By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks got back on the win column with a 105-103 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. Dennis Smith Jr. was clutch down the stretch, but Luka Doncic posted the team-high 25 points for the winning side. Dirk Nowitzki added six points and Maxi Kleber had three. On his part, Dennis Schroder returned to his Thunder bench role with 19 points, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot didn’t play and Alex Abrines (illness) was inactive.
Evan Fournier sank a buzzer-beater with a floater from the free throw line to secure a 109-107 win for the Orlando Magic against the Detroit Pistons. The 26-year-old French guard posted a total of 13 points, while Nikola Vucevic added a 22-point, 11-rebound double-double and Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained out. Pistons’ Zaza Pachulia scored eight points before leaving the game due to an injury and Jose Calderon notched four points.
The Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings, 121-114. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk played but failed to score, Moritz Wagner, Isaac Bonga and Ivica Zubac didn’t leave the winning side’s bench. Bogdan Bogdanovic notched 21 points off the bench for the Kings, Nemanja Bjelica had five and Kostas Koufos four.
Serge Ibaka posted eight points and OG Anunoby had five for the Toronto Raptors that overcame the Chicago Bulls with a 95-89 home win. Jonas Valanciunas (left hand) remained out. Lauri Markkanen notched an 18-point, 10-rebound double-double for the losing side.
Jusuf Nurkic helped the Portland Trail Blazers run through the Philadelphia 76ers, 129-95. The Bosnian center put up 14 points, also grabbed seven rebounds. Turk Furkan Korkmaz scored 10 points for the Sixers.
Dario Saric closed out the European field with a 13-point performance for the Minnesota Timberwolves that grabbed a 113-104 away victory against the Miami Heat. His teammate Luol Deng didn’t get any action. Heat’s Goran Dragic (right knee) remained on the injury list.
Sunday’s results, European scores of the six matches and the standings:
| Orlando Magic | Detroit Pistons | 109-107 | Nikola Vucevic 22pts, 11reb, 4ast, 1stl, 2blk, Evan Fournier 13pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1stl – Zaza Pachulia 8pts, 6reb, 4ast, 2stl, 2blk, Jose Calderon 4pts, 5reb, 3ast |
| Miami Heat | Minnesota Timberwolves | 104-113 | Dario Saric 13pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk |
| Toronto Raptors | Chicago Bulls | 95-89 | Serge Ibaka 8pts, 7reb, 2ast, 1stl, 2blk, OG Anunoby 5pts, 3reb, 2ast – Lauri Markkanen 18pts, 10reb, 1ast, 2stl |
| Dallas Mavericks | Oklahoma City Thunder | 105-103 | Luka Doncic 25pts, 3reb, 7ast, 1stl, Dirk Nowitzki 6pts, 3reb, Maxi Kleber 3pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1stl – Dennis Schoder 19pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Philadelphia 76ers | 129-95 | Jusuf Nurkic 14pts, 7reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk – Furkan Korkmaz 10pts, 3reb, 3stl |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Sacramento Kings | 121-114 | Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 1ast – Bogdan Bogdanovic 21pts, 5reb, 4ast, 1stl, 1blk, Nemanja Bjelica 5pts, 9reb, 2ast, 1stl, Kostas Koufos 4pts, 4reb, 1ast |
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 25-10
2. Toronto Raptors 27-11
3. Indiana Pacers 24-12
4. Philadelphia 76ers 23-14
5. Boston Celtics 21-14
6. Charlotte Hornets 17-18
7. Miami Heat 17-18
8. Detroit Pistons 16-18
9. Orlando Magic 16-19
10. Brooklyn Nets 17-21
11. Washington Wizards 14-23
12. Atlanta Hawks 11-24
13. Chicago Bulls 10-27
14. New York Knicks 9-28
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-29
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 23-11
2. Golden State Warriors 24-13
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 22-13
4. Los Angeles Clippers 21-15
5. Houston Rockets 20-15
6. Los Angeles Lakers 21-16
7. Portland Trail Blazers 21-16
8. San Antonio Spurs 20-17
9. Sacramento Kings 19-17
10. Memphis Grizzlies 18-17
11. Utah Jazz 18-19
12. Dallas Mavericks 17-18
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-19
14. New Orleans Pelicans 16-21
15. Phoenix Suns 9-28