By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jovic posted 21 points, eight rebounds and five assists to help the Miami Heat beat the Portland Trail Blazers 119 – 98. He became the youngest Heat player ever to register this kind of numbers in a single game, per Statsmuse.
It’s the second time Jovic scores 20 or more points in this last couple of games since he also had 20 in a victory over the Golden State Warriors Tuesday (7/1). The Serbian big man is now averaging 9.5 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in the 2024-25 season.
“He’s playing with more consistency,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra on Jovic’s growth. “He’s preparing with more consistency, he’s approaching things with more consistency and connecting the dots… He’s getting more confident which is unlocking more of his skill set”
Deni Avdija notched 15 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for his second double-double this month but shot 5 out of 14 from the field. The Blazers struggled in their offense overall to finish the game with just 36 – 95 shots.
The Los Angeles Lakers – San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Clippers – Charlotte Hornets games were postponed due to the wildfires plaguing Los Angeles. The match in Atlanta between the Hawks and the Houston Rockets was postponed due to icy conditions.
The rest of Saturday’s (10/1) NBA Results:
Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz 114 – 106
Detroit Pistons – Toronto Raptors 123 – 119
Minnesota Timberwolves – Memphis Grizzlies 125 – 127
NBA Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 33-4
2. Boston Celtics 27-11
3. New York Knicks 25-14
4. Milwaukee Bucks 20-16
5. Orlando Magic 22-18
6. Miami Heat 20-17
7. Indiana Pacers 21-18
8. Detroit Pistons 20-19
9. Atlanta Hawks 19-19
10. Chicago Bulls 18-20
11. Philadelphia 76ers 15-21
12. Brooklyn Nets 13-25
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-27
14. Toronto Raptors 8-31
15. Washington Wizards 8-30
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 31-6
2. Houston Rockets 25-12
3. Memphis Grizzlies 25-14
4. Denver Nuggets 22-15
5. Dallas Mavericks 22-16
6. Los Angeles Lakers 20-16
7. Los Angeles Clippers 20-17
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 20-18
9. Sacramento Kings 19-19
10. Golden State Warriors 19-19
11. Phoenix Suns 18-19
12. San Antonio Spurs 18-19
13. Portland Trail Blazers 13-25
14. Utah Jazz 9-28
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-31