By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic scored all 11 points in an 11-0 Dallas Mavericks run that turned the game around and led his team to the 107-104 home victory over the Houston Rockets. The 19-year-old finished up with 21 points, also downed seven rebounds. His teammates, Dirk Nowitzki (left ankle) and Maxi Kleber (left foot), were on the Mavs’ injury list. Clint Capela posted a 12-point, 13-rebound double-double for the losing side.
Jusuf Nurkic also posted a double-double, his 13th of the 2018-19 season, with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the Portland Trail Blazers’ 113-105 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Bosnian center also dished four assists, blocked three shots and stole three balls. Dario Saric, on the other side, scored eight points from the bench.
Daniel Theis poured 22 points marking his new NBA career-high. He also grabbed ten rebounds during the Boston Celtics’ 133-77 away win against the Chicago Bulls. Guerschon Yabusele left the game with a right ankle sprain after stepping on a teammate’s foot and seems like he will miss some time due to the injury. Lauri Markkanen had eight points in the Bulls’ worst loss in franchise history.
Bojan Bogdanovic scored 18 points in the Indiana Pacers 107-97 win over the Sacramento Kings. Domantas Sabonis returned from a one-game absence due to food poisoning and added 14 points. Bogdan Bogdanovic got his second 2018-19 start for the visitors and posted 11 points, Nemanja Bjelica had six points, but Kostas Koufos didn’t score.
Cedi Osman aided the Cleveland Cavaliers with 12 points in their 116-101 victory over the Washington Wizards. He overcame his recent back injury going into double-figures for the third straight game. Tomas Satoransky scored seven points and Ian Mahinmi two for the losing side.
Enes Kanter went off for 23 points and 14 rebounds, but the New York Knicks suffered a 112-104 home loss to the Brooklyn Nets. Mario Hezonja posted 12 points, Frank Ntilikina added seven for the home team and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee) remained out. Rodions Kurucs was in action, but didn’t score for the winning side.
Tyler Dorsey notched seven points and Alex Len added six for the Atlanta Hawks that beat the Denver Nuggets, 106-98. Nikola Jokic ended up with 24 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals, but wasn’t enough for the visitors. His teammate Juan Hernangomez scored 17 points and grabbed ten boards at the State Farm Arena.
The Los Angeles Lakers steamrolled the Memphis Grizzlies on their way to the 111-88 win at the FedEx Forum. All four of their European players got some action and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk highlighted their effort with 11 points and three rebounds. Marc Gasol got 11 points, Joakim Noah six and Omri Casspi two for the home team.
The Miami Heat also achieved an easy away win, 121-98 against the Los Angeles Clippers despite Goran Dragic (rest) absence. Clippers’ Danilo Gallinari posted 12 points and ten rebounds, while Boban Marjanovic had eight points as a starter. Milos Teodosic and Marcin Gortat didn’t play.
Results, standings and the European scorers:
| Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets | 107-104 | Luka Doncic 21pts, 7reb, 1ast, 3stl – Clint Capela 12pts, 13reb, 1ast |
| Indiana Pacers | Sacramento Kings | 107-97 | Bojan Bogdanovic 18pts, 4reb, 2ast, Domantas Sabonis 14pts, 6reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk – Bogdan Bogdanovic 11pts, 3reb, 6ast, 3stl, 1blk, Nemanja Bjelica 6pts, 12reb, 2ast, 1stl, Kostas Koufos 5reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Atlanta Hawks | Denver Nuggets | 106-98 | Tyler Dorsey 7pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1stl, Alex Len 6pts, 4reb, 1blk – Nikola Jokic 24pts, 11reb, 7ast, 2stl, Juan Hernangomez 17pts, 10reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Washington Wizards | 116-101 | Cedi Osman 12pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1blk – Tomas Satoransky 7pts, 2reb, 5ast, Ian Mahinmi 2pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| New York Knicks | Brooklyn Nets | 104-112 | Enes Kanter 23pts, 14reb, 3ast, 1stl, Mario Hezonja 12pts, 5reb, 1ast, Frank Ntilikina 7pts, 1reb, 3ast – Rodions Kurucs 1reb, 1blk |
| Chicago Bulls | Boston Celtics | 77-133 | Lauri Markkanen 8pts, 4reb, 1ast – Daniel Theis 22pts, 10reb, 5ast, 1stl, 4blk, Guerschon Yabusele 2pts, 2reb, 3ast, 1stl |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Los Angeles Lakers | 88-111 | Marc Gasol 11pts, 6reb, 3ast, 1stl, 2blk, Joakim Noah 6pts, 5reb, 1ast, 2blk, Omri Casspi 2pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2stl, 1blk – Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 11pts, 3reb, Isaac Bonga 1pt, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, Moritz Wagner 1ast, Ivica Zubac 2reb, 1blk |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Minnesota Timberwolves | 113-105 | Jusuf Nurkic 22pts, 11reb, 4ast, 3stl, 4blk – Dario Saric 8pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1stl |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Miami Heat | 98-121 | Danilo Gallinari 12pts, 10reb, 3ast, 1blk, Boban Marjanovic 8pts, 4reb, 1stl |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 21-6
2. Philadelphia 76ers 18-9
3. Milwaukee Bucks 16-8
4. Indiana Pacers 16-10
5. Boston Celtics 15-10
6. Detroit Pistons 13-10
7. Charlotte Hornets 12-13
8. Orlando Magic 12-14
9. Miami Heat 11-14
10. Washington Wizards 11-15
11. Brooklyn Nets 10-18
12. New York Knicks 8-19
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 6-20
14. Atlanta Hawks 6-20
15. Chicago Bulls 6-21
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 18-9
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-8
3. Denver Nuggets 17-9
4. Los Angeles Clippers 16-9
5. Los Angeles Lakers 16-10
6. Memphis Grizzlies 15-10
7. Portland Trail Blazers 15-11
8. Dallas Mavericks 13-11
9. Sacramento Kings 13-12
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-13
11. Utah Jazz 13-13
12. New Orleans Pelicans 13-14
13. San Antonio Spurs 12-14
14. Houston Rockets 11-14
15. Phoenix Suns 14-22