By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Enes Kanter led the New York Knicks to their 103-98 away victory over the Memphis Grizzlies scoring 21 points and posting a personal-high 26 rebounds in 41 minutes. The 26-year-old center had already recorded a 20-20 game during the third period. Marc Gasol’s 27 points, eight rebounds, four assists and five blocks weren’t enough for the home team.
Nikola Vucevic put up 31 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and three blocks in Orlando Magic’s 108-104 away win over the Los Angeles Lakers. His teammate Evan Fournier didn’t escape his shooting slump and finished with six points in the Staples Center.
Despite a neck injury, Ricky Rubio scored 27 points and the Utah Jazz beat the Sacramento Kings with 133-112 in the Golden 1 Center. Rudy Gobert added an 18-point, 15-rebound double-double. Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic posted 20 points and Nemanja Bjelica got 12, while Kostas Koufos remained out due to his right calf injury.
Danilo Gallinari helped the Los Angeles Clippers to a 104-100 away win against the Portland Trail Blazers with 17 points, eight rebounds and five assists. The home team lost Jusuf Nurkic during the first half due to the 24-year-old’s right shoulder injury.
Jonas Valanciunas notched a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Toronto Raptors, who scored a 125-115 away victory over the Miami Heat. Serge Ibaka added eight points and seven rebounds. Heat’s Goran Dragic (knee) remained on the sidelines.
Tony Parker didn’t play on Sunday due to a rib injury and the Charlotte Hornets suffered a 124-123 away defeat at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks despite Nicolas Batum’s 14 points. Alex Len (back) aided his team with eight points and four rebounds in 15 minutes.
Sunday’s results and the European scorers of the eight games:
| Los Angeles Lakers | Orlando Magic | 104-108 | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 1pt, 1ast, 1stl – Nikola Vucevic 31pts, 15reb, 7ast, 2stl, 3blk, Evan Fournier 6pts, 2reb, 2ast |
| Detroit Pistons | Phoenix Suns | 118-107 | Zaza Pachulia 7pts, 10reb, 2ast |
| Atlanta Hawks | Charlotte Hornets | 124-123 | Alex Len 8pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1blk – Nicolas Batum 14pts, 4reb, 5ast |
| Brooklyn Nets | Philadelphia 76ers | 125-127 | Furkan Kormaz 2pts, 1reb, 1stl |
| Toronto Raptors | Miami Heat | 125-115 | Jonas Valanciunas 17pts, 10reb, 2ast, Serge Ibaka 8pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1blk, OG Anunoby 4pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Memphis Grizzlies | New York Knicks | 98-103 | Marc Gasol 27pts, 8reb, 4ast, 2stl, 5blk, Omri Casspi 4pts, 3reb – Enes Kanter 21pts, 26reb, 3ast, Frank Ntilikina 7pts, 6reb, 1ast, Mario Hezonja 4pts, 4reb, 1ast |
| Sacramento Kings | Utah Jazz | 112-133 | Bogdan Bogdanovic 20pts, 3reb, 3ast, 1stl, Nemanja Bjelica 12pts, 5reb, 1stl – Ricky Rubio 27pts, 7reb, 5ast, Rudy Gobert 18pts, 15reb, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk, Thabo Sefolosha 2pts, 3reb, 2stl |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Los Angeles Clippers | 100-104 | Jusuf Nurkic 4pts, 8reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk – Danilo Gallinari 17pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1stl, Marcin Gortat 6pts, 4reb, 1blk, Milos Teodosic 6pts, 1ast |
The standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 17-4
2. Milwaukee Bucks 14-5
3. Philadelphia 76ers 14-8
4. Detroit Pistons 10-7
5. Indiana Pacers 11-8
6. Orlando Magic 10-10
7. Boston Celtics 10-10
8. Charlotte Hornets 9-10
9. Brooklyn Nets 8-13
10. Washington Wizards 7-12
11. Miami Heat 7-12
12. New York Knicks 7-14
13. Chicago Bulls 5-15
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-14
15. Atlanta Hawks 4-16
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Clippers 13-6
2. Golden State Warriors 14-7
3. Denver Nuggets 13-7
4. Memphis Grizzlies 12-7
5. Oklahoma City Thunder 12-7
6. Portland Trail Blazers 12-8
7. Los Angeles Lakers 11-8
8. New Orleans Pelicans 10-10
9. Sacramento Kings 10-10
10. Dallas Mavericks 9-9
11. Houston Rockets 9-9
12. San Antonio Spurs 9-10
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 9-11
14. Utah Jazz 9-11
15. Phoenix Suns 4-15