By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic produced his 24th triple-double in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, lifting the Denver Nuggets to a win, 112-90, against the Orlando Magic in Ball Arena on Thursday.
The 29-year-old Serbian big packed 28 points, 12 assists, ten rebounds, and two steals over 31 minutes. He connected 11/16 from the field, including two triples.
“I don’t know,” he wondered about the Nuggets collecting a fifth consecutive win during a postgame interview, “I think today it was defense. Some nights if was offense. I think just finding the way, especially this time of the year, when teams are injured, hurt, trades, and this, but I think we just find a way to win the games. And that is the most important thing.”
Croatian Dario Saric did not play for the team coached by Michael Malone and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) remained sidelined.
For the visitors, German star Franz Wagner ended up with 14 points, four assists, four rebounds, two steals, and one block. Fellow starter, Georgian Goga Bitadze had four points, three rebounds, and one block. Off the bench, German Tristan da Silva registered seven points, two rebounds, and one block. Another German import, Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) is out.
Taking down the Sacramento Kings, 108-102, in Moda Center, the Portland Trail Blazers recorded a sixth straight win and spoiled the debut of Jonas Valanciunas alongside fellow Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis. Israeli Deni Avdija contributed nine points and four rebounds, while Belgian Toumani Camara went for four points, 14 rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. French Rayan Rupert stayed on the bench.
For the Kings, Sabonis posted a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside four assists, one block, and one steal. His newest Kings teammate, Valanciunas packed six points, five rebounds, and three assists. Ukrainian Alex Len was inactive since he was traded to the Washington Wizards to end his second stint with the franchise based in Sacramento.
The Los Angeles Clippers dropped a 22-point lead and lost, 119-112, to the Indiana Pacers in Intuit Dome. Croatian Ivica Zubac posted an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double plus two assists and one steal, but he was not enough for the hosts. French Nicolas Batum registered two rebounds, one steal, and one assist. A third European option for head coach Tyronn Lue is on the way in Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic.
After scoring 49 points on Wednesday, Anthony Edwards followed up with 41 more points pushing the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 127-114 victory versus the Houston Rockets. French Rudy Gobert chipped in a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double and one block, and Bosnian Luka Garza grabbed two rebounds. On the wrong end, Turkish Alperen Sengun tallied 16 points, ten rebounds, seven assists, and two steals.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis piled up 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, and one block, but the Boston Celtics fell to the Dallas Mavericks, 127-120, in TD Garden. Portuguese teammate Neemias Queta combined six points with two rebounds and one assist.