By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
It’s rare for Nikola Jokić to miss games in the NBA, but this time, he had to sit out a couple of games to heal a few wounds.
After 11 days without playing, the Serbian center returned to the court and dominated immediately in a 127-117 win over the Milwaukee Bucks.
The three-time NBA MVP led the Denver Nuggets with another triple-double, scoring 39 points on 16-25 shooting from the field, grabbing 10 rebounds, and dishing out 10 assists.
It was his 30th triple-double of the season, a feat that only three other players have achieved. Russell Westbrook did it three times, while Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain each did it once.
And while Jokić shined against the Bucks, Luka Dončić led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 120-119 win over the Indiana Pacers. He actually missed the potential game-winner, but LeBron James tipped the ball back in at the buzzer.
However, Dončić still had a strong game for the Lakers, scoring 34 points along with seven rebounds and seven assists.
Porzingis dominates the Suns, Sarr and Vukcevic beat Yabusele
Elsewhere, Kristaps Porzingis had a great game in the Boston Celtics‘ 102-132 road win over the Phoenix Suns, scoring his first 30-point game of the season.
The Latvian center scored exactly 30 points and was two rebounds shy of a double-double, shooting 10-15 from the field. Vasilije Micic got some playing time for the Arizona team but went scoreless in around four minutes spent on the court.
The Washington Wizards defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 114-119 on the road, with the match being marked by the clash of French players.
Alex Sarr prevailed with the Wizards, scoring 24 points and grabbing seven rebounds, while Guershon Yabusele scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the defeated 76ers. Sarr also had great help from Tristan Vukcevic, as the Serbian forward scored 17 points with six rebounds for the winning team.
The Los Angeles Clippers secured a huge 113-126 win over the New York Knicks at MSG, with Ivica Zubac reaching a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Nicolas Batum added six, and Bogdan Bogdanovic scored four points.
The Knicks played without their leader, Jalen Brunson, but even OG Anunoby’s great game with 28 points, five rebounds, and three assists couldn’t help them prevail over the Clippers.
Philadelphia 76ers – Washington Wizards 114-119
Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors 86-116
Indiana Pacers – Los Angeles Lakers 119-120
New York Knicks – LA Clippers 113-126
Denver Nuggets – Milwaukee Bucks 127-117
Phoenix Suns – Boston Celtics 102-132
Eastern Conference
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Cleveland Cavaliers 58-14
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Boston Celtics 54-19
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New York Knicks 45-27
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Indiana Pacers 42-30
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Detroit Pistons 41-32
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Milwaukee Bucks 40-32
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Atlanta Hawks 35-37
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Orlando Magic 35-38
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Chicago Bulls 32-40
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Miami Heat 31-41
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Toronto Raptors 26-47
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Philadelphia 76ers 23-50
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Brooklyn Nets 23-50
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Charlotte Hornets 18-54
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Washington Wizards 16-56
Western Conference
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Oklahoma City Thunder 60-12
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Houston Rockets 47-26
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Denver Nuggets 46-28
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Los Angeles Lakers 44-28
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Memphis Grizzlies 44-28
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LA Clippers 41-31
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Golden State Warriors 41-31
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Minnesota Timberwolves 41-32
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Sacramento Kings 35-37
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Phoenix Suns 35-38
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Dallas Mavericks 35-38
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Portland Trail Blazers 32-41
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San Antonio Spurs 31-40
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New Orleans Pelicans 20-53
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Utah Jazz 16-57