By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Vasilije Micic helped the Charlotte Hornets snap an eight-game losing streak by taking down the Indiana Pacers, 113-109, in Gainbridge Fieldhouse on Sunday.
The 30-year-old Serbian guard went for 18 points with 7/15 field goals, including 4/6 from beyond the arc. “I didn’t chase the points. I just played, I feel like the right way,” he commented on setting a new personal best in the 2024-25 campaign, “Nothing really special.”
Starting and lasting 34 minutes, Micic added nine assists, two steals, and two rebounds. French teammates Moussa Diabate (illness) and Tidjane Salaun (left ankle sprain) did not suit up.
🇷🇸😤 Vasilje Micic had a significant contribution in the Hornets‘ win against the Pacers! pic.twitter.com/P6cekVGS8W
— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) December 9, 2024
With Franz Wagner (right oblique) added to the injury list, the Orlando Magic defeated the Phoenix Suns, 115-110, in Kia Center. Among players stepping up, Georgian Goga Bitadze put in 21 points, a career-high 16 rebounds, and four assists. Germans Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva threw in ten and eight points, respectively.
Blowout wins for the Kings and Grizzlies
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posted a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double alongside six assists, one steal, and one block, as the Sacramento Kings blew out the Utah Jazz, 141-97, in Golden 1 Center. Playing 28 minutes, he tucked in 8/13 field goals, including two three-pointers.
On the wrong end of the one-sided NBA Sundays contest, Finnish Lauri Markkanen was dealing with a back injury and was limited to 2/9 field goals. Over 25 minutes, he ended up with nine points, four assists, and two rebounds.
In a meeting of Ukrainian players, Alex Len paired three assists with one rebound in eight minutes for the Kings and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk missed five shots but grabbed one rebound in ten minutes for the Jazz.
In Capital One Arena, the shorthanded Memphis Grizzlies dominated the Washington Wizards, 140-112. In just under 20 minutes, Santi Aldama chipped in 19 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks, and one steal. “We were moving the ball. We were playing good defense,” the 23-year-old Spanish forward described the team effort.
For the hosts, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas produced a 20-point, 14-rebound double-double and French Bilal Coulibaly went for 17 points, five rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal. Serbian Tristan Vukcevic (left knee contusion) and French Alex Sarr (low back soreness) were out.
NBA Sundays games
Chicago Bulls – Philadelphia 76ers 100-108
Brooklyn Nets – Milwaukee Bucks 113-118
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Hornets 109-113
Atlanta Hawks – Denver Nuggets 111-141
Miami Heat – Cleveland Cavaliers 122-113
Orlando Magic – Phoenix Suns 115-110
Washington Wizards – Memphis Grizzlies 112-140
San Antonio Spurs – New Orleans Pelicans 121-116
Golden State Warriors – Minnesota Timberwolves 114-106
Los Angeles Clippers – Houston Rockets 106-117
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz 141-97
Los Angeles Lakers – Portland Trail Blazers 107-98
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 21-4
2. Boston Celtics 19-5
3. Orlando Magic 17-9
4. New York Knicks 14-9
5. Miami Heat 12-10
6. Milwaukee Bucks 12-11
7. Atlanta Hawks 13-12
8. Brooklyn Nets 10-14
9. Detroit Pistons 10-15
10. Chicago Bulls 10-15
11. Indiana Pacers 10-15
12. Philadelphia 76ers 7-15
13. Toronto Raptors 7-17
14. Charlotte Hornets 7-17
15. Washington Wizards 3-19
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-5
2. Memphis Grizzlies 17-8
3. Dallas Mavericks 16-8
4. Houston Rockets 16-8
5. Golden State Warriors 14-9
6. Los Angeles Clippers 14-11
7. Denver Nuggets 12-10
8. Los Angeles Lakers 13-11
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 12-11
10. Phoenix Suns 12-11
11. San Antonio Spurs 12-12
12. Sacramento Kings 12-13
13. Portland Trail Blazers 8-16
14. Utah Jazz 5-18
15. New Orleans Pelicans 5-20
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins