By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Vucevic scored in double-double figures to lead the Chicago Bulls past the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 at home Saturday. The Montenegrin big had 20 points and 14 rebounds along with 2 steals for the Bulls who took a 2-1 lead in their regular-season series, while DeMar DeRozan posted 25 points. Cavs’ Darius Garland matched DeRozan’s game-high with 25 points, while Cedi Osman added 14 points and 3 rebounds in 33 minutes while coming from the bench.
Jordan Clarkson kept the Utah Jazz intact against the Sacramento Kings, leading his team to victory with a new career-high of 45 points. The Jazz held on to prevail with a 134-125 and swept the regular-season series, despite missing Rudy Gobert and Mike Conley. Bojan Bogdanovic added 26 points to Jazz’s efforts and Donovan Mitchell contributed 25, while Hassan Whiteside had a game-high 21 rebounds to go along with 12 points. DeAaron Fox scored 41 points and 11 assists for the Kings.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists though his efforts weren’t enough to help the Milwaukee Bucks overcome the Golden State Warriors on the road, with the home team grabbing a 122-109 victory. Klay Thompson was hot from the three-point line to add a season-best 38 points (8-of-14 3s), along with 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Jordan Poole had 30 points and Andrew Wiggins added 21 for the Warriors.
Nikola Jokic once again flirted with triple-double figures, adding 26 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists for the Denver Nuggets, though the Toronto Raptors emerged with a 127-115 victory on the road. Pascal Siakam led the way for the Raptors with 33 points, Scotti Barnes added 25 points and Chris Boucher had a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds while coming off of the bench.
Josh Hart had a career-high night, scoring 44 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Washington Wizards with a 127-118 victory. It wasn’t just Hart though who enjoyed a career-best in Portland’s win, as teammates Trenton Watford and Drew Eubanks also scored career-highs with 27 and 20 points respectively, as the team swept the regular-season series. Kentavius Caldwell-Pope paced the Wizards with 26 points and Kyle Kuzma added 22 points.
The Minnesota Timberwolves overcame with Miami Heat 113-104 with all players but one scoring in double digits. Jaylen Nowell highlighted the team’s performance with 16 points, while Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards each scored 15 points apiece. Tyler Herro scored 30 points for the Eastern Conference-leading Heat, while Bam Adebayo and Max Strus both had 19 points.
Tyrese Haliburton dropped a double-double of 19 points and 10 assists to help the Indiana Pacers survive the San Antonio Spurs 119-108 on the road, while also snapping a three-game skid. A night after Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich made history as the winningest coach in the NBA, the Spurs were led by Jock Landale’s 26-point performance, while Lonnie Walker added 20 points and Tre Jones was close to triple-double figures with 9 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
NBA March 12 results:
Chicago Bulls – Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91
Miami Heat – Minnesota Timberwolves 104-113
San Antonio Spurs – Indiana Pacers 108-119
Golden State Warriors – Milwaukee Bucks 122-109
Denver Nuggets – Toronto Raptors 115-127
Utah Jazz – Sacramento Kings 134-125
