By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic set a franchise record with his NBA-leading tenth triple-double of the 2019-20 season, but the Dallas Mavericks lost, 123-120, to the Charlotte Hornets in overtime. Willy Hernangomez and Nicolas Batum did not leave the bench at the American Airlines Center. Doncic remained in the starting unit and posted 39 points with 14/32 from the field including five threes, 12 boards, ten assists and a pair of steals. Maxi Kleber notched a career-best 24 points, four rebounds, a couple of dimes and one block in losing effort. Also in action was Boban Marjanovic, but did not get on the board. Kristaps Porzingis (right knee) stayed on the injury list.
Giannis Antetokounmpo powered the Milwaukee Bucks to the 127-118 win opposite to the San Antonio Spurs at the Fiserv Forum with a game-high 32 points to go along with his eight rebounds, one steal and one dime on Saturday evening. Ersan Ilyasova threw in 11 points, seven boards and one assist from the bench. Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not register any stat in two minutes with Dragan Bender (right ankle) remained out. The losing side saw Marco Belinelli at seven points, three dimes and three rebounds, and Jakob Poeltl at four points, two boards and a pair of dimes, but Luka Samanic was on G League assignment.
A 17-point, 12-rebound double-double by Enes Kanter helped the Boston Celtics overcome the Chicago Bulls, 111-104, at the United Center. He put in a couple of rejections and one steal from the bench as well. Daniel Theis contributed with four points, six boards, one assist and one block, while Javonte Green went for six points, three rebounds, a pair of steals and one dime. Vincent Poirier (right hand) remained sidelined. As for the hosts, Lauri Markkanen finished with 15 points, four boards, one dime and one steal, and Tomas Satoransky with 12 points, six rebounds, five assists and one steal, but assigned Adam Mokoka was inactive.
The injury-riddled Washington Wizards missed Davis Bertans (right quad) and Moritz Wagner (left ankle) among others, but beat the Denver Nuggets, 128-114, at the Capital One Arena. Isaac Bonga had 15 points, four rebounds and one rejection, and Anzejs Pasecniks 13 points, eight boards, one assist and one block from the bench with starter Ian Mahinmi adding four points, five rebounds, one dime and one interception. Nikola Jokic’s 14-point, 10-rebound double-double was not enough for the visitors, neither were his four assists and one steal. Juan Hernangomez posted one board and one dime, and Vlatko Cancar one assist.
Similar to the Wizards, the Toronto Raptors found their path through injury woes for the 121-102 win against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. Marc Gasol (left hamstring) was among the players siting out, but Serge Ibaka posted a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double, blocked one shot as well. Fellow starter OG Anunoby finished with seven points, three boards and one assist in 29 minutes of work. Three European reserves for the home outlet with Rodions Kurucs notching seven points, three rebounds, one dime and one rejection, Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot three points and one steal, and Dzanan Musa two points.
Shooting only 4/13, Bojan Bogdanovic made his way to 14 points, also put in five boards for the Utah Jazz in the 109-96 win versus the Orlando Magic at the Amway Center. Fellow European starter Rudy Gobert had eight points, 17 rebounds, four dimes and one steal. A couple of European starting five members for the losing side as well with Nikola Vucevic running to 22 points, 13 boards, a couple of assists and a pair of blocks, and Evan Fournier held to nine points, four dimes, three rebounds and a couple of interceptions.
Also on the road, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers, 121-106. Dennis Schroder poured a team-high 22 points at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, also dished three assists, grabbed a couple of rebounds and made one interception from the bench. European teammate Danilo Gallinari sank five threes en route for 19 points to go along with his five boards and three assists. Cedi Osman notched 22 points and four rebounds in losing effort with Ante Zizic at two boards and one steal in three minutes of action.
Second straight start, second consecutive double-double and career-high in points for Sekou Doumbouya with 16 points behind 6/10 field goals. He added ten rebounds, a pair of dimes, a couple of assists and one rejection for the Detroit Pistons in the 111-104 victory against the Golden State Warriors at the Chase Center. Fellow European starter Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk chipped in with 14 points, three assists, a couple of rebounds and one interception. Alen Smailagic of the hosts did not play.
Alex Len with 16 points, nine boards, three blocks, one interception and one assist from the bench was among the keys for the Atlanta Hawks in the 116-111 victory versus the Indiana Pacers at the State Farm Arena. Domantas Sabonis got things going, but his 25 points, 11 rebounds, four dimes and one steal were not enough for the road win. Goga Bitadze did not earn playing time and Naz Mitrou-Long (right ankle) remained out.
Late-game heroics from Nemanja Bjelica did not make the winning cut for the Sacramento Kings with the New Orleans Pelicans prevailing, 117-115, at the Golden 1 Center. Nicola Melli did not leave the bench for the winning side. Bjelica scored 12 points including a four-point play for a late 115-115 tie, also pulled down ten boards, dished one assist and added one steal to his tally with Bogdan Bogdanovic (right ankle) out for the night.
Jonas Valanciunas hit nine points, grabbed 12 rebounds, also put up three dimes and three blocks for the Memphis Grizzlies in the 140-114 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center. Teammate Marko Guduric added one board and one assist in limited action. As for the hosts, starter Ivica Zubac went for eight points and 11 rebounds in 17 minutes.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 32-5
2. Boston Celtics 25-8
3. Miami Heat 25-10
4. Toronto Raptors 24-12
5. Philadelphia 76ers 23-14
6. Indiana Pacers 22-14
7. Brooklyn Nets 16-18
8. Orlando Magic 16-20
9. Charlotte Hornets 15-23
10. Chicago Bulls 13-23
11. Detroit Pistons 13-23
12. Washington Wizards 11-24
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-25
14. New York Knicks 10-25
15. Atlanta Hawks 8-28
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 28-7
2. Denver Nuggets 24-11
3. Houston Rockets 24-11
4. Los Angeles Clippers 25-12
5. Utah Jazz 23-12
6. Dallas Mavericks 22-13
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-15
8. Portland Trail Blazers 15-21
9. San Antonio Sours 14-20
10. Phoenix Suns 14-21
11. Memphis Grizzlies 14-22
12. Minnesota Timberwolves 13-21
13. Sacramento Kings 13-23
14. New Orleans Pelicans 12-24
15. Golden State Warriors 9-28
Photo Credit: Getty Images