By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic put up his ninth 2018-19 triple-double and his 25th of his career aiding the Denver Nuggets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 107-106, at the Target Center. The 23-year-old Serb notched 13 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists, was instrumental down the stretch of the thrilling Regular Season match especially when he forced a turnover and followed up with a full-court assist to Malik Beasley for a clutch bucket.
After the game, Mike Malone was officially named Team LeBron’s head coach in the All Star Game. Mike Budenholzer, who will coach Team Giannis, led the Milwaukee Bucks to their 131-115 away victory against the Washington Wizards limiting Giannis Antetokounmpo to 33 minutes and the rest of his players under 30 minutes. The Greek Freak made 17/17 free throws for 37 points, also grabbed ten rebounds.
Luka Doncic tied his NBA career-high again scoring 35 points, added 11 boards and six assists to his tally for the Dallas Mavericks that got a 111-98 win against the Cleveland Cavaliers on the road. Bojan Bogdanovic poured a season-high 31 points for the Indiana Pacers for the 95-88 victory over the Miami Heat.
Cedi Osman (right ankle) and Ivica Zubac (left hand) left their team’s game after picking up an injury. Fellow Europeans Clint Capela (right thumb), Nikola Mirotic (right calf), Danilo Gallinari (back), Thabo Sefolosha (right hamstring), Goran Dragic (right knee) and Timofey Mozgov (right knee) were inactive.
Results and European action:
| Detroit Pistons | Los Angeles Clippers | 101-111 | Pachulia 5pts, 8reb, 1ast, 2stl – Marjanovic 10pts, 10reb, 1stl, Gortat 0pts |
| Charlotte Hornets | Chicago Bulls | 125-118 | Batum 16pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1stl, W. Hernangomez 2pts, 2reb, Parker 2reb, 2ast – Markkanen 30pts, 9reb, 1ast |
| Orlando Magic | Brooklyn Nets | 102-89 | Vucevic 24pts, 12reb, 4ast, 1stl, 3blk, Fournier 16pts, 3reb, 4ast, 1stl – Kurucs 5pts, 7reb, 1blk |
| Washington Wizards | Milwaukee Bucks | 115-131 | Satoransky 10pts, 5reb, 6ast, 1stl, 1blk – G. Antetokounmpo 37pts, 10reb, 2ast, 1stl, Ilyasova 1ast |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Dallas Mavericks | 98-111 | Osman 10pts, 2reb, 3ast, 1stl, Zizic 8pts, 6reb, 1stl – Doncic 35pts, 11reb, 6ast, 1stl, Kleber 10pts, 9reb, 2ast, 1ast, 2blk, Nowitzki 5reb |
| Miami Heat | Indiana Pacers | 88-95 | Boj. Bogdanovic 31pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1stl, Sabonis 7pts, 10reb, 2ast, 3stl, 1blk |
| San Antonio Spurs | New Orleans Pelicans | 113-108 | Belinelli 17pts, 1reb, 1ast, 2stl, P. Gasol 7pts, 4reb, 4ast, Bertans 5pts, 5reb, 2ast, Poeltl 2pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1blk |
| Golden State Warriors | Los Angeles Lakers | 115-101 | Jerebko 1reb – Zubac 10pts, 9reb, 1ast, 2blk, Wagner 7pts, 3reb, Mykhailiuk 2pts, Bonga 1reb, 1ast |
| Minnesota Timberwolves | Denver Nuggets | 106-107 | Deng 11pts, 3reb, Saric 6pts, 4reb – Jokic 13pts, 16reb, 10ast, J. Hernangomez 8pts, 6reb |
| Phoenix Suns | Atlanta Hawks | 112-118 | Okobo 9pts, 3reb, 11ast – Len 7pts, 9reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Utah Jazz | Houston Rockets | 98-125 | Gobert 10pts, 13reb, 1ast, 1stl, 2blk, Rubio 6pts, 6reb, 9ast, 1stl, Mitrou-Long 1ast – Hartenstein 1reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| Sacramento Kings | Philadelphia 76ers | 115-108 | Bogd. Bogdanovic 7pts, 2reb, 1ast, Bjelica 5pts, 5reb – Korkmaz 1stl |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 38-13
2. Toronto Raptors 37-16
3. Philadelphia 76ers 34-19
4. Indiana Pacers 33-19
5. Boston Celtics 33-19
6. Brooklyn Nets 28-26
7. Charlotte Hornets 26-26
8. Miami Heat 24-27
9. Detroit Pistons 22-29
10. Washington Wizards 22-30
11. Orlando Magic 22-31
12. Atlanta Hawks 17-35
13. Chicago Bulls 12-41
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 11-42
15. New York Knicks 10-41
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 37-15
2. Golden State Warriors 37-15
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 33-18
4. Portland Trail Blazers 32-20
5. San Antonio Spurs 32-22
6. Houston Rockets 30-22
7. Utah Jazz 30-24
8. Los Angeles Clippers 29-24
9. Sacramento Kings 27-25
10. Los Angeles Lakers 27-26
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 25-27
12. Dallas Mavericks 24-28
13. New Orleans Pelicans 23-30
14. Memphis Grizzlies 20-33
15. Phoenix Suns 11-43