By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Without Luka Doncic on NBA Sundays, the Dallas Mavericks held on down the stretch to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 121-119, in Paycom Center.
The Slovenian superstar was ruled out with a right knee contusion. He is considered questionable for the game against the New Orleans Pelicans, which counts for the 2024-25 NBA Regular season and the Emirates NBA Cup, in American Airlines Center on Tuesday.
Back to a bench role, German teammate Maxi Kleber finished with two points. For the hosts, Belgian Ajay Mitchell had three points and French Ousmane Dieng tallied two points. German Isaiah Hartenstein (left hand fracture) and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
Missing Serbian leader Nikola Jokic (personal reasons) for a second straight outing, the Denver Nuggets lost, 105-90, to the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum. Starting, Croatian Dario Saric posted a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double. Dealing with a right ankle sprain, Slovenian Vlatko Cancar scored two points. At the winning end, Spanish Santi Aldama produced six points off the bench.
In Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Utah Jazz, 116-105. Croatian Ivica Zubac posted a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double and French Nicolas Batum threw in two points. For the visitors, Finnish Lauri Markkanen paired his 18 points with ten rebounds.
NBA Sundays games
Minnesota Timberwolves – Phoenix Suns 120-117
Indiana Pacers – Miami Heat 119-110
Cleveland Cavaliers – Charlotte Hornets 128-114
Washington Wizards – Detroit Pistons 104-124
Memphis Grizzlies – Denver Nuggets 105-90
Portland Trail Blazers – Atlanta Hawks 114-110
New York Knicks – Brooklyn Nets 114-104
Chicago Bulls – Houston Rockets 107-143
Oklahoma City Thunder – Dallas Mavericks 119-121
Los Angeles Clippers – Utah Jazz 116-105
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-0
2. Boston Celtics 11-3
3. Orlando Magic 8-6
4. New York Knicks 7-6
5. Detroit Pistons 7-8
6. Indiana Pacers 6-7
7. Atlanta Hawks 6-8
8. Miami Heat 5-7
9. Charlotte Hornets 5-8
10. Brooklyn Nets 5-9
11. Chicago Bulls 5-9
12. Milwaukee Bucks 4-9
13. Philadelphia 76ers 2-10
14. Washington Wizards 2-10
15. Toronto Raptors 2-12
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 10-2
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-3
3. Houston Rockets 10-4
4. Los Angeles Lakers 9-4
5. Phoenix Suns 9-5
6. Denver Nuggets 7-5
7. Memphis Grizzlies 8-6
8. Sacramento Kings 8-6
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 8-6
10. Dallas Mavericks 7-7
11. Los Angeles Clippers 7-7
12. San Antonio Spurs 6-8
13. Portland Trail Blazers 6-8
14. New Orleans Pelicans 4-10
15. Utah Jazz 3-10
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins