 | 18-20 | 2-2 | 4-6 | W 2 |
| 3 New York Knicks– x | 48 | 32 | .600 | 14 | 33-17 | 11-5 | 25-14 | 23-18 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 3 |
| 4 Cleveland Cavaliers– ps | 47 | 33 | .588 | 15 | 30-20 | 10-5 | 25-14 | 22-19 | 3-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 5 Orlando Magic– ps | 46 | 34 | .575 | 16 | 31-19 | 9-7 | 28-12 | 18-22 | 2-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 6 Indiana Pacers– ps | 46 | 34 | .575 | 16 | 31-19 | 11-5 | 25-15 | 21-19 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 3 |
| 7 Philadelphia 76ers– ps | 45 | 35 | .563 | 17 | 29-21 | 7-8 | 23-16 | 22-19 | 1-2 | 7-3 | W 6 |
| 8 Miami Heat– ps | 44 | 36 | .550 | 18 | 30-20 | 13-3 | 20-19 | 24-17 | 2-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
| 9 Chicago Bulls– pi | 38 | 42 | .475 | 24 | 21-28 | 7-9 | 20-21 | 18-21 | 7-3 | 4-6 | W 1 |
| 10 Atlanta Hawks– pi | 36 | 44 | .450 | 26 | 22-29 | 8-8 | 21-20 | 15-24 | 4-2 | 5-5 | L 4 |
| 11 Brooklyn Nets– o | 32 | 48 | .400 | 30 | 24-26 | 5-9 | 20-21 | 12-27 | 1-4 | 6-4 | W 1 |
| 12 Toronto Raptors– o | 25 | 55 | .313 | 37 | 18-32 | 1-15 | 14-27 | 11-28 | 1-3 | 2-8 | L 2 |
| 13 Charlotte Hornets– o | 20 | 60 | .250 | 42 | 13-37 | 6-10 | 11-30 | 9-30 | 1-1 | 3-7 | W 1 |
| 14 Washington Wizards– o | 15 | 65 | .188 | 47 | 11-39 | 4-12 | 7-33 | 8-32 | 0-2 | 3-7 | L 4 |
| 15 Detroit Pistons– o | 13 | 67 | .163 | 49 | 10-41 | 2-14 | 7-33 | 6-34 | 1-2 | 1-9 | L 6 |
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 | 48 | 32 | .600 | 8 | 29-21 | 9-7 | 21-18 | 27-14 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 3 |
| 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– pi | 45 | 35 | .563 | 11 | 29-21 | 10-6 | 23-16 | 22-19 | 5-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 9 Golden State Warriors– pi | 45 | 35 | .563 | 11 | 25-25 | 7-9 | 20-19 | 25-16 | 1-4 | 9-1 | W 3 |
| 10 Los Angeles Lakers– pi | 45 | 35 | .563 | 11 | 25-25 | 7-10 | 28-14 | 17-21 | 4-1 | 7-3 | L 2 |
| 11 Houston Rockets– o | 39 | 41 | .488 | 17 | 26-24 | 9-7 | 27-14 | 12-27 | 2-5 | 4-6 | L 1 |
| 12 Utah Jazz– o | 30 | 50 | .375 | 26 | 15-35 | 5-11 | 21-20 | 9-30 | 2-2 | 1-9 | W 1 |
| 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 | 59 | .263 | 35 | 8-42 | 1-15 | 11-29 | 10-30 | 5-3 | 2-8 | L 3 |
| 15 San Antonio Spurs– o | 20 | 60 | .250 | 36 | 13-37 | 3-13 | 10-29 | 10-31 | 3-2 | 5-5 | L 1 |