By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic stayed true to his MVP status as the Denver Nuggets blew out the Los Angeles Lakers 133-96 on Saturday night.
Jokic dropped his eighth triple-double of the season with 17 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds in 28 minutes for the Nuggets which never lost touch of the lead to seal a big victory at home.
Bones Hyland and Jeff Green contributed 27 and 26 points respectively for Denver and Facu Campazzo posted 9 points and 5 assists in 26 minutes on the court.
LeBron James tapped 25 points and 9 rebounds and Russell Westbrook had 19 for the Lakers, which have now lost three games in a row.
With Kristaps Porzingis and coach Jason Kidd back on board after clearing COVID protocols, the Dallas Mavericks beat the Orlando Magic 108-92 to win their second straight game.
Porzingis had 19 points and 7 rebounds upon his return to action, while Luka Doncic led all scorers of the Mavs with 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists.
Moe Wagner and Robin Lopez both scored 16 points for the Magic and Cole Anthony had 12 points.
Pascal Siakam lifted the Toronto Raptors to a 103-96 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks with 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, to mark his second career triple-double. OG Anunoby had 24 points to complement his efforts and Fred VanVlet posted 17 for the Raptors that have swept the reigning champions 3-0 in their regular season series.
Giannis Antetokounmpo also dropped 30 points for the Bucks, Grayson Allen had 18 points and Khris Middleton dropped 16 points.
Anfernee Simmons posted a 31 points and a new career-high 11 assists and Jusuf Nurkic also had a double-double with 23 points and 14 rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers get past the Washington Wizards 115-110 in their first meeting of the season.
Spencer Dinwiddie tried to pace the Wizards‘ comeback effort with a total of 27 points and 7 assists, while Kyle Kuzma had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. The Wizards have lost their first game after winning three straight this week.
RJ Barrett and Julius Randle combined 50 points (26 and 24 respectively) and the New York Knicks edged the Atlanta Hawks 117-108 on the road. Evan Fournier added up 18 points for the Knicks and Mitchell Robinson had 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Trae Young’s 29-point performance wasn’t enough for the Hawks, that have now lost their fifth straight game. Danilo Gallinari added 17 points coming from the bench and John Collins had 13 for the hosts.
Despite seeing Kevin Durant exiting early with an injury, the Brooklyn Nets topped the New Orleans Pelicans 120-105. Durant had 12 points before going down with a left knee sprain. James Harden led all scorers of the Nets with a double-double of 27 points, 15 rebounds and Patty Mills stepped up with 21 points.
Brandon Ingram had a team-high of 22 points for the Pelicans, while Jonas Valancinunas and Herbert Jones both tapped 13 points.
Joel Embiid got on board after an elbow soreness to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 109-98 on the road. Embiid scored 25 of his 32 points along with 12 rebounds in the second half and the Sixers have now won their second straight game. Tobias Harris followed with 22 points and Seth Curry had 21 for the Sixers.
Big man Omer Yurtseven led the way for the Heat with a double-double of 22 points, 11 rebounds.
Darius Garland emerged with 27 points and 18 assists to get the job done for the Cleveland Cavaliers, in their 107-102 victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Evan Mobley had 20 points, Jarrett Allen posted a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds and Lauri Markkanen tapped 12 points.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander picked up 21 points to lead the Thunder and Luguentz Dort had 17.
Robert Williams saved the day for the Boston Celtics, as his own pair of free throws lifted his team to a 114-112 comeback victory against the Chicago Bulls. Williams finished the game with total of 14 points and 13 rebounds, while Jayson Tatum led the Celtics with 23 points and 12 rebounds. Jaylen Brown followed with 19 points and Dennis Schroder had 16.
Nikola Vucevic’s solid display with 27 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists wasn’t enough to put the Bulls back on winning track, as the team has slipped its third consecutive game.
Derrick White dropped 19 points after missing five games and Dejounte Murray had 18 points to help the San Antonio Spurs overcome the LA Clippers 101-94 at home and put an end to their five-game skid.
Amir Coffey led the Clippers with 20 points, Marcus Morris Sr. followed with 15 points and Nicolas Batum had 13 points, 7 rebounds. The Clippers have now lost their second straight game.
NBA January 15 results:
Milwaukee Bucks – Toronto Raptors 96-103
Washington Wizards – Portland Trail Blazers 110-115
Atlanta Hakws – New York Knicks 108-117
Brooklyn Nets – New Orleans Pelicans 120-105
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers 98-109
Oklahoma City Thunder – Cleveland Cavaliers 102-107
Boston Celtics – Chicago Bulls 114-112
San Antonio Spurs – LA Clippers 101-94
Denver Nuggets – LA Lakers 96-133
Dallas Mavericks – Orlando Magic 108-92
NBA standings:
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Chicago Bulls |
27 | 14 | .659 | — | 18-9 | 5-2 | 15-6 | 12-8 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 3 |
|
2. Brooklyn Nets |
27 | 15 | .643 | 0.5 | 19-8 | 6-1 | 12-11 | 15-4 | 2-0 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
3. Miami Heat |
27 | 16 | .628 | 1 | 18-8 | 8-1 | 13-5 | 14-11 | 0-2 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
4. Milwaukee Bucks |
27 | 18 | .600 | 2 | 18-14 | 6-2 | 14-8 | 13-10 | 0-2 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
5. Philadelphia 76ers |
25 | 17 | .595 | 2.5 | 16-11 | 4-6 | 9-9 | 16-8 | 1-1 | 9-1 | W 2 |
|
6. Cleveland Cavaliers |
26 | 18 | .591 | 2.5 | 14-9 | 4-1 | 11-9 | 15-9 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 4 |
| 23 | 20 | .535 | 5 | 15-10 | 5-4 | 12-6 | 11-14 | 0-4 | 7-3 | L 1 | |
|
8. Toronto Raptors |
21 | 19 | .525 | 5.5 | 13-12 | 5-5 | 12-11 | 9-8 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
|
9. Washington Wizards |
22 | 21 | .512 | 6 | 15-13 | 6-5 | 12-8 | 10-13 | 3-0 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
10. New York Knicks |
22 | 21 | .512 | 6 | 14-17 | 4-6 | 11-11 | 11-10 | 1-0 | 7-3 | W 3 |
|
11. Boston Celtics |
22 | 22 | .500 | 6.5 | 16-12 | 5-6 | 14-8 | 8-14 | 4-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
12. Atlanta Hawks |
17 | 25 | .405 | 10.5 | 10-15 | 4-5 | 8-11 | 9-14 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 5 |
|
13. Indiana Pacers |
15 | 28 | .349 | 13 | 8-22 | 2-7 | 12-12 | 3-16 | 1-3 | 1-9 | L 3 |
|
14. Detroit Pistons |
10 | 31 | .244 | 17 | 7-19 | 2-7 | 7-13 | 3-18 | 1-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
15. Orlando Magic |
8 | 36 | .182 | 20.5 | 5-27 | 2-10 | 2-15 | 6-21 | 0-1 | 1-9 | L 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. Phoenix Suns |
32 | 9 | .780 | — | 20-7 | 5-4 | 17-5 | 15-4 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 2 |
| 31 | 11 | .738 | 1.5 | 16-7 | 7-1 | 18-3 | 13-8 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 1 | |
| 30 | 15 | .667 | 4 | 23-10 | 4-3 | 16-9 | 14-6 | 2-0 | 9-1 | L 1 | |
|
4. Utah Jazz |
28 | 14 | .667 | 4.5 | 18-4 | 9-0 | 14-8 | 14-6 | 0-0 | 5-5 | L 4 |
|
5. Dallas Mavericks |
24 | 19 | .558 | 9 | 19-10 | 9-2 | 12-8 | 12-11 | 1-1 | 8-2 | W 2 |
|
6. Denver Nuggets |
22 | 19 | .537 | 10 | 15-12 | 4-5 | 11-7 | 11-12 | 1-0 | 7-3 | W 2 |
|
7. Los Angeles Lakers |
21 | 22 | .488 | 12 | 12-16 | 2-6 | 14-11 | 7-11 | 5-1 | 5-5 | L 3 |
|
8. LA Clippers |
21 | 23 | .477 | 12.5 | 13-19 | 3-5 | 14-12 | 7-11 | 0-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
| 20 | 22 | .476 | 12.5 | 15-15 | 4-4 | 11-10 | 9-12 | 1-1 | 5-5 | L 2 | |
|
10. Portland Trail Blazers |
17 | 25 | .405 | 15.5 | 8-19 | 1-5 | 14-11 | 3-14 | 0-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
11. Sacramento Kings |
18 | 27 | .400 | 16 | 13-19 | 5-6 | 12-14 | 6-13 | 1-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
12. San Antonio Spurs |
16 | 27 | .372 | 17 | 9-16 | 1-5 | 8-12 | 8-15 | 0-3 | 2-8 | W 1 |
|
13. New Orleans Pelicans |
16 | 27 | .372 | 17 | 11-16 | 2-4 | 10-11 | 6-16 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
14. Oklahoma City Thunder |
14 | 28 | .333 | 18.5 | 10-19 | 1-5 | 8-14 | 6-14 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
|
15. Houston Rockets |
12 | 32 | .273 | 21.5 | 5-18 | 2-4 | 7-13 | 5-19 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 1 |
Photo: Getty Images