By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Philadelphia 76ers clawed their way back from a 21-point deficit, but were still facing defeat for the first time in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season up to Furkan Korkmaz’s game-winning three-pointer with 0.4 seconds left. The clutch corner three made by the 22-year-old Turkish forward handed his team the 129-128 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center on Saturday night.
“I didn’t know how to feel or how to act. It was the biggest shot of my career,” he confessed referring to his game-winning effort that led him to 11 points for the contest, “We were working on that in practice. I knew that if I was open I would take the shot. That was my mentality when I was going in.” Korkmaz had three rebounds, two dimes and two rejections as well. Mario Hezonja posted an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double for the hosts, also notched four assists and two steals, with injured Jusuf Nurkic and Pau Gasol out alongside Jaylen Hoard.
Massive performance for Giannis Antetokounmpo with 36 points, 15 rebounds, eight assists, four blocks and one interception in 36 minutes for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 115-105 win over the Toronto Raptors at the Fiserv Forum. The Greek Freak held his second-ever outing with at least 35 points, 15 rebounds, five assists and four blocks for the Eastern Conference Finals rematch, afterwards noted, “We cannot relax. People are coming after us. Nothing is going to be given to us.”
Ersan Ilyasova added five points, six rebounds, two dimes and two blocks for the Bucks, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Dragan Bender were out. Serge Ibaka ended up with 11 points, Marc Gasol posted a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double and OG Anunoby notched nine points for the reigning NBA champions.
Nikola Jokic scored 16 out of his 20 points in the second half, also tallied seven rebounds and four assists, aiding the Denver Nuggets get back on the winning track with the 91-87 victory over the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. He is now averaging 15 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists per appearance in the young NBA season.
Juan Hernangomez contributed to the “W” with three points, but Vlatko Cancar did not leave the bench. Nikola Vucevic’s 24 points and seven rebounds went to waste for the hosts, so did Evan Fournier’s 11 point, 5-assist, 2-rebound showing. The Magic are now 2-4 with two straight losses.
Ricky Rubio put up 11 points, six assists, five boards and three steals for the Phoenix Suns in the 114-105 victory versus the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum. Dario Saric helped out with nine points and seven rebounds, but Elie Okobo did not play. On the other side, Jonas Valanciunas posted 13 points, seven rebounds and a couple of assists, while Marko Guduric went for two points, eight boards and two dimes.
Dennis Schroder and Danilo Gallinari combined for 33 points, 17 and 16 respectively, and the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-114, at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. The German guard tallied nine rebounds as well. Fellow European Nicolo Melli posted four points for the losing side.
In other action, the depleted Detroit Pistons took down the Brooklyn Nets, 113-109, at the Little Caesars Arena. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk sank a three, added one rebound, one assist and one rejection, but Sekou Doumbouya did not get on the court. Rodions Kurucs had two points and three rebounds for the Nets, Dzanan Musa remained on the bench and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was inactive.
The Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Washington Wizards, 131-109, at the Capital One Arena. Moritz Wagner scored 14 points, tallied five rebounds and three steals as well for the hosts, Davis Bertans notched eight points to go along with his three rebounds and two dimes, and Isaac Bonga added three points, three boards, two interceptions and one steal, but Ian Mahinmi remained sidelined.
Nicolas Batum sat out injured as well and Willy Hernangomez did not see any action, but the Charlotte Hornets sent the Golden State Warriors to 1-5 with their 93-87 win in the Chase Center. A right ankle injury held out the sole European of the hosts, Alen Smailagic.
Standings
Eastern Conference:
1. Philadelphia 76ers 5-0
2. Miami Heat 4-1
3. Boston Celtics 4-1
4. Milwaukee Bucks 4-2
5. Toronto Raptors 4-2
6. Charlotte Hornets 3-3
7. Detroit Pistons 3-4
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 2-3
9. Indiana Pacers 2-3
10. Atlanta Hawks 2-3
11. Orlando Magic 2-4
12. Brooklyn Nets 2-4
13. Chicago Bulls 2-4
14. Washington Wizards 1-4
15. New York Knicks 1-5
Western Conference:
1. Los Angeles Lakers 4-1
2. San Antonio Spurs 4-1
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 4-1
4. Utah Jazz 4-2
5. Denver Nuggets 4-2
6. Phoenix Suns 4-2
7. Los Angeles Clippers 4-2
8. Houston Rockets 3-2
9. Dallas Mavericks 3-2
10. Portland Trail Blazers 3-3
11. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-4
12. Memphis Grizzlies 1-4
13. Golden State Warriors 1-5
14. New Orleans Pelicans 1-5
15. Sacramento Kings 1-5