By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic is gunning for his first NBA triple-double, almost got it on Wednesday. The 19-year-old Slovenian ended up with 21 points, 10 assists and nine rebounds. He sank the winning free throws with 30 seconds to go and the Dallas Mavericks snapped their six-game losing streak with a 122-119 home victory over the New Orleans Pelicans. Maxi Kleber started and helped out with ten points and a career-high six blocks, while Dirk Nowitzki tied his season-high with seven points. Nikola Mirotic (right ankle) remained on the Pelicans’ injury list.
The San Antonio Spurs got an important 111-103 win against the Denver Nuggets. Italian Marco Belinelli poured 12 points, Jakob Poeltl and Davis Bertans added six points each for the home team. Pau Gasol (left foot) remained out. The visitors’ Juancho Hernangomez tied his NBA career-high scoring 27 points and grabbed a personal-high 13 rebounds, but Nikola Jokic was held to four points and tied his 2018-19 worst offensive performance.
Domantas Sabonis scored 19 points for the Indiana Pacers that grabbed a 129-111 away win against the Atlanta Hawks. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic made just 3/10 shots, but had 9/10 free throws in his 16-point performance. The home team’s Alex Len (back) was ruled out of Wednesday’s match. Tyler Dorsey was available, but didn’t play.
Serge Ibaka (right knee) returned to action with six points and OG Anunoby added five in the Toronto Raptors’ 106-104 away win over the Miami Heat. However, Danny Green sank the winning three-pointer for the NBA leaders, who went on without injured Jonas Valanciunas (left hand). The Heat’s Goran Dragic also remained on the sidelines.
Danilo Gallinari sank 14 points and Boban Marjanovic added 11 in the Los Angeles Clippers’ 127-118 victory against the Sacramento Kings. Their teammates, Milos Teodosic and Marcin Gortat were available, but didn’t get any action. On the losing side, Bogdan Bogdanovic scored 13 points, Nemanja Bjelica had 11 and Kostas Koufos added eight.
Marc Gasol notched 20 points leading the Memphis Grizzlies to their 95-87 home victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Joakim Noah (right foot) returned to action with five points, but Omri Casspi didn’t play. Cedi Osman had ten points and seven rebounds for the Cavs, Ante Zizic finished up with six points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
The Phoenix Suns topped the Orlando Magic with a 122-120 overtime win despite Nikola Vucevic’s 22-point, 13-rebound performance for the home side. Evan Fournier had 16 points for the Magic, Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained out. Elie Okobo posted nine points for the winning side, but Dragan Bender didn’t get off the bench.
Two overtimes were needed for the Brooklyn Nets to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 134-132. Latvian Rodions Kurucs chimed in with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Dzanan Musa (left shoulder) was on the injury list. Nicolas Batum scored 13 points, Tony Parker ten and Willy Hernangomez seven for the visitors.
The Detroit Pistons beat the Washington Wizards, 106-95. Zaza Pachulia helped out with five rebounds, Jose Calderon also got some action but didn’t score. Ian Mahinmi savored his rare 2018-19 appearance for the Wizards with ten points and a highlight dunk, while Tomas Satoransky added two points for the losing side.
Europeans also battled in Chicago, where the Minnesota Timberwolves grabbed a 119-94 away victory against the Chicago Bulls. Dario Saric helped out with 12 points, but Luol Deng didn’t get any action. Finn Lauri Markkanen poured 16 points and took down seven rebounds for the home team.
Wednesday’s results, the European scorers of the ten games and the standings:
| Detroit Pistons | Washington Wizards | 106-95 | Zaza Pachulia 5pts, 5reb, 2ast, Jose Calderon 1reb, 3ast – Ian Mahinmi 10pts, 5reb, 1ast, 3stl, 1blk, Tomas Satoransky 2pts, 1ast, 2stl |
| Orlando Magic | Phoenix Suns | 120-122 | Nikola Vucevic 22pts, 13reb, 2ast, 2stl, Evan Fournier 16pts, 4reb, 5ast – Elie Okobo 9pts, 1reb |
| Atlanta Hawks | Indiana Pacers | 121-129 | Domantas Sabonis 19pts, 8reb, 2ast, 1stl, 1blk, Bojan Bogdanovic 16pts, 5reb, 2ast, 3stl |
| Brooklyn Nets | Charlotte Hornets | 134-132 | Rodions Kurucs 13pts, 12reb, 3ast, 3stl, 1blk – Nicolas Batum 13pts, 2reb, 3ast, 1stl, Tony Parker 10pts, 1reb, 5ast, Willy Hernangomez 7pts, 11reb, 2ast |
| Miami Heat | Toronto Raptors | 104-106 | Serge Ibaka 6pts, 3reb, 4ast, 1blk, OG Anunoby 5pts, 8reb, 2ast, 2stl |
| Chicago Bulls | Minnesota Timberwolves | 94-119 | Lauri Markkanen 16pts, 7reb – Dario Saric 12pts, 2reb, 3ast |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Cleveland Cavaliers | 95-87 | Marc Gasol 20pts, 9reb, 6ast, 1stl, 4blk, Joakim Noah 5pts, 4reb, 2ast – Cedi Osman 10pts, 7reb, Ante Zizic 6pts, 11reb, 2ast |
| Dallas Mavericks | New Orleans Pelicans | 122-119 | Luka Doncic 21pts, 9reb, 10ast, 1stl, Maxi Kleber 10pts, 3reb, 6blk, Dirk Nowitzki 7pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2blk |
| San Antonio Spurs | Denver Nuggets | 111-103 | Marco Belinelli 12pts, 4reb, 3ast, Jakob Poeltl 6pts, 11reb, 2ast, Davis Bertans 6pts, 7reb, 1ast – Juan Hernangomez 27pts, 13reb, 1ast, Nikola Jokic 4pts, 4reb, 10ast, 2stl |
| Los Angeles Clippers | Sacramento Kings | 127-118 | Danilo Gallinari 14pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1stl, Boban Marjanovic 11pts, 5reb, 3ast – Bogdan Bogdanovic 13pts, 3reb, 4ast, Nemanja Bjelica 11pts, 5reb, 3ast, 2stl, 4blk, Kostas Koufos 8pts, 3reb, 2stl, 1blk |
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 26-10
2. Milwaukee Bucks 23-10
3. Indiana Pacers 23-12
4. Philadelphia 76ers 22-13
5. Boston Celtics 20-13
6. Detroit Pistons 16-16
7. Charlotte Hornets 16-17
8. Miami Heat 16-17
9. Brooklyn Nets 17-19
10. Orlando Magic 14-19
11. Washington Wizards 13-22
12. Atlanta Hawks 9-24
13. Chicago Bulls 9-26
14. New York Knicks 9-26
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-27
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 23-12
2. Denver Nuggets 21-11
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 21-12
4. Los Angeles Lakers 20-14
5. Los Angeles Clippers 20-14
6. Portland Trail Blazers 19-15
7. Houston Rockets 18-15
8. San Antonio Spurs 19-16
9. Sacramento Kings 18-16
10. Memphis Grizzlies 18-16
11. Utah Jazz 17-18
12. Dallas Mavericks 16-17
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-18
14. New Orleans Pelicans 15-20
15. Phoenix Suns 9-26