By George Efkarpides / efkarpides@eurohoops.net
The New Orleans Pelicans shocked the Rockets (131-112) in Houston and Spanish big-man Nikola Mirotic put up 30 points with 10 rebounds and 3 assists.
Swiss center, Clint Capela had 8 points and 8 rebounds for the losing side.
In a matchup that featured two of the top three picks in last year’s draft, Deandre Ayton (16 p. 10 r.) got the best of Slovenian stud, Luka Doncic (10 p. 8 r. 4 a.) as the Suns routed the Cavs 121-100.
Earlier, in Tony Parker’s Hornet’s debut with the Hornets, the French veteran had 8 points and 7 assists but it was the “Greek Freak” with two clutch free-throws and a big performance that helped the Bucks win 113-112.
Giannis finished the game with 25 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists.
Boban Marjanovic is fan-favorite in LA and his performance had Clippers’ fans happy as the Serbian giant posted 18 points and 8 rebounds off the bench while Italian wing Danilo Gallinari had 16 points and 8 boards.
Nikola Jokic came up with a big fourth quarter shot and had 21 points, 8 boards, 5 assists, 1 a steal and a block in a 107-98 win.
Last but not least, Turkish sophomore, Cedi Osman had a big night in Toronto despite the 116-104 loss.
The former Efes player posted a double-double, 17 points, and 10 rebounds to go along with 4 assists and 2 steals.
Here are last night’s results and the euro-scorers:
| MILWAUKEE BUCKS | CHARLOTTE HORNETS | 113-112 | Antetokounmpo 25 p., 18 r. 8 a. 1 b. – Batum 5 p. 7 r. 3 a. 2 s. 2 b., Parker 8 p. 3 r. 7 a., Hernangomez 9 p. 5 r. 1 s. |
| DETROIT PISTONS | BROOKLYN NETS | 103-100 | Pachulia 6 p. 7 r. 4 a. 2 s. 1 b. |
| INDIANA PACERS | MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES | 111-83 | Bogdanovic 19 p. 6 r., Sabonis 14 p. 15 r. 2 a. – Gasol 13 p. 6 r. 3 a. 3 s. |
| ORLANDO MAGIC | MIAMI HEAT | 104-101 | Fournier 13 p. 2 r. 5 a. 1 s., Vucevic 12 p. 8 r. 3 a. 1 s. – Dragic 26 p. 4 r. 4 a. 1 b. |
| NEW YORK KNICKS | ATLANTA HAWKS | 126-107 | Kanter 16 p. 11 r. 3 a. 1 s. 1 b., Ntilikina 5 p. 5 r. 1 a. 3 s. 1 b., Hezonja 15 p. 3 r. 1 a. 3 s. – Dorsey 6 p. 3 r., Len 7 p 4 r. 2 a. 1 b. |
| TORONTO RAPTORS | CLEVELAND CAVALIERS | 116-104 | Valanciunas 6 p. 12 r. 3 a., Ibaka 9 p. 7 r. 1 a. 2 s. 3 b. – Osman 17 p. 10 r. 4 a. 2 s., Zizic 5 p. 3 r. 2 a. |
| HOUSTON ROCKETS | NEW ORLEANS PELICANS | 112-131 | Capela 8 p. 8 r. 1 a. 1 b. – Mirotic 30 p. 10 r. 3 a., |
| SAN ANTONIO SPURS | MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES | 112-108 | Gasol 5 p. 7 r. 6 a., Bertans 9 p. 1 r. 2 a., Poeltl 4 p. 4 r. 2 . |
| SACRAMENTO KINGS | UTAH JAZZ | 117-123 | Bjelica 18 p. 8 r. 2 a. 1 s. – Gobert 19 p. 15 e. 3 b., Rubio 2 r. 4 a. 1 s. |
| PHOENIX SUNS | DALLAS MAVERICKS | 121-100 | Doncic 10 p. 8 r. 4 a., Kleber 8 p. 2 r. |
| LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS | DENVER NUGGETS | 98-107 | Gallinari 16 p. 8 r. 1 a., Marjanovic 18 p. 8 r. – Jokic 21 p. 8 r. 5 a. 1 s. 1 b. |