Luka Doncic’s big night was not enough for Dallas vs. Boston

By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net

Kemba Walker saved the day with 29 points and three key 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, and the Celtics beat the Dallas Mavericks 116-106, despite one more great game by Luka Doncic.

The Slovenian star led the Mavericks with 34 points, nine assists, and six rebounds. Doncic turned things around for Dallas in the third quarter, but couldn’t complete an amazing comeback alone. German Maxi Kleber had 15 points with eight boards, but Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored just four points on 1-of-11 shooting.

“I had an off night tonight, and guys stepped up,” Porzingis said. “Guys fought until the end, and we were right there. If I had a better game, the result could have been much different.”

German big man Daniel Theis scored 11 and former Fenerbahce Brad Wanamaker had 10 for Boston, which won its eighth straight game.

French big man Rudy Gobert led the charge with 25 points and 14 rebounds, Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic added 12 points and the Jazz beat the Warriors 122-108.

The LA Clippers prevailed over the Toronto Raptors (98-88) with Kawhi Leonard just missing the triple-double against his former team (12 p. 11 r. 9 as.). Croatian big man Ivica Zubac added six points and nine rebounds against Spaniard Marc Gasol who finished the night with eight points, five rebounds, and five assists.

The Grizzlies spoiled the party on Tony Parker’s jersey retirement by beating the San Antonio Spurs 113-109 with Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas having a solid double-double (18 p. 12 r.). Minnesota also spoiled Blake Griffin’s return to action by beating the Pistons 120-114.

James Harden scored 19 of his 39 points in the fourth quarter and the Houston Rockets beat the short-handed New Orleans Pelicans 122-116. Swiss center Clint Capela added 11 points and 20 rebounds to help the Rockets to their fourth straight win.