By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic filled up his stat sheet after missing the four previous 2019-20 NBA Regular Season contests due to injury with 24 points, ten rebounds, eight dimes and one steal on Thursday night. His game-high in points powered the Dallas Mavericks to the 102-98 win versus the San Antonio Spurs at the American Airlines Center. Kristaps Porzingis chipped in with 13 points, eight boards, three assists, one steal and one rejection, and Maxi Kleber with six points, 12 rebounds, two dimes and one steal, but Boban Marjanovic did not leave the bench. Jakob Poeltl ended up with six points, five rebounds, two blocks and one assist for the visitors, and Marco Belinelli with two points, three boards and one dime, but assigned Luka Samanic was inactive.
Bogdan Bogdanovic returned to action as well. With 8/28 from the field, 3/16 beyond the arc, banked 19 points for the Sacramento Kings that suffered a double-overtime loss, 105-104, by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The 27-year-old Serbian swingman also posted seven rebounds, three rejections, a couple of assists and one interception remaining on the court for 43 out of the 58 minutes played at the Golden 1 Center including the second extra period but failed to score in the final five minutes. Compatriot Nemanja Bjelica also came off the bench for seven points, four boards and one rejection in 16 minutes of action.
Another NBA-best by Anzejs Pasecniks did not prevent the Washington Wizards from falling, 132-102, to the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena. He went for 17 points, six rebounds, two steals and one assist. Ian Mahinmi had five points, five boards, one interception and one block, fellow European starter Isaac Bonga finished with two points and two boards in losing effort. Davis Bertans (right quad) and Moritz Wagner (left ankle) remained sidelined. As for the winning side, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk notched 12 points, four rebounds, four dimes and one interception, but Sekou Doumbouya was out.
Jonas Valanciunas with 21 points, four boards and one assist guided the Memphis Grizzlies to the 110-97 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena. Earned his team-high with 9/11 inside the rainbow in 28 minutes of work. Teammate Marko Guduric did not get on the court. Dennis Schroder sank 20 points from the bench, tallied three assists, three rebounds and one interception as well, but Danilo Gallinari (left ankle) missed a second game in a row.
Rudy Gobert posted a 16-point, 15-rebound double-double to go along with his two assists and one rejection for the Utah Jazz in the 121-115 win over the Portland Trail Blazers at the Vivint Smart Home Arena. Bojan Bogdanovic also scored 16 points, tallied four boards, one dime and one steal as well. Mario Hezonja was not part of the visitors’ rotation, Jaylen Hoard was inactive and Jusuf Nurkic (left out) stayed on the injury list.
Also, the New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets, 94-82, at the Barclays Center. Frank Ntilikina posted three points, one dime and one steal, but Ignas Brazdeikis did not get on the board. The hosts were held to 26% from the field despite Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot finishing with ten points, two boards, a pair of interceptions, one assist and one rejection, Rodions Kurucs with eight points and three rebounds, and Dzanan Musa with two points.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 27-5
2. Boston Celtics 21-7
3. Miami Heat 22-8
4. Philadelphia 76ers 23-10
5. Indiana Pacers 21-10
6. Toronto Raptors 21-10
7. Brooklyn Nets 16-14
8. Orlando Magic 13-17
9. Charlotte Hornets 13-20
10. Chicago Bulls 12-20
11. Detroit Pistons 12-20
12. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-21
13. Washington Wizards 9-21
14. New York Knicks 8-24
15. Atlanta Hawks 6-25
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 24-7
2. Denver Nuggets 21-9
3. Los Angeles Clippers 23-10
4. Houston Rockets 21-10
5. Dallas Mavericks 20-10
6. Utah Jazz 19-12
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-15
8. Portland Trail Blazers 14-18
9. San Antonio Spurs 12-18
10. Sacramento Kings 12-19
11. Memphis Grizzlies 12-20
12. Phoenix Suns 11-19
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-19
14. New Orleans Pelicans 9-23
15. Golden State Warriors 8-24