By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic poured in a season-high 53 points to lead the Lakers to a 124-118 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers.
“Luka can do some things that maybe a handful, if not no one, can do in basketball,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said.
Wilt Chamberlain is the only player to score more than Doncic’s 361 points through his first nine games in a season. The Hall of Fame center had 472 points through nine games in 1962-63 and 455 points in the 1961-62 season.
“It’s obviously a long season,” Doncic said. “We’re 10 games in. We’ve got 72 left. As long as we’re winning, I’m good. I got [the shots] up today, I’m not going to lie. Hopefully, it continues, but you never know.”
Israeli Deni Avdija had 22 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds for the losing side.
Wembanyama hot again
Victor Wembanyama scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the San Antonio Spurs beat the Sacramento Kings 124-109.
The French alien, coming off a 52-point, 24-rebound win over Dallas on Wednesday, recorded his seventh double-double of the season, tying for third in the NBA with Sacramento’s Lithuanian star Domantas Sabonis, who finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds.
LeBron returns to Cleveland and loses
Donovan Mitchell scored 23 points as the Cleveland Cavaliers held LeBron James to eight points in his return to Northeast Ohio and rolled to a 119-95 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers.
It was only the 10th time in his 24-year career that James has scored in single digits in the regular season.
For the winning side, Croatian forward Mario Hezonja came off the bench with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Friday Games
Atlanta Hawks – Washington Wizards 139-132
Charlotte Hornets – Boston Celtics 80-119
Cleveland Cavaliers – Philadelphia 76ers 119-95
Dallas Mavericks – Utah Jazz 112-100
Memphis Grizzlies – Oklahoma City Thunder 97-128
Milwaukee Bucks – Toronto Raptors 107-121
New Orleans Pelicans – Minnesota Timberwolves 109-115
Los Angeles Lakers – Portland Trail Blazers 124-118
Sacramento Kings – San Antonio Spurs 109-124
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 8-2
2. Boston Celtics 7-2
3. Detroit Pistons 6-2
4. Atlanta Hawks 6-4
5. Toronto Raptors 5-4
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-4
7. New York Knicks 4-4
8. Washington Wizards 4-5
9. Miami Heat 3-6
10. Indiana Pacers 3-6
11. Charlotte Hornets 3-7
12. Orlando Magic 2-6
13. Brooklyn Nets 2-6
14. Chicago Bulls 1-7
15. Milwaukee Bucks 1-8
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 8-2
2. Houston Rockets 7-2
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-2
4. San Antonio Spurs 7-2
5. Portland Trail Blazers 6-2
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 7-3
7. Memphis Grizzlies 6-3
8. Golden State Warriors 6-3
9. Denver Nuggets 4-3
10. Dallas Mavericks 5-4
10. New Orleans Pelicans 4-5
12. Phoenix Suns 2-5
13. Los Angeles Clippers 1-7
14. Sacramento Kings 1-8
15. Utah Jazz 1-8
-Top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-7th through 10th place teams in each conference qualify for the Play-In tournament
Make 
Your Preferred Basketball Source.
Add Eurohoops to Google