By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Mirroring his showing with the Washington Wizards in early March 2017, Bojan Bogdanovic tied his NBA career-best eight three-pointers en route for a game-high 32-point outing to go along with his four rebounds and one helper in 37 minutes of work. The 30-year-old Croatian was 0/5 inside the rainbow, but 8/13 beyond the arc and led the Utah Jazz to the 114-106 win against the Golden State Warriors at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on Friday evening. Fellow European, Rudy Gobert contributed to the 15th victory of the 2019-20 Regular Season with a 15-point, 15-rebound double-double, two assists and a pair of blocks. On the other side, Alen Smailagic was on his G League assignment.
Fresh after sitting out the match, Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 17 out of his 37 points in the last quarter guiding the Milwaukee Bucks to their 17th straight “W”, 127-114, versus the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum. He made 12/23 from the field, hit three of those shots beyond the arc, grabbed 11 boards, dished a pair of assists and added one steal. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not register any stat in limited action, Ersan Ilyasova never left the bench and Dragan Bender (right ankle) remained sidelined. The hosts featured a couple of Europeans, Jonas Valanciunas at eight points, six boards and two assists, and Marko Guduric at two dimes and one steal.
Domantas Sabonis kept on piling up double-doubles, notched his 11th in a row pushing the Indiana Pacers to the 110-100 victory versus the Atlanta Hawks at the State Farm Arena. The Lithuanian big finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds, a pair of helpers and one interception. Naz Mitrou-Long was not part of the squad, Goga Bitadze did see some action but did not get on the board. For the hosts, Alex Len made an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double to go along with a couple of assists, one steal and one rejection from the bench.
James Harden kept on sinking points, 54 at the Amway Center in the 130-107 victory of the Houston Rockets over the Orlando Magic. European teammate Clint Capela posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, rejected a couple of shots as well, but Isaiah Hartenstein and Thabo Sefolosha did not score, combined for one rebound, one dime and one steal though. Team-high 27 points alongside two boards, two assists and a pair of interceptions by Evan Fournier were not enough for the hosts. Nikola Vucevic (right ankle) missed his 11th straight match.
Bogdan Bogdanovic had 14 points, one helper and one rebound, Nemanja Bjelica 12 points, seven assists, a couple of boards and one block, but the Sacramento Kings dropped a 16-point lead and lost, 103-101, to the New York Knicks at the Golden 1 Center. Frank Ntilikina of the winning side was held to two points, two interceptions and one rebound with Ignas Brazdeikis remaining on the bench.
Willy Hernangomez did not play and Nicolas Batum (left hand) remained out, but the Charlotte Hornets beat the Chicago Bulls, 83-73, at the United Center. The hosts overcame Lauri Markkanen’s ten points, four boards, two assists and one interception, Tomas Satoransky’s seven points, three dimes and three rebounds as well. Assigned Adam Mokoka was inactive.
Ivica Zubac went for five points, seven boards and one block for the Los Angeles Clippers that prevailed, 124-117, at the expense of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Paul George with 46 points and Kawhi Leonard with 42 poured 70% of their team’s points at the Target Center.
Limited European action at the Wells Fargo Center as well with Furkan Korkmaz putting up two points and one board for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 116-109 win over the New Orleans Pelicans. Nicolo Melli of the losing side did not get on the court.
Thirteenth consecutive road victory for the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-110 opposite to the Miami Heat at the AmericanAirlines Arena. Lone Old Continent representative, Kostas Antetokounmpo remained on his G League assignment. Heat’s Goran Dragic (groin) sat out.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 23-3
2. Philadelphia 76ers 20-7
3. Miami Heat 18-7
4. Boston Celtics 17-7
5. Toronto Raptors 16-8
6. Indiana Pacers 17-9
7. Brooklyn Nets 13-11
8. Orlando Magic 11-14
9. Charlotte Hornets 12-16
10. Detroit Pistons 10-15
11. Chicago Bulls 9-18
12. Washington Wizards 7-16
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 6-19
14. Atlanta Hawks 6-20
15. New York Knicks 6-20
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 23-3
2. Los Angeles Clippers 20-7
3. Dallas Mavericks 17-7
4. Houston Rockets 17-8
5. Denver Nuggets 15-8
6. Utah Jazz 15-11
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-13
8. Phoenix Suns 11-13
9. Sacramento Kings 11-14
10. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-15
11. Portland Trail Blazers 10-16
12. San Antonio Spurs 9-15
13. Memphis Grizzlies 8-17
14. New Orleans Pelicans 6-20
15. Golden State Warriors 5-22
Photo Credit: Getty Images