By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Denver’s three-game winning streak was snapped despite a career-high 35 points from Serb big man Nikola Jokic who had also 12 rebounds and 4 assists.
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points, rookie Dejounte Murray added a season-high 24 and the short-handed Spurs overcame a pregame injury to Pau Gasol in beating the Nuggets 118-104. French star Tony Parker was also injured and Latvian Davis Bertans scored 4 points for the winners. Italian scorer Danilo Gallinari also missed the game for the Nuggets, Spaniard Juancho Hernangomez was a starter with 8 points and 6 rebounds, while Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic added 5 points.
Slovenian Goran Dragic had 32 points, Tyler Johnson scored 10 of his 23 in the fourth quarter and the Heat beat the Mavericks 99-95. German legend Dirk Nowitzki scored 19 for the Mavs.
The Wizards beat the Knicks 113-110 as Polish center Marcin Gortat had a double double (12 p. 12 r.) and Czech Tomas Satoransky added 2 points. For the Knicks Latvian Kritaps Porznigis had 15 points and Lithuanian Mindaugas Kuzminskas scored 6.
The Minnesota Timberwolves beat the injury-depleted Clippers 104-101. Spaniard Ricky Rubio had 4 assists and Serb Nemanja Bjelica 2 points for the winners, while the Clippers played without star point guard Chris Paul, who tore a ligament in his left thumb. Paul underwent surgery Wednesday and is expected to be out six to eight weeks. Los Angeles is still missing star forward Blake Griffin due to injury as well. He is expected back in a week or two.
Last but not least, Kyrie Irving scored 26 points, James, his All-Star teammate, had 21 points and 15 assists, and Cleveland looked more like an NBA champion in a 118-103 win over the Phoenix Suns. Ukrainian Alex Len had 4 points for the losing side.
Eastern Conference
1 Cleveland Cavaliers 30-11
2 Toronto Raptors 28-14
3 Boston Celtics 26-16
4 Atlanta Hawks 24-18
5 Washington Wizards 23-19
6 Indiana Pacers 22-19
7 Charlotte Hornets 21-21
8 Chicago Bulls 21-22
Milwaukee Bucks 20-21
Detroit Pistons 20-24
New York Knicks 19-25
Orlando Magic 17-27
Philadelphia 76ers 14-26
Miami Heat 13-30
Brooklyn Nets 8-33
Western Conference
1 Golden State Warriors 36-6
2 San Antonio Spurs 33-9
3 Houston Rockets 33-12
4 LA Clippers 29-15
5 Utah Jazz 27-16
6 Memphis Grizzlies 25-19
7 Oklahoma City Thunder 25-19
8 Denver Nuggets 17-24
Portland Trail Blazers 18-26
New Orleans Pelicans 17-26
Sacramento Kings 16-25
Minnesota Timberwolves 15-28
Dallas Mavericks 14-28
Los Angeles Lakers 15-31
Phoenix Suns 13-29