By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Despite trailing by 35 points in the first half and being limited to 36 points through the first two quarters, the Los Angeles Clippers turned the tables to defeat the Washington Wizards, 116-115, Tuesday. Luke Kennard scored seven points in the final nine seconds, including the go-ahead four-point play with 1.9 seconds remaining for the largest comeback in franchise history. The crazy rally is tied for the second largest in the NBA play-by-play era since 1996-97 season, per ESPN Stats & Info.
The Clippers overcame a 35-point deficit Tuesday night against the Wizards. That is tied for the 2nd-largest in the play-by-play era (since 1996-97).
The Jazz overcame a 36-point deficit against the Nuggets in 1996. pic.twitter.com/0n2na9lopo
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 26, 2022
German Isaiah Hartenstein contributed 16 points, six assists, five rebounds, one assist, and one block coming off the bench. Croatian Ivica Zubac was limited to 12 minutes with two points, four rebounds, and two assists, while both Nicolas Batum and Serge Ibaka went scoreless in eight and four minutes, respectively. On the opposite end, Israeli Deni Avdija produced 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists, with Latvian Davis Bertans staying on the bench and French Joel Ayayi on a G League assignment.
Nikola Jokic became the first player to reach 5,000 rebounds and 3,000 assists within his first 500 career games, as noted by ESPN Stats & Info. The Serbian reigning NBA MVP went for 28 points, 21 rebounds, and nine assists in the 110-105 victory for the Denver Nuggets opposite the Detroit Pistons. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar remained sidelined due to the surgery on his right foot performed three weeks ago. French Killian Hayes tallied six points and eight assists for the Pistons.
Serbian Nemanja Bjelica posted a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double as the Golden State Warriors blew out the Dallas Mavericks, 130-92. Slovenian Luka Doncic ended up with 25 points, eight rebounds, and three assists, while Latvian Kristaps Porzingis had nine points plus seven rebounds and was ejected after booting the ball into the stands during the fourth quarter. German Maxi Kleber finished with eight points and French Frank Ntilikina paired seven points with five rebounds but Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not play.
With Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas resting, Spanish Willy Hernangomez started and posted a 29-point, 10-rebound double-double. His solid showing was countered by Joel Embiid’s 42 points leading the Philadelphia 76ers to the win, 117-107, against the New Orleans Pelicans. Turkish Furkan Korkmaz added 13 points for the Sixers. Czech Tomas Satoransky did not score but dished out five assists for the Pels.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl with 18 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two blocks helped the San Antonio Spurs rout the Houston Rockets, 134-104. New Spanish teammate Juancho Hernangomez grabbed three rebounds in ten minutes. On the opposite side, Turkish Alperen Sengun scored 14 points, Daniel Theis stayed on the bench, and Usman Garuba sat out with a left wrist injury.
British OG Anunoby dropped 24 points as the Toronto Raptors beat the Charlotte Hornets, 125-113. German Isaac Bonga and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not get on the board in brief appearances with Slovenian Goran Dragic remaining away from the team. As for the Hornets, Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka stayed on his G League assignment.
German Dennis Schroder registered two points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the Boston Celtics in the 128-75 victory over the Sacramento Kings. Enes Kanter Freedom added four rebounds. Portuguese Neemias Queta had six points, two rebounds, and two blocks for the visitors but Ukrainian Alex Len did not play.
Jusuf Nurkic recorded his sixth double-double in a row but the Portland Trail Blazers fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 109-107. The Bosnian big man finished with 20 points, 14 rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Anthony Edwards had 40 points, including 14 in the last quarter for the winning side.
French two-way player Sekou Doumbouya remained on the league’s health and safety protocols as the Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Brooklyn Nets, 106-96.
Tuesday results:
Detroit Pistons – Denver Nuggets 105-110
Philadelphia 76ers – New Orleans Pelicans 117-107
Toronto Raptors – Charlotte Hornets 125-113
Washington Wizards – Los Angeles Clippers 115-116
Boston Celtics – Sacramento Kings 128-75
Brooklyn Nets – Los Angeles Lakers 96-106
Houston Rockets – San Antonio Spurs 104-134
Golden State Warriors – Dallas Mavericks 130-92
Portland Trail Blazers – Minnesota Timberwolves 107-109
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat 30-17
2. Chicago Bulls 29-17
3. Brooklyn Nets 29-18
4. Milwaukee Bucks 30-19
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 29-19
6. Philadelphia 76ers 28-19
7. Charlotte Hornets 26-22
8. Toronto Raptors 23-22
9. Boston Celtics 25-24
10. Washington Wizards 23-25
11. New York Knicks 23-25
12. Atlanta Hawks 21-25
13. Indiana Pacers 17-31
14. Detroit Pistons 11-36
15. Orlando Magic 9-39
Western Conference
1. Phoenix Suns 37-9
2. Golden State Warriors 35-13
3. Memphis Grizzlies 32-17
4. Utah Jazz 30-18
5. Dallas Mavericks 27-21
6. Denver Nuggets 25-21
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 24-23
8. Los Angeles Lakers 24-24
9. Los Angeles Clippers 24-25
10. Portland Trail Blazers 20-27
11. New Orleans Pelicans 18-29
12. San Antonio Spurs 18-30
13. Sacramento Kings 18-31
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 14-33
15. Houston Rockets 14-34
Photo Credit: Getty Images