By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to their 123-110 home win over the Charlotte Hornets with a 2018-19 personal-best 39 points. Nobody was able to halt him. Besides his 39 points, he had 12 rebounds and dished six dimes. Meanwhile, Juan Hernangomez failed to score facing his brother Willy Hernangomez, who finished up with ten points for the visitors. Nicolas Batum had 11 points and Tony Parker two for the losing side.
Giannis Antetokounmpo went off for 43 points and 18 rebounds, one shy of his two career-highs, but the Milwaukee Bucks suffered a 123-116 home defeat to the Toronto Raptors. His teammate Ersan Ilyasova had three points. Serge Ibaka notched 25 points for the visitors, OG Anunoby added three and Jonas Valanciunas (left hand) remained a member of the injury list.
Luka Doncic couldn’t get his shot to fall and was held to 14 points for the Dallas Mavericks that lost to the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-100. Maxi Kleber posted six points and seven rebounds for the Texans, but Dirk Nowitzki (rest) didn’t play. Furkan Korkmaz scored seven points and grabbed six boards for the home team.
Jusuf Nurkic notched his twentieth 2018-19 NBA Regular Season double-double with 25 points and 15 rebounds for the Portland Trail Blazers in their 110-101 victory against the Houston Rockets. Clint Capela produced 13 points and 21 rebounds for the losing side, while James Harden poured 38 points after five straight games with 40 or more.
Ricky Rubio scored 18 points for the Utah Jazz in their 110-105 away victory over the Detroit Pistons. Rudy Gobert added nine points and Thabo Sefolosha notched six before picking up a right hamstring injury. The home team’s Zaza Pachulia (right leg) remained out, while Jose Calderon posted seven points.
The Golden State Warriors beat the Sacramento Kings, 127-123, despite Bogdan Bogdanovic’s 17 points and Nemanja Bjelica’s 12. Kostas Koufos didn’t leave the bench. Jonas Jerebko had two points and eight boards for the winning side, while Stephen Curry scored 20 of his 42 points in the last period.
Jakov Poetlt had 11 points, Marco Belinelli nine and Davis Bertans four for the San Antonio Spurs that overpowered the Memphis Grizzlies 108-88. Pau Gasol didn’t play, while his brother Marc Gasol had six points. Joakim Noah finished up with one point and Omri Casspi didn’t leave the bench.
In other action, the New Orleans Pelicans strolled to a 133-98 away victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers despite Nikola Mirotic (right ankle) missing his 11th straight game. Ante Zizic (right knee) also remained on the injury list, but Cedi Osman played and poured 13 points.
Saturday’s results, the European scorers and the standings:
| Denver Nuggets | Charlotte Hornets | 123-110 | Nikola Jokic 39pts, 12reb, 6ast, 3stl, 1blk, Juan Hernangomez 2reb – Nicolas Batum 11pts, 7reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk, Willy Hernangomez 10pts, 5reb, 1ast, Tony Parker 2pts, 1reb, 3ast |
| Detroit Pistons | Utah Jazz | 105-110 | Jose Calderon 7pts, 1reb, 1ast – Ricky Rubio 18pts, 2reb, 4ast, 1stl, Rudy Gobert 9pts, 11reb, 3ast, 1blk, Thabo Sefolosha 6pts, 3reb, 2stl |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Dallas Mavericks | 106-100 | Furkan Korkmaz 7pts, 6reb, 4ast – Luka Doncic 14pts, 8reb, 4ast, 2stl, Maxi Kleber 6pts, 7reb |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | New Orleans Pelicans | 98-133 | Cedi Osman 13pts, 1reb, 5ast, 3stl |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Toronto Raptors | 116-123 | Giannis Antetokoumpo 43pts, 18reb, 4ast, 1stl, Ersan Ilyasova 3pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl – Serge Ibaka 25pts, 9reb, 5ast, 1blk, OG Anunoby 3pts, 2reb |
| San Antonio Spurs | Memphis Grizzlies | 108-88 | Jakob Poeltl 11pts, 6reb, 2ast, 1blk, Marco Belinelli 9pts, 4reb, 1ast, Davis Bertans 4pts, 5reb, 2ast, 2stl, 1blk – Marc Gasol 6pts, 11reb, 6ast, 1stl, 1blk, Joakim Noah 1pt, 2reb |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Houston Rockets | 110-101 | Jusuf Nurkic 25pts, 15reb, 3ast – Clint Capela 13pts, 21reb, 2ast, 2blk |
| Sacramento Kings | Golden State Warriors | 123-127 | Bogdan Bogdanovic 17pts, 6reb, 7ast, 3stl, Nemanja Bjelica 12pts, 9reb, 3ast, 2stl – Jonas Jerebko 2pts, 8reb, 1stl |
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 27-11
2. Toronto Raptors 29-12
3. Indiana Pacers 26-12
4. Philadelphia 76ers 26-14
5. Boston Celtics 23-15
6. Miami Heat 19-18
7. Brooklyn Nets 19-21
8. Charlotte Hornets 18-20
9. Detroit Pistons 17-20
10. Orlando Magic 17-21
11. Washington Wizards 15-24
12. Atlanta Hawks 11-27
13. Chicago Bulls 10-29
14. New York Knicks 10-29
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-32
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 26-11
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 25-13
3. Golden State Warriors 26-14
4. Los Angeles Clippers 22-16
5. Houston Rockets 22-16
6. San Antonio Spurs 23-17
7. Portland Trail Blazers 23-17
8. Los Angeles Lakers 21-18
9. Utah Jazz 20-20
10. Sacramento Kings 19-20
11. Memphis Grizzlies 18-21
12. Dallas Mavericks 18-21
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 18-21
14. New Orleans Pelicans 18-22
15. Phoenix Suns 9-31