By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Dennis Schroder scored 22 points from the bench including a massive three early in the closing 13-0 run for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 100-97 win against the slumping Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center on Monday evening. The 26-year-old German guard was 9/17 from the field, 4/9 beyond the arc, tallied five dimes and rebound as well. Danilo Gallinari added 15 points, seven boards, six assists and one steal in his side’s first road win of the season. The lone European of the hosts, Alen Smailagic (right ankle) remained sidelined but has resumed training and considered day-to-day.
The Boston Celtics stayed undefeated at the TD Garden behind a narrow 103-102 win versus the Sacramento Kings. Enes Kanter finished with 13 points, nine boards, two assists and one steal, but Javonte Green and Vincent Poirier did not play with Daniel Theis (illness) sidelined for the night. Bogdan Bogdanovic only made 5/20 field goals for 13 points, also tallied eight assists, one rebound and one rejection. Fellow Serbian teammate Nemanja Bjelica went 1/7 from the field for four points, added six boards, five dimes and one rejection to his line.
Double-double in the form of 13 points and as many rebounds for Domantas Sabonis in the 126-114 victory of the Indiana Pacers versus the Memphis Grizzlies at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The 23-year-old Lithuanian big also dished six dimes and made a couple of steals. European teammate Goga Bitadze added four points, one rebound and one rejection, but Naz Mitrou-Long was inactive. On the other side, Jonas Valanciunas posted a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside three blocks and one interception, Marko Guduric ended up with five points and one assist.
A strong second half sent the Detroit Pistons to the 103-88 victory over the Orlando Magic at the Little Caesars Arena. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk matched his NBA career-high with 12 points, tallied two rebounds and one steal as well, but Sekou Doumbouya was once again on a G League assignment. Nikola Vucevic (right ankle) remained on the visitors’ injury list with Evan Fournier notching 17 points, two boards, a pair of dimes and a couple of steals in losing effort.
Mario Hezonja had two points, two rebounds, one dime and one steal for the Portland Trail Blazers in the 117-94 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Jaylen Hoard also posted two points to go along with one board and one interception. Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) is still out. For the hosts, Tomas Satoransky had 11 points, five assists and five rebounds, and Lauri Markkanen ten points, three dimes, one board and one rejection, but assigned Adam Mokoka was inactive.
Other action saw the Brooklyn Nets overcome the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-106, at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse
. Dzanan Musa posted three points, three boards, two interceptions, one block and one dime, but both Rodions Kurucs and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot remained on the bench. Ante Zizic of the losing side did not play either, but Cedi Osman put up 15 points with 6/8 from the field, three rebounds, one steal, one rejection and one dime.
Serge Ibaka (right ankle) remained sidelined, but the Toronto Raptors defeated the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-96, at the Scotiabank Arena. OG Anunoby contributed to the “W” with 12 points, three boards, two assists, one interception and one block, fellow European starter Marc Gasol finished with three points, nine dimes, six rebounds and a couple of rejections. Furkan Korkmaz banked nine points, three boards and one assist for the losing side.
Giannis Antetokounmpo poured 50 points to go along with his 14 rebounds, six dimes and two steals for the Milwaukee Bucks in the 122-118 victory opposite to the Utah Jazz at the Fiserv Forum. Ersan Ilyasova had nine points, five rebounds and one steal, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Dragan Bender did not get on the court. Bojan Bogdanovic went for 24 points, four assists, three boards and one steal in losing effort with Rudy Gobert (left ankle) out.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the San Antonio Spurs, 114-104, at the AT&T Center with Kostas Antetokounmpo inactive. Assigned Luka Samanic was also inactive for the losing side. Marco Belinelli did not leave the bench, but fellow European Jakob Poeltl started for four points, eight boards, one assist, one interception and one block in 24 minutes of work.
Goran Dragic went for six points, nine assists, two boards and a pair of steals, and the depleted Miami Heat beat the Charlotte Hornets, 117-100, at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Nicolas Batum had three points, four dimes and two rebounds for the visitors, Willy Hernangomez also scored three points, took down one board as well.
Sixth win in eight road games this year for the Minnesota Timberwolves that overpowered the Atlanta Hawks, 125-113, at the State Farm Arena. The lone European of the 2019-20 Regular Season contest, Alex Len did not score in 16 minutes, just grabbed one rebound and dished one assist.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 14-3
2. Miami Heat 12-4
3. Boston Celtics 12-4
4. Toronto Raptors 12-4
5. Philadelphia 76ers 11-6
6. Indiana Pacers 10-6
7. Brooklyn Nets 9-8
8. Orlando Magic 6-10
9. Washington Wizards 5-9
10. Detroit Pistons 6-11
11. Charlotte Hornets 6-12
12. Chicago Bulls 6-12
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-12
14. Atlanta Hawks 4-13
15. New York Knicks 4-13
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 15-2
2. Denver Nuggets 12-3
3. Los Angeles Clippers 12-5
4. Dallas Mavericks 11-5
5. Houston Rockets 11-6
6. Utah Jazz 11-6
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 9-8
8. Phoenix Suns 8-8
9. Sacramento Kings 7-9
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 6-10
11. New Orleans Pelicans 6-11
12. Portland Trail Blazers 6-12
13. San Antonio Spurs 6-12
14. Memphis Grizzlies 5-11
15. Golden State Warriors 3-15
Photo Credit: Getty Images