By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
He played with flu, but Rudy Gobert kept on imposing his will in the paint. The 26-year-old French center led the Utah Jazz to their 114-98 win against the Brooklyn Nets with 23 points and 17 rebounds at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. He notched his 55th double-double of the NBA 2018-19 Regular Season on Saturday.
Nikola Jokic was ejected with 2:56 to go, but the Denver Nuggets defeated the Indiana Pacers, 102-100. The 24-year-old Serb center ended up with 26 points at the Pepsi Center on Saturday, but was tossed when he was called for a foul and confronted the referees on the call.
Jusuf Nurkic finished with 24 points and 16 boards, but the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a 108-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs on the road. Dennis Schroder scored 15 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in their 110-88 home defeat to the Golden State Warriors.
With Luka Doncic out, Maxi Kleber posted an 18-point, 12-rebound double-double, while Dirk Nowitzki got in clutch mode en route for his 14-point performance. The Dallas Mavericks beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 121-116 overcoming Cedi Osman’s 22 points.
Tomas Satoransky was evaluated for a concussion, but contributed with 15 points to the Washington Wizards’ 135-128 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies. Jonas Valanciunas had 22 points, Joakim Noah 15 and Tyler Dorsey 7 for the losing side.
Doncic (right knee) was sidelined on Saturday, but wasn’t the only European not able to help his team. Guerschon Yabusele (illness) was also out, so were Thabo Sefolosha (left hamstring) and Kristaps Porzingis (left knee).
Results and European action:
| Boston Celtics | Atlanta Hawks | 129-120 | Theis 3pts, 1reb – Len 7pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1blk |
| Washington Wizards | Memphis Grizzlies | 135-128 | Satoransky 15pts, 6reb, 7ast, 1stl, 1blk, Mahinmi DNP – Valanciunas 22pts, 8reb, 3ast, 1blk, Noah 15pts, 8reb, 1ast, 1blk, Dorsey 7pts, 3reb, 1ast |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Phoenix Suns | 136-138 | Dair. Bertans 3pts, 1ast – Bender 13pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Okobo DNP |
| Dallas Mavericks | Cleveland Cavaliers | 121-116 | Kleber 18pts, 12reb, 1ast, 1blk, Nowitzki 14pts, 6reb, 1ast, 2stl, 2blk, K. Antetokounmpo DNP – Osman 22pts, 3reb, 4ast, Zizic 11pts, 5reb, 3ast |
| Oklahoma City Thunder | Golden State Warriors | 88-110 | Schroder 15pts, 3ast – Jerebko 2pts, 1reb |
| San Antonio Spurs | Portland Trail Blazers | 108-103 | Belinelli 11pts, 4reb, 1stl, Poeltl 8pts, 6reb, 1ast, 5blk, Dav. Bertans 7pts, 5reb, 2ast – Nurkic 24pts, 16reb, 4ast, 2blk, 2stl, 1blk, Kanter 4reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| Denver Nuggets | Indiana Pacers | 102-100 | Jokic 26pts, 7reb, 5ast, J. Hernangomez 1reb, 1ast, 1blk – Sabonis 16pts, 7reb, 2ast, 1stl, Boj. Bogdanovic 16pts, 6reb, 2ast |
| Utah Jazz | Brooklyn Nets | 114-98 | Gobert 23pts, 17reb, 1ast, 3blk, Rubio 12pts, 6reb, 4ast, 1stl, Mitrou-Long G-L – Kurucs 8pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1blk, Musa G-L |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 52-17
2. x-Toronto Raptors 49-20
3. Philadelphia 76ers 44-25
4. Indiana Pacers 44-26
5. Boston Celtics 43-27
6. Detroit Pistons 35-33
7. Brooklyn Nets 36-35
8. Miami Heat 32-36
9. Orlando Magic 32-38
10. Charlotte Hornets 31-37
11. Washington Wizards 30-40
12. Atlanta Hawks 24-46
13. e-Chicago Bulls 19-51
14. e-Cleveland Cavaliers 17-53
15. e-New York Knicks 13-56
Western Conference
1. x-Golden State Warriors 47-21
2. Denver Nuggets 46-22
3. Houston Rockets 43-26
4. Portland Trail Blazers 42-27
5. Oklahoma City Thunder 42-28
6. San Antonio Spurs 41-29
7. Utah Jazz 40-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 40-30
9. Sacramento Kings 33-35
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-37
11. Los Angeles Lakers 31-38
12. New Orleans Pelicans 30-42
13. Dallas Mavericks 28-41
14. Memphis Grizzlies 28-42
15. e-Phoenix Suns 17-54
x-Secured a playoffs spot
e-Eliminated from playoffs