By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Approaching the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Miami Heat added to the 2024 NBA Preseason with a win, 120-117, against the San Antonio Spurs in Kaseya Center on Tuesday.
Confirmed in the starting unit of Erik Spoelstra, Serbian Nikola Jovic chipped in seven points, three steals, three rebounds, one block, and one assist over 23 minutes. Swedish Pelle Larsson added five points in five minutes.
For the visitors, French prodigy Victor Wembanyama was limited to eight points and 16 minutes, combining preseason struggles with reduced playing time, forced following his participation in the 2024 Olympic Games. His line expanded to seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
Polish Jeremy Sochan stood out with an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili had one point in five minutes.
Nikola Jokic out
With Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic among key players resting, the Denver Nuggets were blown out by the Oklahoma City Thunder, 124-94, in Ball Arena. Croatian Dario Saric and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar scored five points each.
On the winning end, German Isaiah Hartenstein finished with 11 points, French Ousmane Dieng put in ten points, and Belgian Ajay Mitchell had nine points.
Poeltl remains in double-double mode.
Preseason action in Scotiabank Arena saw the Toronto Raptors prevail, 119-118, over the Boston Celtics. Austrian Jakob Poeltl tallying 15 points and 16 rebounds shaped a second consecutive friendly double-double for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic. Portuguese Neemias Queta scored four points in ten minutes for the C’s.
In Las Vegas, the Golden State Warriors overpowered the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-97. Dutch Quinten Post was limited to two turnovers over five minutes.