By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Comfortable birthday victory for Giannis Antetokounmpo with the streaking Milwaukee Bucks beating the Los Angeles Clippers, 119-91, at the joyful Fiserv Forum. A game-high 27 points powered by 11/20 from the field alongside 11 rebounds and four dimes came from the Greek Freak in just 26 minutes of work. Ersan Ilyasova added 13 points with 5/11 field goal attempts, four boards and one assist on Friday evening, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo and Dragan Bender were inactive. Lone European of the visiting side, Dragan Bender posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double coupled with a pair of dimes in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season contest.
The Boston Celtics remained perfect at the TD Garden with the 108-95 victory against the Denver Nuggets. Enes Kanter helped with eight points, four boards and three dimes to his name, Daniel Theis ended up with seven points, two assists, one rebound and one rejection, Javonte Green had six points, one board and one block, and Vincent Poirier two points and two rebounds. A game-high 30 points from Nikola Jokic were not enough for the visitors, nor his ten rebounds, four dimes, two blocks and one steal. Juan Hernangomez notched seven points and three rebounds with Vlatko Cancar on assignment.
Overtime was necessary for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 139-127 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Dennis Schroder posted 25 points with 10/17 from the field including some clutch efforts down the stretch to go along with his two assists, two rebounds, one interception and one rejection in 39 minutes. European teammate Danilo Gallinari finished with 21 points, seven boards, three dimes, a pair of steals and one block.
Another overtime tilt saw the San Antonio Spurs prevail, 105-104, over the Sacramento Kings at the AT&T Center. Jakob Poeltl chipped in with 13 points, three rebounds, three blocks and one dime, and Marco Belinelli with 11 points, two boards and one assist, but Luka Samanic was on assignment. Bogdan Bogdanovic notched nine points, four rebounds and one interception for the losing side, Nemanja Bjelica five points, nine boards, three dimes and a pair of steals.
Goran Dragic (groin) remained sidelined, but the Miami Heat overpowered the Washington Wizards, 112-103, at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Moritz Wagner had 19 points, nine rebounds, a pair of steals and one dime for the visitors, Davis Bertans also put up 19 points to along with his ten boards, two rejections and one assist, and Isaac Bonga had seven points, three dimes and a pair of rebounds. Ian Mahinmi (right Achilles) was unavailable.
Eight straight game without Nikola Vucevic (right ankle), fourth win in a row for the Orlando Magic. Evan Fournier aided in the 93-87 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse with 18 points, two boards, tow assists and one block. Cedi Osman went for 14 points, five rebounds, four dimes, four interceptions and one block in losing effort, but Ante Zizic did not play.
Three points and one rebound for Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk in the Detroit Pistons’ 108-101 win versus the Indiana Pacers at the Little Caesars Arena. Teammate Sekou Doumbouya was held to G League action. Seventh consecutive double-double for Domantas Sabonis with 18 points and 13 boards alongside five dimes, one steal and one block in losing effort. Goga Bitadze added one block, but assigned Naz Mitrou-Long was inactive.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Chicago Bulls, 100-98, at the United Center without assigned Alen Smailagic. Lauri Markkanen’s 20 points behind 8/17 from the field including four threes, three steals, three rebounds and one dime went to waste, so did Tomas Satoransky’s six points, five assists, two boards and two interceptions in 34 minutes. Adam Mokoka was assigned to the Windy City Bulls.
Dzanan Musa registered three assists and three boards for the Brooklyn Nets in the 111-104 victory opposite to the Charlotte Hornets at the Spectrum Center, with Rodions Kurucs and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot assigned to the G League affiliate. Nicolas Batum posted three points, four rebounds, three dimes and a couple of interceptions for the losing side while Willy Hernangomez did not leave the bench.
Road domination for the Los Angeles Lakers was extended to the Moda Center with the 136-113 win versus the Portland Trail Blazers. Assigned Kostas Antetokounmpo was inactive. Mario Hezonja notched four points, two boards and one assist for the losing side with Jaylen Hoard on a G League assignment and Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) sidelined.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 20-3
2. Boston Celtics 16-5
3. Miami Heat 16-6
4. Toronto Raptors 15-6
5. Philadelphia 76ers 15-7
6. Indiana Pacers 14-8
7. Brooklyn Nets 12-10
8. Orlando Magic 11-11
9. Detroit Pistons 9-14
10. Charlotte Hornets 9-15
11. Chicago Bulls 8-15
12. Washington Wizards 7-14
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-16
14. Atlanta Hawks 5-17
15. New York Knicks 4-18
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 20-3
2. Dallas Mavericks 15-6
3. Denver Nuggets 14-6
4. Los Angeles Clippers 16-7
5. Houston Rockets 14-7
6. Utah Jazz 12-10
7. Phoenix Suns 10-11
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-11
9. Oklahoma City Thunder 9-12
10. San Antonio Spurs 9-14
11. Portland Trail Blazers 9-14
12. Sacramento Kings 8-13
13. Memphis Grizzlies 6-15
14. New Orleans Pelicans 6-16
15. Golden State Warriors 5-19
Photo Credit: Getty Images