By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets beat the Sacramento Kings, 120-115, at the Pepsi Center with Nikola Jokic banking 17 points, eight rebounds, four dimes and one steal on Sunday evening. Juan Hernangomez got in one point, five boards and one assist, but Vlatko Cancar did not leave the bench. On the visitors, Nemanja Bjelica poured a game-high 27 points including five threes, pulled down five rebounds, dished a couple of assists and rejected one shot. Bogdan Bogdanovic had seven points, five boards, one assist, one steal and one block.
Luka Doncic got to shake hands with Kobe Bryant at the Staples Center after his latest 2019-20 NBA Regular Season outing, scored a team-high 19 points, put up seven assists, four boards and two steals as well, but the Dallas Mavericks lost, 108-95, to the Los Angeles Lakers. Kristaps Porzingis notched 11 points, seven rebounds, one interception and one block, Maxi Kleber three points, three rebounds, and Boban Marjanovic a couple of rebounds. As for the winning side, Kostas Antetokounmpo was on a G League assignment.
Lithuanian big Jonas Valanciunas with 16 points behind 7/8 from the field, nine boards and five assists for the night helped the Memphis Grizzlies go by the Charlotte Hornets, 117-104, at the FedExForum. Fellow European Marko Guduric did not see playing time remaining out of the rotation since December 15th. Nicolas Batum of the visitors stayed on the bench as well, but Willy Hernangomez rushed in four points and one rebound in two minutes of action.
Both Dennis Schroder (right ankle) and Danilo Gallinari (left ankle) were out, but the Oklahoma City Thunder earned a slim 98-97 win over the Toronto Raptors at the Scotiabank Arena. Marc Gasol (left hamstring) was sidelined as well, but Serge Ibaka posted a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double alongside a pair of dimes and one steal in losing effort. Fellow starter OG Anunoby was held to six points, five boards, one assist and one interception.
Nicolo Melli remained on the bench with the New Orleans Pelicans overpowering the Houston Rockets, 127-112, at the Smoothie King Center. Thabo Sefolosha did not play and Clint Capela (right heel) was out for the losing side, but Isaiah Hartenstein in his first career start went for a career-high 19 points, also posted nine rebounds, four dimes and a pair of rejections.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 29-5
2. Miami Heat 24-8
3. Boston Celtics 22-8
4. Toronto Raptors 22-11
5. Philadelphia 76ers 23-12
6. Indiana Pacers 21-12
7. Brooklyn Nets 16-15
8. Orlando Magic 14-18
9. Chicago Bulls 13-20
10. Charlotte Hornets 13-22
11. Detroit Pistons 12-21
12. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-22
13. Washington Wizards 9-22
14. New York Knicks 9-24
15. Atlanta Hawks 6-27
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 26-7
2. Denver Nuggets 23-9
3. Los Angeles Clippers 23-11
4. Houston Rockets 22-11
5. Dallas Mavericks 21-11
6. Utah Jazz 20-12
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 17-15
8. Portland Trail Blazers 14-19
9. San Antonio Spurs 13-18
10. Memphis Grizzlies 13-21
11. Phoenix Suns 12-20
12. Sacramento Kings 12-21
13. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-20
14. New Orleans Pelicans 11-23
15. Golden State Warriors 9-25
Photo Credit: Getty Images