By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A confident display for the Minnesota Timberwolves led to a blowout win, 109-80, versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Target Center. Registering his ninth double-double of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, Rudy Gobert combined 17 points with 12 rebounds and recorded one steal in 32 minutes.
“We lost a few games but had adversity and never kept fighting. We never stopped looking in the mirror, holding each other accountable, and knowing we had to refocus on who we are. Who we are is a defensive team and when we start the game with the mindset, we are going to be in a position to win every night,” the French center said after Monday’s game.
Getting six minutes on the court in the fourth quarter, Bosnian Luka Garza threw in six points for the Wolves. Lasting just over 15 minutes for the Lakers, French Armel Traore piled up four points, three rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Bogdan Bogdanovic extends streak
Dealing with an injury in his right hamstring, Bogdan Bogdanovic contributed 12 points, including 1/8 from beyond the arc to extend his three-point streak to 98 games, to a win, 124-112, for the Atlanta Hawks over the depleted New Orleans Pelicans in State Farm Arena. Despite his poor shooting display, the team coached by Quin Snyder won the fourth game in a row. After being limited to 2/10 field goals, Bogdanovic stayed in the gym for extra shots.
The 32-year-old Serbian winger additionally produced four rebounds, three assists, and two steals, lasting 24 minutes. European starters, French Zaccharie Risacher and Swiss Clint Capela put in 13 points and nine points plus 17 rebounds, respectively. On the opposite end, German center Daniel Theis had three points alongside four rebounds and one steal.
Buzelis scores 20 points
In the United Center, the Chicago Bulls overpowered the Brooklyn Nets, 128-102. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 21-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside three assists and one steal. Lithuanian Matas Buzelis set his NBA high at 20 points with 7/10 field goals, including four triples, besides recording five rebounds, two blocks, and one assist.
For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Dennis Schroder went into a double-double with 16 points and ten assists and also grabbed two rebounds. In the starting lineup and lasting 29 minutes, the German floor general made 7/9 two-pointers but missed all six attempts from the three-point range.
Queta bounces back
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left leg injury management) sitting out, Portuguese Neemias Queta returned to action with four points, seven rebounds, and two blocks as the Boston Celtics rocked the Miami Heat, 108-89, in TD Garden.
For the visitors, Swedish Pelle Larsson combined five points with five rebounds. Serbian Nikola Jovic (left ankle sprain) remained on the injury list.
Monday games
Atlanta Hawks – New Orleans Pelicans 124-112
Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 108-89
Chicago Bulls – Brooklyn Nets 128-102
Minnesota Timberwolves – Los Angeles Lakers 109-80
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 18-3
2. Boston Celtics 17-4
3. Orlando Magic 15-7
4. New York Knicks 12-8
5. Milwaukee Bucks 10-9
6. Atlanta Hawks 11-11
7. Miami Heat 9-10
8. Indiana Pacers 9-12
9. Detroit Pistons 9-13
10. Brooklyn Nets 9-13
11. Chicago Bulls 9-13
12. Charlotte Hornets 6-14
13. Toronto Raptors 6-15
14. Philadelphia 76ers 4-14
15. Washington Wizards 2-16
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-5
2. Houston Rockets 15-6
3. Memphis Grizzlies 14-7
4. Golden State Warriors 12-7
5. Dallas Mavericks 13-8
6. Los Angeles Clippers 13-9
7. Phoenix Suns 11-8
8. Los Angeles Lakers 12-9
9. Denver Nuggets 10-8
10. San Antonio Spurs 11-9
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-10
12. Sacramento Kings 9-12
13. Portland Trail Blazers 8-13
14. Utah Jazz 4-16
15. New Orleans Pelicans 4-18
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins