By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
It seemed like the playoffs at the Moda Center and Jusuf Nurkic certainly got the feeling. The 24-year-old Bosnian center’s passion was there, but proved excessive and led him to an early shower after he landed a headbutt on Paul George and was charged with a second technical foul. He left the contest with 13 points and 17 rebounds. The Oklahoma City Thunder afterwards secured a crucial 129-121 away win over the Portland Trail Blazers in the overtime thriller.
Earlier, the Milwaukee Bucks snapped their first two-game losing streak of the NBA 2018-19 Regular Season by defeating the Indiana Pacers, 117-98. Giannis Antetokounmpo hit a game-high 29 points and also grabbed 12 rebounds. Bojan Bogdanovic had 17 points for the losing side, but Domantas Sabonis (left ankle) remained out.
Results and European action:
| Milwaukee Bucks | Indiana Pacers | 117-98 | G. Antetokounmpo 29pts, 12reb, 5ast, 1blk, Ilyasova 9pts, 2reb, 1blk, Mirotic 2pts, 6reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, P. Gasol 1pt, 5reb, 1blk – Bogd. Bogdanovic 17pts, 5reb, 1ast, 2stl |
| Portland Trail Blazers | Oklahoma City Thunder | 121-129 | Nurkic 13pts, 17reb, 3ast, 2stl, 1blk, Kanter 3pts, 6reb, 2blk – Schroder 14pts, 4reb, 4ast |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 49-16
2. Toronto Raptors 46-19
3. Indiana Pacers 42-24
4. Philadelphia 76ers 41-24
5. Boston Celtics 40-26
6. Detroit Pistons 32-31
7. Brooklyn Nets 34-33
8. Miami Heat 30-34
9. Orlando Magic 30-36
10. Charlotte Hornets 29-35
11. Washington Wizards 27-37
12. Atlanta Hawks 22-44
13. Chicago Bulls 19-47
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-49
15. e-New York Knicks 13-52
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 44-20
2. Denver Nuggets 43-21
3. Oklahoma City Thinder 40-25
4. Houston Rockets 39-25
5. Portland Trail Blazers 39-26
6. Utah Jazz 37-27
7. San Antonio Spurs 37-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 37-29
9. Sacramento Kings 32-32
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-35
11. Los Angeles Lakers 30-35
12. New Orleans Pelicans 30-37
13. Dallas Mavericks 27-37
14. Memphis Grizzlies 26-40
15. e-Phoenix Suns 15-51
x-Secured a playoffs spot
e-Eliminated from playoffs