By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Behind the 23rd triple-double by Nikola Jokic in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Denver Nuggets topped the New Orleans Pelicans, 125-113, in Ball Arena on Monday.
The Serbian superstar combined 27 points with 14 rebounds and ten assists, also recording two blocks and one steal in 36 minutes.
“He felt it, of course. I think he didn’t expect it,” Jokic said, talking about Luka Doncic being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, “I think he just needs to be with his family right now. It’s a big move. It’s a business, I don’t know. I think nobody expected it, especially him. It seems like nobody is safe in the league. But I think he’s going to do a good job. I think he’s the player for the big scene, even though I thought in Dallas he had something special going.
Croatian teammate Dario Saric did not play against the Pelicans and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) remained out. On the losing end, Croatian Karlo Matkovic went for five points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and one block with German Daniel Theis (right thumb sprain) on the injury list.
Wagner, Avdija, and more
German action in Chase Center included Dennis Schroder putting in nine points as the Golden State Warriors edged out the Orlando Magic, 104-99. Dutch teammate Quinten Post chipped in seven points. For the Magic, German Franz Wagner settled at 21 points, Georgian Goga Bitadze paired six points with 14 rebounds, and German Tristan da Silva was held two points in just under 11 minutes.
Without Turkish Alperen Sengun (left calf contusion), the Houston Rockets fell to the New York Knicks, 124-118, in Madison Square Garden. The hosts missed British O.G. Anunoby (right foot sprain) and French Pacome Dadiet (right great toe sprain), but German Ariel Hukporti displayed two rebounds and one block.
With the Portland Trail Blazers outlasting the Phoenix Suns, 121-119, in overtime, Israeli Deni Avdija threw in 24 points and Belgian Toumani Camara added 17 points. Remaining out for the Suns, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic did not play in Moda Center.
Finnish Lauri Markkkanen scored 16 points for the Utah Jazz in a narrow loss, 112-111, to the Indiana Pacers in Delta Center.
Monday results
Charlotte Hornets – Washington Wizards 114-124
Detroit Pistons – Atlanta Hawks 130-132
New York Knicks – Houston Rockets 124-118
Memphis Grizzlies – San Antonio Spurs 128-109
Minnesota Timberwolves – Sacramento Kings 114-116
Oklahoma City Thunder – Milwaukee Bucks 125-96
Denver Nuggets – New Orleans Pelicans 125-113
Utah Jazz – Indiana Pacers 111-112
Golden State Warriors – Orlando Magic 104-99
Portland Trail Blazers – Phoenix Suns 121-119 OT (107-107)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 40-9
2. Boston Celtics 35-15
3. New York Knicks 33-17
4. Indiana Pacers 28-20
5. Milwaukee Bucks 26-22
6. Miami Heat 24-23
7. Detroit Pistons 25-25
8. Orlando Magic 24-27
9. Atlanta Hawks 23-27
10. Chicago Bulls 21-29
11. Philadelphia 76ers 19-29
12. Toronto Raptors 16-33
13. Brooklyn Nets 16-33
14. Charlotte Hornets 12-35
15. Washington Wizards 8-41
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 39-9
2. Memphis Grizzlies 34-16
3. Houston Rockets 32-17
4. Denver Nuggets 31-19
5. Los Angeles Lakers 28-19
6. Los Angeles Clippers 28-21
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 27-23
8. Dallas Mavericks 26-24
9. Sacramento Kings 25-24
10. Golden State Warriors 25-24
11. Phoenix Suns 25-24
12. San Antonio Spurs 21-26
13. Portland Trail Blazers 21-29
14. New Orleans Pelicans 12-38
15. Utah Jazz 11-37
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins