By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Deni Avdija and Toumani Camara combined for 40 points, and Matisse Thybulle blocked a game-tying effort by Orlando Robinson in the closing seconds for the Portland Trail Blazers to prevail, 105-102, over the Toronto Raptors in Moda Center on Sunday.
“We know what he is capable of doing. He is a winning player. He makes winning plays. And that is what happened right now,” the 24-year-old Israeli combo forward praised Thybulle.
Avdija logged 33 minutes on NBA Sundays, tallying 19 points, including a spectacular poster dunk. “It’s my first poster in the league,” he added during a media session following his side coming back from a 16-point deficit, “It feels good.”
His contributions extended to six assists, six rebounds, and two steals. Belgian Camara threw in 21 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. French imports Rayan Rupert and Sidy Cissoko were assigned to the G League affiliate Rip City Remix.
On the losing end, Austrian Jakob Poeltl recorded 19 points, eight rebounds, and two steals for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic.
Another European head coach, Spanish Jordi Fernandez, guided the Brooklyn Nets to a win, 122-114, over the Atlanta Hawks in Barclays Center. For the visitors, French Zaccharie Risacher paired 16 points with two rebounds, Czech reserve Vit Krejci finished with eight points, two assists, two steals, one block, and one rebound, and Swiss Clint Capela was away from the team due to family reasons.
Zubac posts a double-double
Croatian Ivica Zubac registered a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside eight assists, two blocks, and one steal as the Los Angeles Clippers routed the Charlotte Hornets, 123-88, in Intuit Dome. Off the bench, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic put in seven points, four rebounds, and one assist, and French Nicolas Batum three points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist.
With French Tidjane Salaun limited to a G League assignment with the Greensboro Swarm, European options for head coach Charles Lee were limited to Moussa Diabate and Jusuf Nurkic. The 23-year-old French forward tallied six points, three rebounds, and one assist, and the 30-year-old Bosnian center ended up with four points, five rebounds, and one block.
French Rudy Gobert chipped in seven points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in a 128-102 victory for the Minnesota Timberwolves versus the Utah Jazz. Anthony Edwards dropped 41 points, fueling an eighth straight win. Bosnian Luka Garza added three points and two assists. Dutch Jesse Edwards was assigned to the Iowa Wolves.
Settling on the wrong end of the game in Target Center, Finnish Lauri Markkanen went for 16 points with 5/12 from the field, two assists, and one rebound. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had eight points, three rebounds, and two assists.
NBA Sundays results
Dallas Mavericks – Philadelphia 76ers 125-130
Cleveland Cavaliers – Orlando Magic 103-108
Los Angeles Lakers – Phoenix Suns 107-96
Brooklyn Nets – Atlanta Hawks 122-114
Portland Trail Blazers – Toronto Raptors 105-102
Los Angeles Clippers – Charlotte Hornets 123-88
Minnesota Timberwolves – Utah Jazz 128-102
Milwaukee Bucks – Oklahoma City Thunder 105-121
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 56-11
2. p-Boston Celtics 49-19
3. New York Knicks 42-24
4. Milwaukee Bucks 38-29
5. Indiana Pacers 37-29
6. Detroit Pistons 37-31
7. Atlanta Hawks 32-36
8. Orlando Magic 32-37
9. Miami Heat 29-38
10. Chicago Bulls 28-39
11. Toronto Raptors 24-44
12. Philadelphia 76ers 23-44
13. Brooklyn Nets 23-45
14. Charlotte Hornets 17-50
15. Washington Wizards 15-51
Western Conference
1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 56-12
2. Houston Rockets 43-25
3. Denver Nuggets 43-25
4. Memphis Grizzlies 43-25
5. Los Angeles Lakers 41-25
6. Golden State Warriors 39-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 38-30
9. Sacramento Kings 33-33
10. Dallas Mavericks 33-36
11. Phoenix Suns 31-37
12. Portland Trail Blazers 29-39
13. San Antonio Spurs 28-38
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans 18-50
15. e-Utah Jazz 15-53
-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