By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic highlighted the European NBA field on Wednesday leading the Orlando Magic to their 112-84 away win over the Chicago Bulls. Despite his left leg injury, he put up a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double, before sitting out the last quarter. Evan Fournier added 13 points and Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained out. Lauri Markkanen poured 14 points for the home team.
The Dallas Mavericks also scored a blowout away win, 122-84 against the Charlotte Hornets. Luka Doncic helped out with 18 points and ten rebounds, while Maxi Kleber had eight points and Dirk Nowitzki six. On the losing side, Nicolas Batum notched eight points, Willy Hernangomez had six points and ten rebounds in a rare start and Tony Parker added two points.
Tomas Satoransky impressed filling in for injured John Wall with 14 points, seven assists and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Washington Wizards that beat the Atlanta Hawks, 114-98. His teammate, Ian Mahinmi, didn’t leave the bench. Alex Len led the Hawks racking up 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Tyler Dorsey played one minute but didn’t get on the board.
Zaza Pachulia (right leg) missed his second straight game, but the Detroit Pistons grabbed a 101-94 away victory against the Memphis Grizzlies. Jose Calderon played his part with three points. Marc Gasol notched 11 points for the losing side, Joakim Noah and Omri Casspi also got action but failed to score.
Dennis Schroder posted 10 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 107-100 away victory over the Los Angeles Lakers. However, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot didn’t play and Alex Abrines (personal) remained out. Ivica Zubac had eight points and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk five for the Lakers.
Furkan Korkmaz started replacing Jimmy Butler (illness) and put up 10 points for the Philadelphia 76ers in their 132-127 away win over the Phoenix Suns. Elie Okobo scored nine points for the home team, but Dragan Bender didn’t play.
Rodions Kurucs also scored ten points aiding the Brooklyn Nets in their 126-121 home victory against the New Orleans Pelicans. His teammate, Dzanan Musa (left shoulder), remained on the injury list, so did the visitors’ Nikola Mirotic (right ankle).
Cedi Osman posted nine points, but the Cleveland Cavaliers suffered a 117-92 home defeat to the Miami Heat. His teammate, Ante Zizic (right knee), remained on the sidelines, so did the winning side’s Goran Dragic (right knee).
Daniel Theis notched eight points and Guerschon Yabusele added four of his own for the Boston Celtics that overpowered the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-102. Dario Saric scored seven points for the visitors and Luol Deng remained on the bench.
Wednesday’s results, the European scorers and the standings:
| Charlotte Hornets | Dallas Mavericks | 84-122 | Nicolas Batum 8pts, 5reb, 4ast, 1ast, Willy Hernangomez 6pts, 10reb, 1ast, 1blk, Tony Parker 2pts, 1reb – Luka Doncic 18pts, 10reb, 4ast, Maxi Kleber 8pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, Dirk Nowitzki 6pts, 2reb |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Miami Heat | 92-117 | Cedi Osman 9pts, 3reb, 3ast |
| Washington Wizards | Atlanta Hawks | 114-98 | Tomas Satoransky 14pts, 11reb, 7ast, 2stl – Alex Len 24pts, 11reb, 3blk, Tyler Dorsey 0pts |
| Brooklyn Nets | New Orleans Pelicans | 126-121 | Rodions Kurucs 10pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Boston Celtics | Minnesota Timberwolves | 115-102 | Daniel Theis 8pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1blk, Guerschon Yabusele 4pts, 1reb, 1ast, 1blk – Dario Saric 7pts, 6reb |
| Chicago Bulls | Orlando Magic | 84-112 | Lauri Markkanen 14pts, 6reb, 1ast, 2stl – Nikola Vucevic 22pts, 12reb, 3ast, 2stl, 3blk, Evan Fournier 13pts, 1reb, 7ast |
| Memphis Grizzlies | Detroit Pistons | 94-101 | Marc Gasol 11pts, 7reb, 3ast, 2blk, Joakim Noah 1reb, 1ast, 1blk, Omri Casspi 1reb – Jose Calderon 3pts, 1ast |
| Phoenix Suns | Philadelphia 76ers | 127-132 | Elie Okobo 9pts, 1reb, 2ast, 2stl – Furkan Korkmaz 10pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1stl |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Oklahoma City Thunder | 100-107 | Ivica Zubac 8pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1blk, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 5pts, 1reb – Dennis Schroder 10pts, 7reb, 6ast |
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 26-10
2. Toronto Raptors 28-11
3. Indiana Pacers 25-12
4. Philadelphia 76ers 25-14
5. Boston Celtics 22-15
6. Miami Heat 18-18
7. Charlotte Hornets 18-19
8. Detroit Pistons 17-19
9. Brooklyn Nets 18-21
10. Orlando Magic 17-20
11. Washington Wizards 15-23
12. Atlanta Hawks 11-26
13. Chicago Bulls 10-28
14. New York Knicks 8-29
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-30
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 24-11
2. Golden State Warriors 25-13
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-13
4. Houston Rockets 21-15
5. Portland Trail Blazers 22-16
6. Los Angeles Clippers 21-16
7. San Antonio Spurs 21-17
8. Los Angeles Lakers 21-17
9. Sacramento Kings 19-18
10. Memphis Grizzlies 18-19
11. Dallas Mavericks 18-19
12. Utah Jazz 18-20
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 17-21
14. New Orleans Pelicans 17-22
15. Phoenix Suns 9-30