By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Banking a clutch three-pointer with 11.4 seconds to go, Bogdan Bogdanovic ensured the 94-93 comeback win for the Sacramento Kings over the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Golden 1 Center. He was previously 1/6 beyond the arc, but sank his shot when it counted most to end up with 17 points alongside his three boards and one steal. Fellow Serbian Nemanja Bjelica notched ten points and five rebounds on Wednesday evening. Dennis Schroder finished with 17 points, a pair of boards, a couple of interceptions and one block for the losing side, Danilo Gallinari with 14 points, eight rebounds, three helpers and one steal.
Domantas Sabonis posted his 20th double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 boards to go along with his eight assists and one steal for the Indiana Pacers in the 122-117 win versus the Boston Celtics at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Goga Bitadze did not get on the board in limited action and Naz Mitrou-Long was inactive. Daniel Theis fouled out with 11 points and six rebounds for the visitors, Enes Kanter had four points, six boards and one helper, Javonte Green a couple of boards and one rejection, but Vincent Poirier did not get on the court.
Lauri Markkanen went for 22 points with 8/9 from the field including 2/3 beyond the arc, added four rebounds, two dimes and one block to his outing. The Finnish forward was among the main weapons for the Chicago Bulls that overpowered the Atlanta Hawks, 136-102, at the United Center. Tomas Satoransky started alongside Markkanen, contributed to the “W” with seven points, three assists, two boards and one interception, but Adam Mokoka remained on his G League assignment. Lone European of the losing side, Alex Len poured 17 points from the bench, tallied five rebounds and three helpers as well.
Eighth consecutive double-double and 17th overall posted by Rudy Gobert with 20 points and 16 boards for the Utah Jazz in the 127-116 victory against the slumping Minnesota Timberwolves at the Target Center. The French bigman was 8/11 from the field in 36 minutes of work, put up three assists, a pair of interceptions and a couple of blocks as well. Fellow European starter Bojan Bogdanovic made it to 14 points with 4/14 field goals, also grabbed three rebounds and dished three helpers for his team’s fifth road win, 14th overall in the 2019-20 NBA Regular Season.
The Memphis Grizzlies beat the Phoenix Suns, 115-108, at the Talking Stick Resort Arena. Jonas Valanciunas was held to six points, nine boards and one helper, while fellow Old Continent representative Marko Guduric had three points, one rebound and one assist. Ricky Rubio matched his season-high 22 points behind 6/9 inside the rainbow, also tallied eight dimes and one rebound but was not enough for the “W”. Dario Saric only made three out of ten field goal shots, ended up with seven points, five boards and five assists, while Elie Okobo did not get in the action.
A 55-point outing including 20 in the last period from James Harden powered the Houston Rockets to the 116-110 victory opposite to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. European contribution mainly came in the form of Clint Capela and his 10-point, 13-rebound double-double alongside three rejections, one dime and one steal. Thabo Sefolosha took down one board and Isaiah Hartenstein did not play. Cedi Osman did not generate points for the losing side, but dished seven assists, tallied two rebounds, one interception and one block as well, Ante Zizic did not leave the bench.
Kawhi Leonard received his championship ring, afterwards led the Los Angeles Clippers to the 112-92 win against the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena. European teammate Ivica Zubac posted seven points, eight boards, a pair of blocks, one dime and one steal. As for his former teammates, OG Anunoby finished with 13 points, seven rebounds, two rejections and one steal, Marc Gasol with nine points, 11 boards, six assists, three interceptions and one block, and Serge Ibaka with five boards, three helpers and two blocks but no points on 0/8 from the field.
Giannis Antetokounmpo (right quad) sat out, but the Milwaukee Bucks kept their winning streak going by taking down the New Orleans Pelicans, 127-112, at the Fiserv Forum. Ersan Ilyasova moved to the starting unit, posted 18 points, nine boards, three assists and one interception, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo remained on the bench and Dragan Bender (ankle) on the injury list. For the team on the wrong side of the result, Nicolo Melli missed all of his three attempts, only registered one rebound and one dime in seven minutes.
The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Orlando Magic, 96-87, at the Amway Center with Kostas Antetokounmpo still on his G League assignment. Evan Fournier’s 18 points, five assists and two boards for the hosts went to waste with teammate Nikola Vucevic (right ankle) still on the injury list.
Frank Ntilikina only put up two points and dished one helper in 13 minutes, but the New York Knicks topped the Golden State Warriors, 124-122, in overtime. Ignas Brazdeikis of the winning side remained on the bench. Alen Smailagic of the losing side did not suit up.
Without Nicolas Batum (hand) and Willy Hernangomez on the bench, the Charlotte Hornets beat the Brooklyn Nets, 113-108, at the Barclays Center. Dzanan Musa notched four points, a pair of boards and one steal for the hosts. Rodions Kurucs and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot did not see any action.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 22-3
2. Miami Heat 18-6
3. Boston Celtics 17-6
4. Philadelphia 76ers 18-7
5. Toronto Raptors 16-8
6. Indiana Pacers 16-9
7. Brooklyn Nets 13-11
8. Orlando Magic 11-13
9. Detroit Pistons 10-14
10. Charlotte Hornets 11-16
11. Chicago Bulls 9-17
12. Washington Wizards 7-16
13. Atlanta Hawks 6-19
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-19
15. New York Knicks 5-20
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 22-3
2. Los Angeles Clippers 19-7
3. Dallas Mavericks 16-7
4. Houston Rockets 16-8
5. Denver Nuggets 14-8
6. Utah Jazz 14-11
7. Sacramento Kings 11-13
8. Phoenix Suns 11-13
9. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-13
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-14
11. Portland Trail Blazers 10-15
12. San Antonio Spurs 9-14
13. Memphis Grizzlies 8-16
14. New Orleans Pelicans 6-19
15. Golden State Warriors 5-21
Photo Credit: Getty Images