By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic opted to assist Spencer Dinwiddie as the latter buried his former team from beyond the arc at the buzzer and the Dallas Mavericks edged the Brooklyn Nets, 113-111, on the road Wednesday night. The Slovenian sensation tallied 37 points, nine rebounds, nine assists, two steals, and one block in his latest solid showing. “Same as Boston,” he said after the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season game recalling Dinwiddie’s game-winner opposite the Boston Celtics a few days ago.
German Maxi Kleber registered four points, five rebounds, and three assists. Latvian Davis Bertans added three points, but French Frank Ntilikina did not score and Serbian Boban Marjanovic did not play. Moving to the hosts that came back from a double-digit deficit in the fourth quarter, Slovenian Goran Dragic put in a season-high 21 points powered by 9/16 field goals, dished out four assists, and grabbed three rebounds over 36 minutes facing former international teammate, Doncic.
Serbian Nikola Jokic eclipsed the 10,000-point mark in the NBA as the Denver Nuggets rolled the Washington Wizards, 127-109. The Serbian superstar went for 29 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block in 26 minutes. Slovenian teammate Vlatko Cancar (foot) has yet to be cleared to return. On the losing end, Israeli Deni Avdija had a season-high 19 points and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis got 16 points, while Czech Tomas Satoransky logged two points.
Greek international Giannis Antetokounmpo posted a 36-point, 10-rebound double-double pushing the Milwaukee Bucks to the win, 135-126, against the Sacramento Kings. Serge Ibaka chipped in eight points, but Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not get on the board and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili was on a G League assignment. Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis recorded a team-high 22 points in the losing effort with Ukrainian Alex Len staying on the bench and Portuguese Neemias Queta on assignment.
Without Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) for a second straight game, the Utah Jazz secured the win, 125-110, opposite the Chicago Bulls. French Rudy Gobert recorded a 14-point, 20-rebound double-double to go along with four blocks. Spanish Juancho Hernangomez moved into the starting unit but was held to two points in 23 minutes. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double in the losing effort with fellow Montenegrin Marko Simonovic on assignment.
Swiss Clint Capela posted a 17-point, 15-rebound double-double for the Atlanta Hawks in the loss, 116-106, to the Charlotte Hornets. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic made out a 12-point effort off the bench. Italian Danilo Gallinari exited with five points due to a right biceps contusion. French Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot had five points in ten minutes. The lone European player of the Hornets, Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka was on assignment.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl put up a 15-point, 14-rebound double-double as the San Antonio Spurs overcame Aleksej Pokusevski’s late surge and banked in the win, 122-120, over the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Serbian upstart finished with 16 points behind 5/7 field goals in 27 minutes, while French Theo Maledon and Olivier Sarr, and Czech Vit Krejci scored eight points each.
French Evan Fournier dropped 14 points, six assists, two rebounds, and two steals in just 28 minutes helping the New York Knicks rout the Portland Trail Blazers, 128-98. Croatian teammate Luka Samanic (heel) was sidelined due to an injury picked up during his G League assignment. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (foot) remained on the crowded injury list of the Blazers.
Croatian Dario Saric (knee) remained sidelined as the Phoenix Suns beat the Houston Rockets, 129-112. German Dennis Schroder tallied 17 points, six assists, and three rebounds in the latest losing effort. Turkish Alperen Sengun had five points, three rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Spanish Usman Garuba did not log playing time.
Stephen Curry was forced to an early exit due to a left foot injury as the Golden State Warriors fell to the Boston Celtics, 110-88. Serbian Nemanja Bjelica (illness) was ruled out. Moving to the winning end, German Daniel Theis paired three points with five rebounds coming off the bench.
Still missing British OG Anunoby (hand), the Toronto Raptors edged the Los Angeles Clippers, 103-100. Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not play and German Isaac Bonga was on assignment. The hosts featured German Isaiah Hartenstein, French Nicolas Batum, and Croatian Ivica Zubac at 12, eight, and two points, respectively.
Turkish Furkan Korkmaz was not part of the rotation for the Philadelphia 76ers in the 118-114 victory at the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Cavs, Turkish compatriot Cedi Osman stayed on the bench as well. Finnish Lauri Markkanen started and generated 13 points though.
Lacking European action, the Minnesota Timberwolves took down the Los Angeles Lakers, 124-104.
Wednesday results:
Charlotte Hornets – Atlanta Hawks 116-106
Cleveland Cavaliers – Philadelphia 76ers 114-118
Washington Wizards – Denver Nuggets 109-127
Brooklyn Nets – Dallas Mavericks 111-113
New York Knicks – Portland Trail Blazers 128-98
Houston Rockets – Phoenix Suns 112-129
Minnesota Timberwolves – Los Angeles Lakers 124-104
San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder 122-120
Utah Jazz – Chicago Bulls 125-110
Golden State Warriors – Boston Celtics 88-110
Sacramento Kings – Milwaukee Bucks 126-135
Los Angeles Clippers – Toronto Raptors 100-103
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Miami Heat 46-24
2. Milwaukee Bucks 44-26
3. Philadelphia 76ers 42-26
4. Boston Celtics 42-28
5. Chicago Bulls 41-28
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 39-30
7. Toronto Raptors 39-30
8. Brooklyn Nets 36-34
9. Charlotte Hornets 35-35
10. Atlanta Hawks 34-35
11. Washington Wizards 29-39
12. New York Knicks 29-40
13. Indiana Pacers 23-47
14. x-Detroit Pistons 18-51
15. x-Orlando Magic 18-52
Western Conference
1. y-Phoenix Suns 56-14
2. Memphis Grizzlies 48-22
3. Golden State Warriors 47-23
4. Utah Jazz 43-26
5. Dallas Mavericks 43-26
6. Denver Nuggets 42-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 41-30
8. Los Angeles Clippers 36-36
9. Los Angeles Lakers 29-40
10. New Orleans Pelicans 28-41
11. San Antonio Spurs 27-43
12. Portland Trail Blazers 26-42
13. Sacramento Kings 25-46
14. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-49
15. Houston Rockets 17-52
y-clinched playoff berth
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: Getty Images