By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Milwaukee Bucks again showed their strength with an impressive 104-99 away win over the Toronto Raptors, They beat the Canadian NBA team for the second time this year. Giannis Antetokounmpo poured 19 points and matched a season-high 19 rebounds at the Scotiabank Arena. His teammate Ersan Ilyasova added nine points. Serge Ibaka scored 22 points for the Eastern Conference leaders, Jonas Valanciunas was held to six and OG Anunoby notched two.
Tony Parker only needed 17 minutes for 16 points, Nicolas Batum and Willy Hernangomez added a total of nine points for the Charlotte Hornets in their easy 119-107 away win against the New York Knicks. Knicks’ Frank Ntilikina posted 18 points before fouling out, Enes Kanter had six and Mario Hezonja failed to score in five minutes, while Kristaps Porzingis (left knee) remained on the sidelines.
Pau Gasol (left foot) and Davis Bertans (personal) were out on Sunday, but the San Antonio Spurs beat the Utah Jazz, 110-97. Marco Belinelli helped out with ten points, Jakob Poeltl added two. Ricky Rubio went off for 26 points, Rudy Gobert scored 12 and dished a personal-best seven assists and Thabo Sefolosha posted a season-high nine points, but the European trio wasn’t enough for the visitors at the A&T Center.
Nikola Mirotic notched 12 points in the New Orleans Pelicans’ 116-108 away victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. He added seven rebounds in 30 minutes. Zaza Pachulia had six points for the home team. Jose Calderon was also in action and dished nine dimes but didn’t score.
Results, NBA standings and Sunday’s European scorers:
| Detroit Pistons | New Orleans Pelicans | 108-116 | Zaza Pachulia 6pts, 5reb, 3ast, Jose Calderon 4reb, 9ast, 2stl – Nikola Mirotic 12pts, 7reb, 1blk |
| Toronto Raptors | Milwaukee Bucks | 99-104 | Serge Ibaka 22pts, 6reb, 4ast, 2stl, 2blk, Jonas Valanciunas 6pts, 5reb, OG Anunoby 2pts, 2reb – Giannis Antetokounmpo 19pts, 19reb, 6ast, 1blk, Ersan Ilyasova 9pts, 2reb, 1stl, 1blk |
| San Antonio Spurs | Utah Jazz | 110-97 | Marco Belinelli 10pts, 2reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk, Jakob Poeltl 2pts, 6reb, 2ast,1blk – Ricky Rubio 26pts, 3reb, 2ast, Rudy Gobert 12pts, 8reb, 7ast, 1stl, 1blk, Thabo Sefolosha 9pts, 1reb, 2ast, 2stl |
| New York Knicks | Charlotte Hornets | 107-119 | Frank Ntilikina 18pts, 1ast, Enes Kanter 6pts, 4reb, Mario Hezonja 1reb – Tony Parker 16pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1stl, Nicolas Batum 6pts, 4reb, 5ast, Willy Hernangomez 3pts |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 21-7
2. Milwaukee Bucks 17-8
3. Philadelphia 76ers 18-9
4. Indiana Pacers 16-10
5. Boston Celtics 15-10
6. Detroit Pistons 13-11
7. Charlotte Hornets 13-13
8. Orlando Magic 12-14
9. Miami Heat 11-14
10. Washington Wizards 11-15
11. Brooklyn Nets 10-18
12. New York Knicks 8-20
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. New Orleans Pelicans 14-14
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-13
12. San Antonio Spurs 13-14
13. Utah Jazz 13-14
14. Houston Rockets 11-14
15. Phoenix Suns 4-22