By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Latvian sharpshooter Davis Bertans went for a career-high 35 points powered by yet another personal-best of nine triples as the Washington Wizards edged the Denver Nuggets, 130-128, on Wednesday. Two free throws made by Bradley Beal with a tenth of a second left locked the winner and upped himself to 25 points plus ten assists. Russell Westbrook contributed a 12-point, 13-rebound, 12-assist triple-double.
Ukrainian Alex Len added ten points and eight rebounds, Israeli Deni Avdija threw in three points, but German Moritz Wagner logged only three minutes without generating a stat despite starting. On the other end, Nikola Jokic accounted for 33 points, nine assists, seven rebounds, and two steals. German Isaiah Hartenstein produced eight points off the bench, while Facundo Campazzo had 14 points.
Domantas Sabonis poured a personal-best 36 points along with 17 rebounds and ten assists for his 7th career triple-double lifting the Indiana Pacers in the overtime win, 134-128, over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Lithuanian big sinking a couple of late free throws forced a second straight five extra minutes for his side. Ricky Rubio posted a 20-point, 13-assist double-double for the Timberwolves.
A 23-point, 20-rebound double-double by Rudy Gobert ranked among the main attractions of the Utah Jazz stretching their streak to nine games by prevailing, 114-96, over the Los Angeles Clippers. Croatian teammate, Bojan Bogdanovic was held to five points in an off-shoot evening. The undermanned hosts featured Serge Ibaka at ten points and Croatian Ivica Zubac at eight points and ten rebounds.
Another monster double-double, 24 points, and 13 rebounds, by Swiss Clint Capela contemplating a 40-point showing from Trae Young, lifted the Atlanta Hawks to the win, 122-114, versus the Boston Celtics. Italian Danilo Gallinari added nine points coming off the bench. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (right knee) and German Daniel Theis (right index finger) were among the players out for their respective teams.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas backed the Memphis Grizzlies with a 22-point, 12-rebound double-double plus two assists and one rejection in the win, 122-113, against the Oklahoma City Thunder at home. French youngster Theo Maledon in his latest start produced 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, and two steals but was held on the wrong side of the result.
Damian Lillard with a go-ahead three-point play handed the away win, 126-124, to the Portland Trail Blazers versus the New Orleans Pelicans. His 43-point, 16-assist double-double highlighted the sixth win in a row. Starting center Enes Kanter finished with 11 points. On the opposite end, Spanish Willy Hernangomez posted an 11-point, 17-rebound double-double.
Elsewhere, a big second half propelled the Orlando Magic over the New York Knicks, 107-89. After missing five straight games, French Evan Fournier started for 19 points. Montenegrin teammate, Nikola Vucevic with 16 points and 16 rebounds shaped up his 20th double-double of the season.
Czech Tomas Satoransky had four points, five assists, and three rebounds as the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons, 105-102. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk failed to score in 19 minutes but pulled down four rebounds and made a couple of steals.
Five points for Turkish Furkan Korkmaz illustrated the lone Old Continent participation in the Philadelphia 76ers win, 118-113, against the Houston Rockets.
The Golden State Warriors rallied past the Miami Heat, 120-112, in overtime in the only game without a single European player in action.
Wednesday results:
Orlando Magic – New York Knicks 107-89
Boston Celtics – Atlanta Hawks 114-122
Philadelphia 76ers – Houston Rockets 118-113
Chicago Bulls – Detroit Pistons 105-102
Minnesota Timberwolves – Indiana Pacers 128-134 OT (121-121)
Washington Wizards – Denver Nuggets 130-128
Memphis Grizzlies – Oklahoma City Thunder 122-113
New Orleans Pelicans – Portland Trail Blazers 124-126
Golden State Warriors – Miami Heat 120-112 ΟΤ (105-105)
Los Angeles Clippers – Utah Jazz 96-114
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 19-10
2. Brooklyn Nets 18-12
3. Milwaukee Bucks 16-12
4. Indiana Pacers 15-14
5. Boston Celtics 14-14
6. New York Knicks 14-16
7. Toronto Raptors 13-15
8. Charlotte Hornets 13-15
9. Chicago Bulls 12-15
10. Atlanta Hawks 12-16
11. Miami Heat 11-17
12. Orlando Magic 11-18
13. Washington Wizards 9-17
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-19
15. Detroit Pistons 8-20
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 24-5
2. Los Angeles Lakers 22-7
3. Los Angeles Clippers 21-9
4. Portland Trail Blazers 18-10
5. Phoenix Suns 17-10
6. San Antonio Spurs 16-11
7. Golden State Warriors 16-13
8. Denver Nuggets 15-13
9. Memphis Grizzlies 12-12
10. Dallas Mavericks 13-15
11. Sacramento Kings 12-15
12. New Orleans Pelicans 12-16
13. Houston Rockets 11-17
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-17
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 7-22
Photo Credit: Getty Images