By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Deprived of French Rudy Gobert (right leg contusion) and Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (right calf strain), the Utah Jazz lost to the Dallas Mavericks, 114-100, in a game between teams battling for playoff positioning in the Western Conference wrapping up the NBA Sundays schedule. Slovenian Luka Doncic was the driving force for the Mavs, as usual, and ended up with 32 points, ten rebounds, and five assists. After missing the last three games of the 2021-22 Regular Season with right knee soreness, Latvian Davis Bertans chipped in six points, while French Frank Ntilikina had three points, German Maxi Kleber logged two points, and Serbian Boban Marjanovic stayed on the bench. Starting for the visitors, Spanish Juancho Hernangomez registered seven points and nine rebounds.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis dropped 23 points, nine rebounds, six assists, one assist, and one block as the Washington Wizards beat the slumping Golden State Warriors, 123-115. Israeli Deni Avdija added 14 points, seven rebounds, and four assists. Czech Tomas Satoransky, inserted in the starting lineup, paired nine points with seven assists. For the Warriors, Serbian Nemanja Bjelica was kept out of the rotation.
Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas was clutch down the stretch and posted a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with three assists, one steal, and one block powering the New Orleans Pelicans to the 116-108 victory against the Los Angeles Lakers. Limited to four minutes, Spanish backup center Willy Hernangomez logged one rebound and one assist.
Spoiling Kyrie Irving’s first home game of the season, the Charlotte Hornets took down the Brooklyn Nets, 119-100. Slovenian Goran Dragic generated seven points, six assists, six rebounds, two steals, and one block coming off the bench for the hosts. Lithuanian Arnoldas Kulboka was held to his G League assignment by the Hornets.
French Evan Fournier had 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal for the New York Knicks in the win, 104-102, at the Detroit Pistons. Fellow French player Killian Hayes registered six points, six rebounds, two assists, and one steal but for the losing side.
German reserve Daniel Theis put in four points, six rebounds, one steal, and one block lasting 18 minutes as the Boston Celtics routed the Minnesota Timberwolves, 134-112, to reach the top spot of the Eastern Conference standings.
The Phoenix Suns beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 114-104, with Croatian Dario Saric (right knee) remaining stuck on the injury list. For the Sixers, Turkish Furkan Korkmaz did not play.
Sunday results:
Detroit Pistons – New York Knicks 102-104
Boston Celtics – Minnesota Timberwolves 134-112
Phoenix Suns – Philadelphia 76ers 114-104
Washington Wizards – Golden State Warriors 123-115
New Orleans Pelicans – Los Angeles Lakers 116-108
Brooklyn Nets – Charlotte Hornets 110-119
Dallas Mavericks – Utah Jazz 114-100
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 47-28
2. y-Miami Heat 47-28
3. Milwaukee Bucks 46-28
4. Philadelphia 76ers 46-28
5. Chicago Bulls 43-31
6. Toronto Raptors 42-32
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 41-33
8. Charlotte Hornets 39-36
9. Brooklyn Nets 39-36
10. Atlanta Hawks 37-37
11. New York Knicks 33-42
12. Washington Wizards 32-42
13. x-Indiana Pacers 25-50
14. x-Detroit Pistons 20-55
15. x-Orlando Magic 20-55
Western Conference
1. y-Phoenix Suns 61-14
2. y-Memphis Grizzlies 52-23
3. Golden State Warriors 48-27
4. Dallas Mavericks 46-29
5. Utah Jazz 45-30
6. Denver Nuggets 44-31
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 43-33
8. Los Angeles Clippers 36-39
9. New Orleans Pelicans 32-43
10. Los Angeles Lakers 31-43
11. San Antonio Spurs 30-44
12. Portland Trail Blazers 27-47
13. Sacramento Kings 27-48
14. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 21-53
15. x-Houston Rockets 20-55
y-clinched Playoff berth
x-eliminated
Photo Credit: Getty Images