By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks’ 11-game home winning streak came to an end on Sunday after their 120-113 defeat to the Sacramento Kings. Nemanja Bjelica poured 15 points, grabbed ten boards and blocked a career-high four shots, Bogdan Bogdanovic started and also scored 15 points, Kostas Koufos added eight. On the other side, Luka Doncic posted 28 points but Dirk Nowitzki, Maxi Kleber and the rest of his teammates were held under the 15-point mark.
In a Conference leaders’ matchup, the Denver Nuggets overpowered the Toronto Raptors, 95-86. A 23-2 run in the last quarter turned the game around and allowed the winners to retain West’s top spot. Nikola Jokic finished up with 26 points and Juan Hernangomez added two at the Pepsi Center. Serge Ibaka scored 14 points and OG Anunoby had seven for the shorthanded visitors. Jonas Valanciunas (left foot) was among the players on the injury list.
At the Bankers Life Fieldhouse, the Indiana Pacers beat the New York Knicks, 110-99. Domantas Sabonis contributed to his team’s seventh consecutive win with a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double, Bojan Bogdanovic helped out scoring 12 points. Enes Kanter notched 20 points and 15 rebounds for the losing side, Frank Ntilikina scored three points and Mario Hezonja two, Kristaps Porzingis (left knee) remained on the sidelines.
In-form Latvian Rodions Kurucs poured 11 points including nine in the second half of a high-scoring affair that resulted in the Brooklyn Nets’ 144-127 victory against the Atlanta Hawks. Ukrainian Alex Len posted four points for the visitors. Tyler Dorsey also played but failed to score.
Furkan Kormaz had two points in the Philadelphia 76ers 128-105 away win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. His Turk compatriot Cedi Osman big night translated to 18 points but wasn’t enough for the home team. Ante Zizic started against Joel Embiid but only posted seven points in 17 minutes.
John Wall led the Washington Wizards to their 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers with 40 points and 14 assists. Czech Tomas Satoransky added 11 points. Moritz Wagner, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Ivica Zubac and Isaac Bonga all got on the Californians’ scoring board totaling 24 points.
The Miami Heat grabbed a 102-96 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans in the only game of the night without any European action. Goran Dragic (right knee) remained out for the winners. Pelicans’ Nikola Mirotic (right ankle) was also on the sidelines.
Sunday’s results, the European scorers of the seven games and NBA’s standings:
| Brooklyn Nets | Atlanta Hawks | 144-127 | Rodions Kurucs 11pts, 6reb, 4ast – Alex Len 4pts, 1ast, 1blk, Tyler Dorsey 1reb, 1ast |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Philadelphia 76ers | 105-128 | Cedi Osman 18pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, Ante Zizic 7pts,2reb, 1ast, 1stl – Furkan Kormaz 2pts, 5reb, 2ast, 1blk |
| Indiana Pacers | New York Knicks | 110-99 | Domantas Sabonis 13pts, 12reb, 4ast, 1stl, Bojan Bogdanovic 12pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1stl – Enes Kanter 20pts, 15reb, Frank Ntilikina 3pts, 2reb, 4ast, Mario Hezonja 2pts |
| Washington Wizards | Los Angeles Lakers | 128-110 | Tomas Satoransky 11pts, 4reb, 5ast, 3stl – Moritz Wagner 12pts, 3reb, 1ast, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 5pts, 3reb, 1ast, 2stl, Ivica Zubac 4pts, 2reb, 1ast, Isaac Bonga 3pts, 1reb, 1ast |
| Dallas Mavericks | Sacramento Kings | 113-120 | Luka Doncic 28pts, 6reb, 9ast, 1stl, Maxi Kleber 11pts, 2reb, Dirk Nowitzki 3pts, 4reb – Bogdan Bogdanovic 15pts, 7reb, 5ast, Nemanja Bjelica 15pts, 10reb, 1ast, 4blk, Kostas Koufos 8pts, 8reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Miami Heat | 96-102 | |
| Denver Nuggets | Toronto Raptors | 95-86 | Nikola Jokic 26pts, 9reb, 4ast, 2stl, Juan Hernangomez 2pts, 5reb, 3ast – Serge Ibaka 14pts, 7reb, 1blk, OG Anunoby 7pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1stl, 2blk |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 23-9
2. Milwaukee Bucks 19-9
3. Indiana Pacers 20-10
4. Philadelphia 76ers 20-11
5. Boston Celtics 18-11
6. Detroit Pistons 14-13
7. Charlotte Hornets 14-15
8. Orlando Magic 14-15
9. Miami Heat 13-16
10. Brooklyn Nets 13-18
11. Washington Wizards 12-18
12. New York Knicks 9-22
13. Chicago Bulls 7-23
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-23
15. Atlanta Hawks 6-23
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 20-9
2. Golden State Warriors 18-10
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 18-10
4. Los Angeles Lakers 18-12
5. Los Angeles Clippers 17-12
6. Memphis Grizzlies 16-13
7. Sacramento Kings 16-13
8. Portland Trail Blazers 16-13
9. Dallas Mavericks 15-13
10. San Antonio Spurs 15-15
11. Houston Rockets 14-14
12. New Orleans Pelicans 15-16
13. Utah Jazz 14-16
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-16
15. Phoenix Suns 6-24
Photo Credit: Getty Images