By George Efkarpides / info@eurohoops.net
The Pelicans had been dominant throughout the series and managed to beat the Blazers for the fourth time in a week, 131-123
Spanish shooter, Nikola Mirotic had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds providing an important supporting cast to Anthony Davis (47 p.) and Jrue Holiday (41 p.).
For the losing side, Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic also had a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds, to go along with 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 blocks.
Croatian standout, Dario Saric had 11 points while Turkish forward Ersan Ilyasova and Italian swingman added 10 a piece.
Slovenian all-star, Groan Dragic scored 20 points for the losing side.
The Minnesota Timberwolves hosted their first playoff game since 2004 and got the win (121-105) over the Rockets and are now down 2-1.
Clint Capela had 7 points, 11 boards an assist and a block for the losing side.
Finally, the Utah Jazz took a 2-1 series lead over the Thunder behind a 115-102 win.
Spanish point-guard, Ricky Rubio recorded a triple-double ( 26 p. 11 r. 10 a.) while French center Rudy Gobert had another dominant performance with 18 points, 12 boards, 3 assists a steal and a block.
Here are last night’s results and the euro-scorers:
| PHILADELPHIA 76ERS | MIAMI HEAT | 102-106 | Dragic 20 p. 1 3. 3 a. 4 s. – Saric 11 p. 8 r. 2 a., Belinelli 10 p. 2 r. 2 a. 1 s., Ilyasova 10 p. 8 r. 1 a. 1 s. |
| NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS | 131-123 | Nurkic 18 p. 11 r. 2 a. 3 s. 2 b. – Mirotic 10 p. 11 r. 1 a. 2 s. 3 b. |
| MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | HOUSTON ROCKETS | 121-105 | Bjelica 1 r. – Capela 7 p. 11 r. 1 a 1 b. |
| UTAH JAZZ | OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER | 115-102 | Rubio 26 p. 11 r. 10 a. 2 s. 1 b., Gobert 18 p. 10 r. 2 a. 1 b., Jerebko 2 r. 1 a. 1 s. – Abrines 1 a. |