By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After posting a triple-double for the third game in a row, LeBron James switched to the next fixture on the schedule and talked about Gregg Popovich, the president and head coach of the San Antonio Spurs.
Friday’s game in Frost Bank Center counts for the Emirates NBA Cup, besides the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
“It’s always difficult to win a game in San Antonio. For me, there is so much bigger news out of San Antonio right now and that’s my dear friend, Coach Pop,” he referred to Popovich recovering from a mild stroke, “I’ll be thinking heavily about him as I travel there tomorrow for the game on Friday. And wish him the best of health and hopefully, I see him soon. It doesn’t have to be on the sidelines. I hope to see him soon. That is most important for me.”
In crypto.com Arena on Wednesday, James combined 35 points with 14 assists and 12 rebounds, pushing the Lakers to 7-4. The visitors featured Spanish Santi Aldama in the starting lineup. The 23-year-old forward tallied 15 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals, and one block in just under 30 minutes.
In Kia Center, the Orlando Magic beat the Indiana Pacers, 94-90, behind a 29-point effort by German star Franz Wagner. Adding to a fourth consecutive win, his brother Moritz Wagner threw in ten points and Georgian Goga Bitadze posted a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double.
Meanwhile, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Chicago Bulls to overcome a 46-point showing by Karl-Anthony Towns and edge out the New York Knicks, 124-123, in Madison Square Garden.
Starting for the Philadelphia 76ers, French Guerschon Yabusele went for ten points, nine rebounds, five assists, and one steal in a losing effort, 114-106, to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Wednesday games
Orlando Magic – Indiana Pacers 94-90
Brooklyn Nets – Boston Celtics 114-139
New York Knicks – Chicago Bulls 123-124
Oklahoma City Thunder – New Orleans Pelicans 106-88
Philadelphia 76ers – Cleveland Cavaliers 106-114
Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Clippers 111-103
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 127-120 OT (111-111)
San Antonio Spurs – Washington Wizards 139-130
Los Angeles Lakers – Memphis Grizzlies 128-123
Portland Trail Blazers – Minnesota Timberwolves 106-98
Sacramento Kings – Phoenix Suns 127-104
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 13-0
2. Boston Celtics 10-3
3. Orlando Magic 7-6
4. New York Knicks 5-6
5. Indiana Pacers 5-6
6. Brooklyn Nets 5-7
7. Atlanta Hawks 5-7
8. Chicago Bulls 5-7
9. Miami Heat 4-6
10. Detroit Pistons 5-8
11. Charlotte Hornets 4-7
12. Milwaukee Bucks 4-8
13. Washington Wizards 2-8
14. Philadelphia 76ers 2-9
15. Toronto Raptors 2-10
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 10-2
2. Golden State Warriors 9-2
3. Phoenix Suns 9-3
4. Denver Nuggets 7-3
5. Houston Rockets 8-4
6. Los Angeles Lakers 7-4
7. Memphis Grizzlies 7-5
8. Sacramento Kings 7-5
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 6-6
10. San Antonio Spurs 6-6
11. Los Angeles Clippers 6-6
12. Dallas Mavericks 5-6
13. Portland Trail Blazers 5-8
14. New Orleans Pelicans 3-9
15. Utah Jazz 2-8
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins