By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Dallas Mavericks claimed the win, 116-103, on the road versus the Denver Nuggets on Saturday night.
Both Luka Doncic and Kristaps Porzingis returned to the lineup after a one-game rest. The Slovenian sensation registered 21 points, 12 assists, and five rebounds in 33 minutes, while his Latvian partner went for a team-high 25 points. A third Euro starter in Maxi Kleber added eight points and seven rebounds. Serbian Nikola Jokic finished with a game-high 26 points to go along with 11 assists and eight rebounds for the losing side. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar pulled down one rebound in six minutes.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 33 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds for his sixth triple-double of the 2020-21 NBA Regular Season and second in a row guiding the Milwaukee Bucks past the Washington Wizards, 125-119. His brother, Thanasis, contributed one rebound in the away victory. Russell Westbrook generated a triple-double of 42 points, 12 assists, and ten rebounds, while European teammates Alex Len and Deni Avdija started for 10 and nine points, respectively. German Isaac Bonga went for three points in a reserve role.
Triple-double from Lithuania as Domantas Sabonis packed 22 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 assists for the Indiana Pacers defeating the Phoenix Suns, 122-111, on the road. Georgian Goga Bitadze registered two points and one rebound in limited action. Also worth noting, Caris LeVert returned to action following surgery to remove a mass on his kidney with 13 points in 27 minutes. On the losing end, Croatian Dario Saric was among the top performers with 17 points off the bench.
Carmelo Anthony passed Hakeem Olajuwon for 11th place in the all-time list of the players with the most NBA points with a total of 26 points for the Portland Trail Blazers in the win, 125-121, over the Minnesota Timberwolves. Enes Kanter finished with a 20-point, 11-rebound double-double. A couple of Spaniards for the hosts as Ricky Rubio produced 10 points and eight assists as a starter, and Juan Hernangomez 10 points and eight rebounds coming off the bench.
Right back on triple-doubles, Julius Randle recorded 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists for the New York Knicks. His effort complimented by R.J. Barrett’s career-high 32 points secured the 119-97 victory in the visit at the Oklahoma City Thunder. French Frank Ntilikina started but lasted only seven minutes with one assist and one steal. The hosts had both French Theo Maledon and Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski in the first unit and they delivered 10 and four points, respectively.
Swiss Clint Capela bumped in 24 points and 14 rebounds helping the Atlanta Hawks defeat the Sacramento Kings, 121-106, at home. Italian Danilo Gallinari added 15 points and seven rebounds, and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic six points and four rebounds, both coming off the bench. Another Serbian player, Nemanja Bjelica finished with four points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal but was held on the wrong end of the result.
James Harden posted his ninth triple-double with the Brooklyn Nets on 24 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists leading to the 100-95 win against the Detroit Pistons. He scored 12 of his points in the final period. Lone European representative of the game, French Sekou Doumbouya did not get on the board in three minutes.
The Charlotte Hornets beat the Toronto Raptors, 114-104, behind LaMelo Ball’s 23 points in the only game without European action.
Saturday results:
Oklahoma City Thunder – New York Knicks 97-119
Brooklyn Nets – Detroit Pistons 100-95
Charlotte Hornets – Toronto Raptors 114-104
Washington Wizards – Milwaukee Bucks 119-125
Atlanta Hawks – Sacramento Kings 121-106
Minnesota Timberwolves – Portland Trail Blazers 121-125
Denver Nuggets – Dallas Mavericks 103-116
Phoenix Suns – Indiana Pacers 111-122
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 26-12
2. Brooklyn Nets 26-13
3. Milwaukee Bucks 24-14
4. Miami Heat 20-18
5. Boston Celtics 19-18
6. Charlotte Hornets 19-18
7. New York Knicks 20-19
8. Atlanta Hawks 18-20
9. Indiana Pacers 17-20
10. Toronto Raptors 17-21
11. Chicago Bulls 16-20
12. Cleveland Cavaliers 14-23
13. Washington Wizards 14-23
14. Orlando Magic 13-25
15. Detroit Pistons 10-28
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 28-9
2. Phoenix Suns 25-12
3. Los Angeles Lakers 25-13
4. Los Angeles Clippers 25-14
5. Portland Trail Blazers 22-15
6. Denver Nuggets 22-16
7. San Antonio Spurs 19-15
8. Dallas Mavericks 20-17
9. Golden State Warriors 19-19
10. Memphis Grizzlies 17-17
11. New Orleans Pelicans 16-22
12. Oklahoma City Thunder 16-22
13. Sacramento Kings 15-23
14. Houston Rockets 11-25
15. Minnesota Timberwolves 8-30
Photo Credit: Getty Images