By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After mishandling a 21-point lead, the New Orleans Pelicans pulled away for good en route to a 127-120 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers in Smoothie King Center on Tuesday.
Coming off the bench in the first-ever collision with fellow Croatian center, Ivica Zubac, Karlo Matkovic put in 15 points plus four rebounds, two blocks, and one assist. On the losing end, the 27-year-old starter posted 19-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside five assists and four blocks, versus a triple-double by Zion Williamson. Also, French Nicolas Batum settled at eight points, two blocks, two rebounds, and one steal, while Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic ended up with eight points, two rebounds, and one assist.
In Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Pistons overpowered the Washington Wizards, 123-103, and improved to 37-29 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season. Europeans off the bench went from German Dennis Schroder packing 11 points, four assists, one block, one steal, and one rebound to Italian Simone Fontecchio throwing in eight points, five rebounds, and two assists. Swedish Bobi Klintman was assigned to the G League’s Motor City Cruise.
On the losing end, French Alex Sarr registered eight points, seven rebounds, two assists, and one block as the starting center. In contrast, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic stayed on the bench, and French Bilal Coulibaly (right hip contusion) was ruled out following an early exit from Monday’s game against the Toronto Raptors.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 15 games by defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 109-104, in Rocket Arena. British Tosan Evbuomwan did not suit up for the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez.
Tuesday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Brooklyn Nets 109-104
Detroit Pistons – Washington Wizards 123-103
Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks 115-114
New Orleans Pelicans – Los Angeles Clippers 127-120
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 55-10
2. Boston Celtics 47-18
3. New York Knicks 41-23
4. Milwaukee Bucks 36-28
5. Indiana Pacers 36-28
6. Detroit Pistons 37-29
7. Atlanta Hawks 31-34
8. Orlando Magic 30-36
9. Miami Heat 29-35
10. Chicago Bulls 27-38
11. Philadelphia 76ers 22-42
12. Toronto Raptors 22-43
13. Brooklyn Nets 22-43
14. Charlotte Hornets 16-48
15. Washington Wizards 13-51
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 53-12
2. Denver Nuggets 42-23
3. Los Angeles Lakers 40-23
4. Memphis Grizzlies 41-24
5. Houston Rockets 40-25
6. Golden State Warriors 37-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 37-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 35-30
9. Sacramento Kings 33-31
10. Dallas Mavericks 33-33
11. Phoenix Suns 30-35
12. Portland Trail Blazers 28-38
13. San Antonio Spurs 26-37
14. New Orleans Pelicans 18-48
15. e-Utah Jazz 15-50
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins
p-clinched a playoff berth
e-eliminated