By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Chicago Bulls fell in a 21-point hole, but achieved a 98-93 away victory over the San Antonio Spurs. Finn Lauri Markkanen really helped out with 23 points. Marco Belinelli scored 17 points including four threes for the home team, Davis Bertans added six points and Jakob Poeltl five. Pau Gasol (left foot) remained on the sidelines.
The Orlando Magic finished up their Mexico trip with a 96-89 victory over the Utah Jazz. Evan Fournier downed a team-high 24 points and Nikola Vucevic added 15 points and 19 rebounds, while Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained out. Ricky Rubio got 15 points, Rudy Gobert six and Thabo Sefolosha played but failed to score for the losing side.
James Harden notched his second straight triple-double and the Houston Rockets got a 105-97 away win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Swiss Clint Capela contributed with 26 points and ten rebounds. Spaniard Marc Gasol poured 17 points for the home side, Omri Casspi and Joakim Noah were also in action.
Dario Saric slipped into the Minnesota Timberwolves’ starting five for the first time due to Taj Gibson’s (personal) absence and posted a 15-point, 11-rebound double-double. However, the Croatian forward’s team suffered a 107-99 away defeat to the Phoenix Suns.
LeBron James and Lonzo Ball notched a triple-double in the Los Angeles Lakers 128-100 away victory against the Charlotte Hornets. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added 12 points, Ivica Zubac, Moritz Wagner and Isaac Bonga also got action. Willy Hernangomez, Nicolas Batum and Tony Parker totaled 22 European points for the home side.
Danilo Gallinari poured 28 points but the Los Angeles Clippers succumbed to a 110-104 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Marcin Gortat and Milos Teodosic also played for the Californians. Dennis Schroder scored eight points and Alex Abrines added six for the Thunder.
Zaza Pachulia (illness) missed his first 2018-19 match, but Jose Calderon aided the Detroit Pistons in their 113-104 home win over the Boston Celtics with five points and eight assists. Daniel Theis posted eight points for the losing side, while Guerschon Yabusele (right ankle) was on the injury list.
Saturday’s results, the European scorers of the seven games and the standings:
| Orlando Magic | Utah Jazz | 96-89 | Evan Fournier 24pts, 7reb, 1stl, Nikola Vucevic 15pts, 19reb, 5ast, 2blk – Ricky Rubio 15pts, 4reb, 4ast, 2stl, Rudy Gobert 6pts, 13reb, 2ast, 2stl, 2blk, Thabo Sefolosha 1reb, 3stl |
| Charlotte Hornets | Los Angeles Lakers | 100-128 | Willy Hernangomez 11pts, 6reb,1ast, Nicolas Batum 7pts, 1reb, 2ast, 1stl, Tony Parker 4pts, 2ast – Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 12pts, 1reb, 4ast, Ivica Zubac 6pts, 1reb, Moritz Wagner 5pts, 3reb, Isaac Bonga 2pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2stl |
| Detroit Pistons | Boston Celtics | 113-104 | Jose Calderon 5pts, 2reb, 8ast, 3stl – Daniel Theis 8pts, 4reb, 1ast |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Houston Rockets | 97-105 | Marc Gasol 17pts, 9reb, 4ast, 3stl, Omri Casspi 2pts, 1reb, 1ast, Joakim Noah 1pt, 2reb, 1ast, 1blk – Clint Capela 26pts, 10reb, 2blk |
| San Antonio Spurs | Chicago Bulls | 93-98 | Marco Belinelli 17pts, 4reb, 2ast, Davis Bertans 6pts, 1reb, 1stl, Jakob Poeltl 5pts, 1blk – Lauri Markkanen 23pts, 7reb, 1ast, 2stl, 2blk |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Los Angeles Clippers | 110-104 | Dennis Schroder 8pts, 3reb, 3ast, 1stl, Alex Abrines 6pts, 4reb – Danilo Gallinari 28pts, 7reb, 2ast, 2stl, Marcin Gortat 5pts, 8reb, 1blk, Milos Teodosic 2pts, 2ast |
| Phoenix Suns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 107-99 | Dario Saric 15pts, 11reb, 2ast, 1stl |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 23-8
2. Milwaukee Bucks 19-9
3. Indiana Pacers 19-10
4. Philadelphia 76ers 19-11
5. Boston Celtics 18-11
6. Detroit Pistons 14-13
7. Charlotte Hornets 14-15
8. Orlando Magic 14-15
9. Miami Heat 12-16
10. Brooklyn Nets 12-18
11. Washington Wizards 11-18
12. New York Knicks 9-21
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-22
14. Chicago Bulls 7-23
15. Atlanta Hawks 6-22
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 19-9
2. Golden State Warriors 20-10
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-10
4. Los Angeles Lakers 18-11
5. Los Angeles Clippers 17-12
6. Dallas Mavericks 15-12
7. Memphis Grizzlies 16-13
8. Portland Trail Blazers 16-13
9. Sacramento Kings 15-13
10. New Orleans Pelicans 15-15
11. San Antonio Spurs 15-15
12. Houston Rockets 14-14
13. Utah Jazz 14-16
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-16
15. Phoenix Suns 6-24