By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Through MVP chants, Nikola Jokic led the Denver Nuggets to their 116-113 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers. The Pepsi Center crowd was more than happy to see the Joker go off for a season-high 40 points. He also took down ten boards and dished eight helpers on Sunday. The Serb’s teammate, Juan Hernangomez, played through a groin injury and remained pointless. Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic had 12 points for the losing side.
In an amazing game with a many runs, the Toronto Raptors grabbed a 140-138 double-overtime win against the Washington Wizards on the road. Serge Ibaka hit the game-winning three-point shot and finished with 10 points, while OG Anunoby added seven points and Jonas Valanciunas (left hand) remained sidelined. Tomas Satoransky only made 2/13 from the field for four points following his first NBA triple-double and Ian Mahinmi had four points.
Despite facing hip and quad injuries, Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Milwaukee Bucks to their 133-114 away victory over the Atlanta Hawks. The Greek Freak returned to action pouring 33 points. His teammate Ersan Ilyasova shifted back to a reserve role and posted five points. On the losing side, Ukrainian forward/center Alex Len notched 12 points before fouling out and Tyler Dorsey didn’t record any stats in three minutes.
Luka Doncic became the first rookie since Stephen Curry to score at least 25 points in four consecutive matches, but the 30-year-old American poured 48 points and sank 11 threes for the Golden State Warriors in their 119-114 away victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The 19-year-old Slovenian finished with 26 points, Maxi Kleber had six and Dirk Nowitzki added three. Jonas Jerebko notched three points for the winning side.
The Orlando Magic overcame a seven-point deficit in the final four minutes to beat the Houston Rockets, 116-109. Nikola Vucevic posted 22 points and grabbed nine rebounds, and Evan Fournier had 19 points of his own. Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained on the injury list. Swiss forward/center Clint Capela put up a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double, his thirteenth in sixteen matches, but wasn’t enough for the visitors.
Cedi Osman scored a team-high 20 points for the Cleveland Cavaliers that snapped a twelve-game losing streak with a 101-95 away win against the Los Angeles Lakers. Ante Zizic was also in action but failed to score. Ivica Zubac had five points for the hosts and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk finished with three, but Moritz Wagner remained on the bench and Isaac Bonga on assignment.
The Philadelphia 76ers grabbed a 108-105 away victory over the New York Knicks in the other NBA 2018-19 Regular Season Sunday match. Furkan Kormaz played but didn’t score. Mario Hezonja had nine points and Frank Ntilikina eight for the home side, while Kristaps Porzingis (left knee) and Enes Kanter (illness) remained on the injury list.
Results and European action:
| New York Knicks | Philadelphia 76ers | 105-108 | Mario Hezonja 9pts, 5reb, 2ast, 2stl, Frank Ntilikina 8pts, 2reb, 6ast, 2stl, 1blk – Furkan Korkmaz 0pts |
| Washington Wizards | Toronto Raptors | 138-140 | Tomas Satoransky 4pts, 7reb, 2ast, 2stl, Ian Mahinmi 4pts, 2reb, 1ast – Serge Ibaka 10pts, 4reb, 1stl, 1blk, OG Anunoby 7pts, 4reb, 2stl |
| Atlanta Hawks | Milwaukee Bucks | 114-133 | Alex Len 12pts, 8reb, Tyler Dorsey 0pts – Giannis Antetokounmpo 33pts, 6reb, 4ast, 3stl, 1blk, Ersan Ilyasova 5pts, 3reb, 3stl |
| Orlando Magic | Houston Rockets | 116-109 | Nikola Vucevic 22pts, 9reb, 6ast, 1stl, Evan Fournier 19pts, 5reb, 2ast – Clint Capela 17pts, 10reb, 3ast |
| Dallas Mavericks | Golden State Warriors | 114-119 | Luka Doncic 26pts, 6reb, 5ast, 1stl, Maxi Kleber 6pts, 8reb, 1stl, 1blk, Dirk Nowitzki 3pts, 2reb, 1ast – Jonas Jerebko 3pts, 8reb |
| Denver Nuggets | Portland Trail Blazers | 116-113 | Nikola Jokic 40pts, 10reb, 8ast, Juan Hernangomez 1reb, 1ast – Jusuf Nurkic 12pts, 8reb, 4ast, 3stl, 1blk |
| Los Angeles Lakers | Cleveland Cavaliers | 95-101 | Ivica Zubac 5pts, 2reb, 2blk, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 3pts, 1reb, 1ast – Cedi Osman 20pts, 8reb, 1ast, 2stl, Ante Zizic 4reb, 1ast |
The NBA standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Toronto Raptors 33-12
2. Milwaukee Bucks 30-12
3. Indiana Pacers 28-14
4. Philadelphia 76ers 28-16
5. Boston Celtics 25-17
6. Miami Heat 21-20
7. Brooklyn Nets 21-23
8. Charlotte Hornets 19-23
9. Orlando Magic 19-24
10. Detroit Pistons 18-23
11. Washington Wizards 18-26
12. Atlanta Hawks 13-30
13. Chicago Bulls 10-33
14. New York Knicks 10-33
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-35
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 29-13
2. Golden State Warriors 29-14
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 26-16
4. Portland Trail Blazers 26-18
5. Los Angeles Clippers 24-18
6. Houston Rockets 24-18
7. San Antonio Spurs 25-19
8. Los Angeles Lakers 23-21
9. Utah Jazz 23-21
10. Sacramento Kings 22-21
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-22
12. New Orleans Pelicans 20-23
13. Dallas Mavericks 20-23
14. Memphis Grizzlies 19-23
15. Phoenix Suns 11-33