By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jonas Jerebko put up a career-high 23 points in the Golden State Warriors’ 120-116 win against the Dallas Mavericks. The 31-year-old Swede ignited the Oracle Arena crowd with his buckets and was one of his team’s main contributors. Luka Doncic had 19 points in Oakland, but slowed down in the second half after his scary plunge into a chair behind the basket. Maxi Kleber notched five points and Dirk Nowitzki added three for the visitors.
Nikola Jokic scored 19 points but was ejected after two quick technical fouls in the third period and the Denver Nuggets suffered their worst 2018-19 defeat, 132-111 to the Los Angeles Clippers. His teammate Juan Hernangomez finished up with eight points. Danilo Gallinari helped the home team with 21 points, Boban Marjanovic added six and Marcin Gortat had four, while Milos Teodosic remained on the bench.
Paul George led the Oklahoma City Thunder to their 107-106 away victory over the Utah Jazz with Saturday’s top performance of 43 points and 14 rebounds. Europeans Dennis Schroder and Alex Abrines added eleven and six points respectively. The winners overcame Rudy Gobert’s 20-point, 10-rebound and Ricky Rubio’s 12-point, 14-assist double-doubles. Swiss Thabo Sefolosha was also in action and notched nine points.
Another Swiss International Clint Capela dominated with 21 points and 23 rebounds in the Houston Rockets‘ 108-101 victory over the San Antonio Spurs. James Harden posted 41 points for the home team, which went on without injured Chris Paul. On the losing side, Davis Bertans scored 11 points, Jakob Poetlt six and Marco Belinelli three, while Pau Gasol (left foot) remained out.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was held to nine points and the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a 94-87 away defeat to the Miami Heat. The Greek Freak’s Turk teammate Ersan Ilyasova (face) was on the injury list, so was the Heat’s Goran Dragic (right knee).
Tomas Satoransky started in John Wall’s (illness) place and notched 17 points and nine assists in the Washington Wizards‘ 149-146 triple-overtime victory against the Phoenix Suns. Ian Mahinmi was available but didn’t play. The visitors Elie Okobo and Dragan Bender also remained benched during the 63 minutes of play.
Furkan Kormaz scored 16 points in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ 126-101 win over the Toronto Raptors. The NBA leaders went on without Jonas Valanciunas (left hand) and Serge Ibaka (right knee), but O.G. Anunoby played and started summing up his effort to five points, five rebounds and one assist.
NBA’s results, standings and the European scorers of Saturday’s seven games:
| Los Angeles Clippers | Denver Nuggets | 132-111 | Danilo Gallinari 21pts, 4reb, 2ast, 1stl, Boban Marjanovic 6pts, 5reb, Marcin Gortat 4pts, 11reb, 1ast, 1blk – Nikola Jokic 19pts, 6reb, 3ast, 1blk, Juan Hernangomez 8pts, 3reb, 1blk |
| Washington Wizards | Phoenix Suns | 149-146 (3OT) | Tomas Satoransky 17pts, 4reb, 9ast, 1stl |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Toronto Raptors | 126-101 | Furkan Kormaz 16pts, 4reb, 3stl – O.G. Anunoby 5pts, 5reb, 1ast |
| Miami Heat | Milwaukee Bucks | 94-87 | Giannis Antetokounmpo 9pts, 13reb, 3ast, 2blk |
| Houston Rockets | San Antonio Spurs | 108-101 | Clint Capela 21pts, 23reb, 2ast, 1blk – Davis Bertans 11pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1blk, Jakob Poeltl 6pts, 4reb, 1ast, 2blk, Marco Belinelli 3pts, 3reb |
| Golden State Warriors | Dallas Mavericks | 120-116 | Jonas Jerebko 23pts, 6reb, 3ast, 1stl – Luka Doncic 19pts, 3reb, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk, Maxi Kleber 5pts, 3reb, 2ast, Dirk Nowitzki 3pts |
| Utah Jazz | Oklahoma City Thunder | 106-107 | Rudy Gobert 20pts, 10reb, 1blk, Ricky Rubio 12pts, 7reb, 14ast, 3stl, Thabo Sefolosha 9pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1stl – Dennis Schroder 11pts, 1reb, Alex Abrines 6pts, 1reb |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 25-10
2. Milwaukee Bucks 22-10
3. Philadelphia 76ers 22-12
4. Indiana Pacers 21-12
5. Boston Celtics 18-13
6. Charlotte Hornets 16-15
7. Detroit Pistons 15-15
8. Miami Heat 15-16
9. Orlando Magic 14-17
10. Brooklyn Nets 15-19
11. Washington Wizards 13-20
12. New York Knicks 9-25
13. Atlanta Hawks 8-23
14. Chicago Bulls 8-25
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-25
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 21-10
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 21-10
3. Golden State Warriors 22-11
4. Los Angeles Lakers 19-13
5. Los Angeles Clippers 19-13
6. Portland Trail Blazers 18-14
7. Houston Rockets 17-15
8. Sacramento Kings 17-15
9. San Antonio Spurs 18-16
10. Memphis Grizzlies 16-16
11. Dallas Mavericks 15-16
12. Utah Jazz 16-18
13. New Orleans Pelicans 15-18
14. Minnesota Timberwolves 14-18
15. Phoenix Suns 8-25
Photo Credit: Getty Images