By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Evan Fournier not only tied his career-high with 32 points, but sank the game-winning bucket for the Orlando Magic that beat the Golden State Warriors, 100-96, at the Amway Center. The 27-year-old French swingman was 13/21 from the field including 6/10 from three-point range, tallied three rebounds and one steal as well. He’s now averaging 18.4 points, 3.4 assists and rebounds per appearance in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season. Teammate Nikola Vucevic (right ankle) sat out and opponent Alen Smailagic was on assignment.
Another European clutch performance came from Goran Dragic via a three-point play to launch a late run and punch the Miami Heat over the Brooklyn Nets, 109-106, at the Barclays Center. The Slovenian guard poured a team-high 24 points behind 9/18 from the field, had six assists and a couple of boards as well. Dzanan Musa did not score, but dished three assists for the home side. Fellow Europeans Rodions Kurucs and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot were on a G League assignment.
Team-high 23 points for Danilo Gallinari with 8/14 from the field, 4/7 beyond the arc. The 31-year-old Italian forward took down 11 rebounds and dished three assists as well for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 107-104 win over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. Dennis Schroder added 17 points, three boards, two dimes and one steal from the bench. The lone European of the hosts, Nicolo Melli banked a couple of threes for six points in 15 minutes of work.
A 150-125 victory opposite to the Washington Wizards at the Staples Center propelled the Los Angeles Clippers to 15-6. Ivica Zubac was held to two points, four rebounds and one assist in the high-scoring affair. Davis Bertans posted 20 points, four boards, two interceptions and one assist from the bench for the losing side, fellow European reserve Isaac Bonga ended up with seven points, three rebounds, three dimes and one steal, but Moritz Wagner (left ankle) and Ian Mahinmi (right Achilles) were unavailable.
Riding Luka Doncic’s game-high 27 points, the Dallas Mavericks defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 114-100, earlier at the Staples Center. The Slovenian sensation dished ten assists, grabbed nine boards and added three steals to his line. Kristaps Porzingis finished with 15 points, six rebounds and one interception, Maxi Kleber with six points, nine boards and a couple of assists, and Boban Marjanovic with two points and two rebounds. Assigned at G League, Kostas Antetokounmpo was inactive.
Serge Ibaka returned to action with 13 points, four boards, three assists and one steal, Marc Gasol chipped in with 11 points, six dimes, five rebounds and a pair of blocks, and OG Anunoby put in ten points, five boards, four steals, two assists and one rejection for the Toronto Raptors in the 130-110 win against the Utah Jazz at the Scotiabank Arena. Rudy Gobert posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double plus one dime and one block for the visitors, Bojan Bogdanovic 11 points, seven rebounds, two dimes and one steal.
Second career-high in a week for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk with 13 points to display alongside three assists and one rebound for the Detroit Pistons in the 132-98 victory versus the San Antonio Spurs at the Little Caesars Arena. On his part, Sekou Doumbouya scored his first four NBA points. Jakob Poeltl notched eight points, five boards, three interceptions, one dime and one block for the losing side, Marco Belinelli six points, one assist and one board, but Luka Samanic was on a G League assignment.
An 11-point, 11-rebound double-double combined with one block from Enes Kanter helped the Boston Celtics overcome the New York Knicks, 113-104, at the Madison Square Garden. Javonte Green notched three points and two boards, Daniel Theis two points, two rebounds, two dimes and one rejection, but Vincent Poirier did not leave the bench. The hosts’ Frank Ntilikina exited with a sore upper back after putting three points and one assist to his name, teammate Ignas Brazdeikis did not play.
Jonas Valanciunas (illness) was ruled out for Sunday’s game, but the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves, 115-107, at the Target Center. European action was limited to Marko Guduric and his eight points alongside two dimes and one rebound in 13 minutes off the bench.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 17-3
2. Toronto Raptors 15-4
3. Miami Heat 14-5
4. Boston Celtics 14-5
5. Philadelphia 76ers 14-6
6. Indiana Pacers 12-7
7. Brooklyn Nets 10-10
8. Orlando Magic 8-11
9. Charlotte Hornets 8-13
10. Detroit Pistons 7-13
11. Washington Wizards 6-12
12. Chicago Bulls 6-14
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-14
14. Atlanta Hawks 4-16
15. New York Knicks 4-16
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 17-3
2. Denver Nuggets 13-4
3. Los Angeles Clippers 15-6
4. Dallas Mavericks 13-6
5. Houston Rockets 13-6
6. Utah Jazz 12-8
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-9
8. Phoenix Suns 8-10
9. Sacramento Kings 8-10
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 8-11
11. Portland Trail Blazers 8-12
12. San Antonio Spurs 7-14
13. Memphis Grizzlies 6-13
14. New Orleans Pelicans 6-14
15. Golden State Warriors 4-17
Photo Credit: Getty Images