Portland Trail Blazers – Washington Wizards 127-118
NBA standings (via nba.com)
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Miami Heat |
45 | 24 | .652 | — | 29-13 | 11-2 | 24-9 | 21-15 | 1-3 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
2 Milwaukee Bucks |
42 | 26 | .618 | 2.5 | 26-18 | 9-3 | 24-12 | 18-14 | 0-2 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
3 Philadelphia 76ers |
40 | 25 | .615 | 3 | 24-16 | 6-8 | 19-14 | 21-11 | 2-1 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
4 Chicago Bulls |
41 | 26 | .612 | 3 | 26-17 | 9-4 | 25-10 | 16-16 | 0-1 | 5-5 | W 2 |
|
5 Boston Celtics |
41 | 27 | .603 | 3.5 | 30-16 | 9-6 | 24-11 | 17-16 | 4-2 | 8-2 | W 5 |
|
6 Cleveland Cavaliers |
38 | 29 | .567 | 6 | 23-18 | 8-5 | 20-11 | 18-18 | 0-0 | 3-7 | L 2 |
|
7 Toronto Raptors |
37 | 30 | .552 | 7 | 23-19 | 7-5 | 17-15 | 20-15 | 2-1 | 5-5 | W 3 |
|
8 Brooklyn Nets |
34 | 33 | .507 | 10 | 24-18 | 8-6 | 13-18 | 21-15 | 2-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
9 Charlotte Hornets |
33 | 35 | .485 | 11.5 | 21-22 | 5-7 | 16-17 | 17-18 | 0-7 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
10 Atlanta Hawks |
32 | 34 | .485 | 11.5 | 20-22 | 8-5 | 20-13 | 12-21 | 0-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
11 Washington Wizards |
29 | 37 | .439 | 14.5 | 22-21 | 6-7 | 17-17 | 12-20 | 3-1 | 3-7 | L 3 |
|
12 New York Knicks |
28 | 39 | .418 | 16 | 14-25 | 4-9 | 13-19 | 15-20 | 1-2 | 3-7 | L 1 |
|
13 Indiana Pacers |
23 | 45 | .338 | 21.5 | 11-33 | 2-13 | 15-19 | 8-26 | 4-4 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
14 Detroit Pistons |
18 | 49 | .269 | 26 | 14-27 | 5-8 | 11-22 | 7-27 | 3-1 | 6-4 | L 2 |
|
15 Orlando Magic – o |
18 | 50 | .265 | 26.5 | 10-32 | 2-11 | 8-23 | 10-27 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 2 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Phoenix Suns – x |
53 | 14 | .791 | — | 30-9 | 6-4 | 28-8 | 25-6 | 1-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
|
2 Memphis Grizzlies |
46 | 22 | .676 | 7.5 | 30-14 | 8-5 | 24-10 | 22-12 | 2-1 | 6-4 | W 2 |
|
3 Golden State Warriors |
46 | 22 | .676 | 7.5 | 28-16 | 10-3 | 28-7 | 18-15 | 0-2 | 4-6 | W 3 |
|
4 Utah Jazz |
42 | 25 | .627 | 11 | 28-15 | 13-1 | 24-10 | 18-15 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
5 Dallas Mavericks |
41 | 26 | .612 | 12 | 30-15 | 12-2 | 23-12 | 18-14 | 1-2 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
6 Denver Nuggets |
40 | 28 | .588 | 13.5 | 25-19 | 5-9 | 20-13 | 20-15 | 3-0 | 7-3 | L 2 |
|
7 Minnesota Timberwolves |
39 | 30 | .565 | 15 | 26-18 | 11-4 | 22-12 | 17-18 | 2-1 | 8-2 | W 1 |
|
8 LA Clippers |
35 | 34 | .507 | 19 | 21-24 | 7-7 | 20-14 | 15-20 | 0-2 | 6-4 | L 1 |
|
9 Los Angeles Lakers |
29 | 37 | .439 | 23.5 | 16-25 | 3-10 | 20-16 | 9-21 | 6-2 | 3-7 | W 1 |
|
10 New Orleans Pelicans |
27 | 40 | .403 | 26 | 18-22 | 4-8 | 15-19 | 12-21 | 1-2 | 4-6 | L 4 |
|
11 Portland Trail Blazers |
26 | 40 | .394 | 26.5 | 11-30 | 1-12 | 17-18 | 9-22 | 0-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
|
12 San Antonio Spurs |
26 | 42 | .382 | 27.5 | 16-22 | 4-7 | 13-21 | 13-21 | 1-3 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
13 Sacramento Kings |
24 | 45 | .348 | 30 | 17-28 | 5-7 | 15-20 | 9-25 | 1-0 | 2-8 | L 4 |
|
14 Oklahoma City Thunder |
20 | 46 | .303 | 32.5 | 14-29 | 4-8 | 9-24 | 11-22 | 3-1 | 3-7 | L 4 |
|
15 Houston Rockets |
17 | 50 | .254 | 36 | 9-33 | 3-9 | 10-22 | 7-28 | 2-1 | 2-8 | L 1 |
x – clinched Playoff berth
o – eliminated
Photo credit: Getty Images