By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Returning to action after missing one game due to an illness, Nikola Vucevic recorded a game-high 24 points, including six points in the fourth quarter to power the Chicago Bulls in a win, 122-121, against the Toronto Raptors in Scotiabank Arena on Monday.
Among seven double-digit scorers for head coach Billy Donovan, the Montenegrin center made 10/17 from the field, besides registering five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in 32 minutes. Off the bench and lasting 12 minutes, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis added seven points and four rebounds.
Midway through the third quarter, Josh Giddey was helped off the court after rolling his right ankle. The 22-year-old Australian guard did not return to the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season contest.
With six points and five rebounds for the hosts, Austrian Jakob Poeltl was forced to an early exit due to a groin injury from a hard fall early in the fourth quarter.
“We’re concerned. We’re going to do all the checkups tonight,” reacted Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic.
Micic and Yabusele to the bench
With LaMelo Ball returning to action, Vasilije Micic was limited to a reserve role in a losing effort for the Charlotte Hornets against the Philadelphia 76ers, 121-108, in Spectrum Center. The Serbian combo guard lasted 16 minutes and dished out five assists but did not score. French teammates coming off the bench, Moussa Diabate paired four points with three rebounds and Tidjane Salaun grabbed two rebounds. For the Sixers, French Guerschon Yabusele tallied three rebounds and one assist.
Overtime action in Little Caesars Arena with the Detroit Pistons outlasting the Miami Heat, 125-124. Italian Simone Fontecchio chipped in nine points and Swedish Bobi Klintman was on a G League assignment at the bottom end of recovery from an injury in his right calf. Both Serbian Nikola Jovic (left ankle sprain) and Pelle Larsson (right ankle sprain) were sidelined.
Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot) remained sidelined as the Brooklyn Nets were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 130-101, in Barclays Center.
Monday games
Detroit Pistons – Miami Heat 125-124 OT (114-114)
Charlotte Hornets – Philadelphia 76ers 108-121
Toronto Raptors – Chicago Bulls 121-122
Brooklyn Nets – Cleveland Cavaliers 101-130
Sacramento Kings – Denver Nuggets 129-130
Los Angeles Clippers – Utah Jazz 144-107
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 23-4
2. Boston Celtics 21-5
3. New York Knicks 16-10
4. Orlando Magic 17-11
5. Milwaukee Bucks 14-11
6. Miami Heat 13-11
7. Atlanta Hawks 14-13
8. Indiana Pacers 12-15
9. Chicago Bulls 12-15
10. Detroit Pistons 11-16
11. Brooklyn Nets 11-16
12. Philadelphia 76ers 8-16
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-19
14. Toronto Raptors 7-20
15. Washington Wizards 3-21
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-5
2. Memphis Grizzlies 18-9
3. Houston Rockets 17-9
4. Dallas Mavericks 17-9
5. Denver Nuggets 14-10
6. Phoenix Suns 14-11
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 14-11
8. Golden State Warriors 14-11
9. Los Angeles Clippers 15-12
10. Los Angeles Lakers 14-12
11. San Antonio Spurs 13-13
12. Sacramento Kings 13-14
13. Portland Trail Blazers 8-18
14. Utah Jazz 5-20
15. New Orleans Pelicans 5-22
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins