By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Spaniard Alex Abrines’ 3-pointer gave the Thunder their biggest lead at 97-89 with 7:48 left, but Al-Farouq Aminu made a layup that tied it at 101 with 3:43 to go. He missed the free throw, still Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic got the tip-in to give Portland the lead. The Bosnian beast had 18 points, 12 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 blocks for Portland. Turk Enes Kanter added 18 points and 10 rebounds for the losing side, Abrines had 6 points and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis 2 points in a game that was marked by the duel of Westbrook and Damian Lillard.
Jimmy Butler scored 22 points and the Chicago Bulls beat Golden State 94-87 on Thursday night in the Warriors’ first game since Kevin Durant injured his left leg. German Paul Zipser nailed a 3-pointer from the right wing to make it 91-85 with 1:41 left and in total scored 9 points, while Spaniard Nikola Mirotic added 5. Georgian Zaza Pachulia had 8 points and 5 rebounds for the Warriors.
Marquese Chriss scored 17 points and the Suns shot a season-best 59.7 percent in a 120-103 victory over the Charlotte Hornets. Ukrainian center Alex Len added 5 points and 5 rebounds for the winners, while French Nicolas Batum had 12 points and 5 assists and Marco Belinelli added 7 points for the Hornets.