By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After missing two games due to a left heel contusion, Luka Doncic bounced back with a game-high 27 points as the Dallas Mavericks cruised past the Portland Trail Blazers, 132-108, in American Airlines Center.
The Slovenian superstar was required for just under 30 minutes on Monday.
Besides tucking in 10/19 field goals, he added seven assists, seven rebounds, and one steal.
German teammate Maxi Kleber threw in three points, one steal, and one rebound over 16 minutes for the Mavs on the way up to 19-10 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
On the opposite end, Israeli Deni Avdija recorded a team-high 19 points alongside six rebounds, three assists, and one block. Belgian Toumani Camara paired five points with 12 rebounds. French Rayan Rupert scored six points.
Securing a fifth straight win, the Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Utah Jazz, 124-113, in Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The visitors featured two European starters, Finnish Lauri Markkanen combining 26 points with seven rebounds and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk putting up 11 points.
In Madison Square Garden, O.G. Anunoby shared a game-high 31 points with Karl-Anthony Towns, lifting the New York Knicks over the Toronto Raptors, 139-125. Facing his former team, the British winger added seven rebounds, four assists, and one steal over 33 minutes. French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti stayed on the bench for the team coached by Tom Thibodeau.
For the team guided by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Austrian Jakob Poeltl remained sidelined with a bilateral groin strain.