By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic was at the American Airlines Arena packed by 2.000 Slovenians, but he wasn’t the country’s representative with a triple-double. Goran Dragic was and led the Miami Heat to their 105-99 win over the Dallas Mavericks with 23 points, 12 boards and 11 dimes. Doncic sank 19 points for the losing side.
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured 34 points before leaving the NBA 2018-19 Regular Season contest with a right ankle injury that has bothered him recently. His contribution was ultimately enough for the Milwaukee Bucks in their 128-118 win against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Boban Marjanovic scored 16 points for the Philadelphia 76ers in their 123-110 home win against the Brooklyn Nets. Serge Ibaka posted a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double and the Toronto Raptors defeated the New York Knicks, 117-92.
The Houston Rockets routed the Denver Nuggets for their 112-85 home victory. Clint Capela was big early and finished with a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double. Nikola Jokic scored 16 points for the visitors.
Bogdan Bogdanovic poured 14 points, but the Sacramento Kings lost to the New Orleans Pelicans, 121-118. His teammate Nemanja Bjelica left with a stomach illness.
Thursday was Manu Ginobili’s big night and the San Antonio Spurs overpowered the Cleveland Cavaliers, 116-110, Marco Belinelli helped out with 16 points.
Evan Fournier put up 13 points and Nikola Vucevic had a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. However, the Orlando Magic lost to the Detroit Pistons, 115-98.
Results and European action:
| Hosts | Visitors | Result | European Stats |
| Detroit Pistons | Orlando Magic | 115-98 | Pachulia 1pt, 1reb, Mykhailiuk OUT, Calderon OUT – Fournier 13pts, 1reb, 3ast, Vucevic 12pts, 12reb, 4ast, 1stl, Mozgov OUT |
| Philadelphia 76ers | Brooklyn Nets | 123-110 | Marjanovic 16pts, 3reb, 1ast, Korkmaz OUT – Kurucs 5pts, 1ast, Musa OUT |
| Miami Heat | Dallas Mavericks | 105-99 | Dragic 23pts, 12reb, 11ast, 1stl, 1blk – Doncic 19pts, 8reb, 7ast, Nowitzki 13pts, 3reb, 1ast, Kleber 5pts, 10reb, 1ast, K. Antetokounmpo OUT, Porzingis OUT |
| New York Knicks | Toronto Raptors | 92-117 | Hezonja 8pts, 4reb, 2ast, Ntilikina OUT – Ibaka 10pts, 10reb, 1ast, 2blk, M. Gasol 2pts, 5reb, 4ast, 1stl, Anunoby OUT |
| Houston Rockets | Denver Nuggets | 112-85 | Capela 17pts, 15reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Hartenstein OUT – Jokic 16pts, 8reb, 6ast, 2blk, J. Hernangomez 0pts |
| Milwaukee Bucks | Los Angeles Clippers | 128-118 | G. Antetokounmpo 34pts, 9reb, 5ast, 1stl, 1blk, Ilyasova 2pts, 2reb, 1ast, 2blk, P. Gasol OUT, Mirotic OUT – Gallinari 14pts, 8reb, 4ast, 1stl, Zubac 10pts, 6reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| New Orleans Pelicans | Sacramento Kings | 121-118 | Dair. Bertans 2ast – Bogd. Bogdanovic 14pts, 1reb, 3ast, 1blk, Koufos 2pts, 6reb, 2ast, 3blk, Bjelica 1reb |
| San Antonio Spurs | Cleveland Cavaliers |
116-110 | Belinelli 16pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1stl, Dav. Bertans 9pts, 4reb, 3ast, Poeltl 4pts, 2reb, 1ast, 1stl, 3blk – Osman 9pts, 5reb, 2ast, Zizic DNP |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. y-Milwaukee Bucks 57-19
2. x-Toronto Raptors 53-23
3. x-Philadelphia 76ers 48-27
4. x-Indiana Pacers 45-30
5. x-Boston Celtics 44-31
6. Detroit Pistons 38-37
7. Brooklyn Nets 38-38
8. Miami Heat 37-38
9. Orlando Magic 37-39
10. Charlotte Hornets 35-39
11. e-Washington Wizards 31-45
12. e-Atlanta Hawks 27-48
13. e-Chicago Bulls 21-55
14. e-Cleveland Cavaliers 19-57
15. e-New York Knicks 14-61
Western Conference
1. x-Golden Stare Warriors 51-23
2. x-Denver Nuggets 50-24
3. x-Portland Trail Blazers 47-27
4. x-Houston Rockets 48-28
5. x-Utah Jazz 45-30
6. x-Los Angeles Clippers 45-31
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 44-31
8. San Antonio Spurs 44-32
9. Sacramento Kings 37-38
10. e-Minnesota Timberwolves 33-41
11. e-Los Angeles Lakers 33-42
12. e-New Orleans Pelicans 32-45
13. e-Memphis Grizzlies 30-45
14. e-Dallas Mavericks 29-45
15. e-Phoenix Suns 17-59
y-clinched division and a playoffs spot
x-Secured a playoffs spot
e-Eliminated from playoffs
Photo Credit: Getty Images