By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic made 13/16 inside the rainbow for 28 points, also took down 13 boards and dished six dimes in 36 minutes, but the Orlando Magic lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 107-93. Cedi Osman nailed a key three-pointer for the winning side en route for his 14 points.
Dennis Schroder scored 17 points and grabbed a career-high 12 boards for the Oklahoma City Thunder, also dished six assists helping in the 99-95 home win over the Memphis Grizzlies. Jonas Valanciunas had a 16-point, 13-rebound double-double for the losing side.
Another European double-double was from Jusuf Nurkic, who finished with 26 points and 15 rebounds for the Portland Trail Blazers in their 118-108 victory against the Charlotte Hornets on the road.
Alex Len scored 28 points for the Atlanta Hawks in their 123-118 win against the Chicago Bulls. Danilo Gallinari poured 20 for the Los Angeles Clippers that beat the New York Knicks, 128-107.
Zaza Pachulia was ejected after two technical fouls, but the Detroit Pistons defeated the Toronto Raptors, 112-107, in overtime. Marc Gasol and OG Anunoby put up 13 points each in their losing effort.
Mario Hezonja (left leg), Ante Zizic (head), Luol Deng (left Achilles), Frank Ntilikina (groin) and Timofey Mozgov (right knee) were inactive due to injury.
Results and European action:
| Charlotte Hornets | Portland Trail Blazers | 108-118 | Parker 14pts, 5ast, Batum 8pts, 4reb, 3ast, 3stl, W. Hernangomez DNP – Nurkic 26pts, 15reb, 6ast, 2stl, 1blk, Kanter 6pts, 8reb, 2ast, 1stl |
| Boston Celtics | Houston Rockets | 104-115 | Theis 2pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1stl, Yabusele INA – Capela 8pts, 9reb, 2ast, 1stl, Hartenstein G-LEA |
| Chicago Bulls | Atlanta Hawks | 118-123 | Markkanen 19pts, 9reb, 3ast, 2stl, Luwawu-Cabarrot 6pts, 4reb – Len 28pts, 9reb, 2ast, 2blk |
| Los Angeles Clippers | New York Knicks | 128-107 | Gallinari 20pts, 7reb, 4ast, Zubac 7pts, 11reb, 5ast, 1blk |
| Cleveland Cavaliers | Orlando Magic | 107-93 | Osman 14pts, 6reb, 3ast, 3stl – Vucevic 28pts, 13reb, 6ast, 2stl, 2blk, Fournier 11pts, 5reb, 5ast |
| Detroit Pistons | Toronto Raptors | 112-107 | Pachulia 4reb, Mykhailiuk INA, Calderon INA – M. Gasol 13pts, 8reb, 5ast, 1stl, 2blk, Anunoby 13pts, 6reb, 1blk, Ibaka 5pts, 11reb, 1ast |
| Washington Wizards | Minnesota Timberwolves | 135-121 | Satoransky 14pts, 3reb, 6ast, Mahinmi DNP – Saric 13pts, 5reb, 2ast |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Memphis Grizzlies | 99-95 | Schroder 17pts, 12reb, 6ast, 2stl, 1blk – Valanciunas 16pts, 13reb, 1ast, 3blk, Dorsey 3pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, Noah 2pts, 3reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 41-15
2. Toronto Raptors 46-18
3. Indiana Pacers 41-23
4. Philadelphia 76ers 40-23
5. Boston Celtics 38-26
6. Detroit Pistons 31-31
7. Brooklyn Nets 32-33
8. Orlando Magic 30-35
9. Charlotte Hornets 29-34
10. Miami Heat 28-34
11. Washington Wizards 26-37
12. Atlanta Hawks 22-42
13. Chicago Bulls 18-46
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-48
15. New York Knicks 13-50
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 44-19
2. Denver Nuggets 42-20
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 39-24
4. Portland Trail Blazers 39-24
5. Houston Rockets 38-25
6. Utah Jazz 36-26
7. Los Angeles Clippers 36-29
8. San Antonio Spurs 35-29
9. Sacramento Kings 31-31
10. Los Angeles Lakers 30-33
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 29-34
12. New Orleans Pelicans 29-36
13. Dallas Mavericks 27-35
14. Memphis Grizzlies 25-40
15. e-Phoenix Suns 13-51
x-Secured a playoffs spot
e-Eliminated from playoffs
Photo Credit: Getty Images