By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A solid fourth quarter lifted the Utah Jazz to the 110-101 victory versus the Sacramento Kings on Friday. French Rudy Gobert was among the key contributors packing a 17-point, 20-rebound double-double, while Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic added 13 points and five rebounds. European action on the losing end saw Ukrainian Alex Len with eight points and four rebounds in his first 2021-22 Regular Season appearance.
At 2-0, the Jazz will be facing the Denver Nuggets next. Serbian Nikola Jokic and company also went to 2-0 after the win, 102-96, opposite the San Antonio Spurs. The reigning MVP dropped 32 points making 14/19 field goals plus 16 rebounds, and seven assists. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar was sidelined with a hip injury. Austrian Jakob Poeltl registered 15 points for the visitors.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis turned in 28 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists for the Indiana Pacers suffering a second defeat, 135-134 in overtime to the Washington Wizards minus Bradley Beal. Latvian Davis Bertans with 17 points backed by four triples and Israeli Deni Avdija with two points were in action on the winning end coming off the bench.
French Evan Fournier back in familiar surroundings recorded 18 points helping the New York Knicks dominate the Orlando Magic, 121-96. German Franz Wagner led the hosts with 16 points. His brother Moritz Wagner added six points on a reserve role. Lithuanian Ignas Brazdeikis did not score but generated one rebound and one assist in eight minutes.
The Houston Rockets routed the Oklahoma City Thunder, 124-91, featuring Turkish Alperen Sengun at six points, German Daniel Theis at three points, and Spanish Usman Garuba at zero points. Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski fired ten points and seven rebounds from the opposite end, while French Theo Maledon logged five points and Czech Vit Krejci two points.
Montenegrin big Nikola Vucevic went for ten points, five assists, four rebounds, four steals, and two blocks as the Chicago Bulls went by the New Orleans Pelicans, 128-112. Matching up against him at the starting units, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas finished with 18 points and eight rebounds, while Czech Tomas Satoransky pulled in seven points.
OG Anunoby posting 14 points, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk eight points, Goran Dragic five points, and Isaac Bonga two points all chipped in for the Toronto Raptors in the win, 115-83, against the Boston Celtics. More Europeans on the losing side, four points for both Juan Hernangomez and Dennis Schroder, and Enes Kanter with two points.
Elsewhere, the Charlotte Hornets beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 123-112, overcoming Spanish Ricky Rubio on a 15-point, 10-assists double-double. Fellow Cavs starter Finnish Lauri Markkanen registered 13 points, and Turkish Cedi Osman combined nine points with three rebounds coming off the bench.
Turkish Furkan Korkmaz ended up with ten points as the Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Brooklyn Nets, 114-109. The visitors closed with a 16-1 run, also enjoyed Kevin Durant bringing in a 29-point, 15-rebound, 12-assist triple-double.
Down the line, in the lone game lacking Europeans, the Phoenix Suns took down the Los Angeles Lakers, 115-105.
Friday results:
Cleveland Cavaliers – Charlotte Hornets 112-123
Orlando Magic – New York Knicks 96-121
Washington Wizards – Indiana Pacers 135-134 OT (123-123)
Boston Celtics – Toronto Raptors 83-115
Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets 109-114
Chicago Bulls – New Orleans Pelicans 128-112
Houston Rockets – Oklahoma City Thunder 124-91
Denver Nuggets – San Antonio Spurs 102-96
Los Angeles Lakers – Phoenix Suns 105-115
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz 101-110
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat 1-0
2. New York Knicks 2-0
3. Atlanta Hawks 1-0
4. Chicago Bulls 2-0
5. Washington Wizards 2-0
6. Charlotte Hornets 2-0
7. Toronto Raptors 1-1
8. Philadelphia 76ers 1-1
9. Brooklyn Nets 1-1
10. Milwaukee Bucks 1-1
11. Indiana Pacers 0-2
12. Detroit Pistons 0-1
13. Cleveland Cavaliers 0-2
14. Boston Celtics 0-2
15. Orlando Magic 0-2
Western Conference
1. Utah Jazz 2-0
2. Denver Nuggets 2-0
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-0
4. Memphis Grizzlies 1-0
5. Golden State Warriors 2-0
6. San Antonio Spurs 1-1
7. Houston Rockets 1-1
8. Phoenix Suns 1-1
9. Sacramento Kings 1-1
10. Los Angeles Clippers 0-1
11. Portland Trail Blazers 0-1
12. Los Angeles Lakers 0-2
13. Dallas Mavericks 0-1
14. New Orleans Pelicans 0-2
15. Oklahoma City Thunder 0-2
Photo Credit: Getty Images