By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic scored 35 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out six assists as the Dallas Mavericks beat the Toronto Raptors 111 – 110 to register their third straight win. Doncic has dropped 30+ points in every game of the regular season so far.
“He did everything tonight,” Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said on Doncic’s performance. “Did he go through his legs like eight times? When he shot that little floater, I just kind of chuckled because only he can do that.”
During the 37 minutes he spent on the floor, Doncic shot 10-15 from the field (including 3-6 triples) and 12-14 free throws. Overall, he’s averaging 51.4 percent field-goal shooting while leading the NBA in scoring with 36.1 points.
The Los Angeles Lakers were looking to extend their winning streak to 3-0 after seven straight defeats as they hosted the young and revamped Utah Jazz. Enter Lauri Markkanen.
Behind 27 points, 13 rebounds and four assists by the Finnish forward, the Jazz torched the Lakers 130 – 116 to return to victories after a loss to Doncic’s Mavericks.
The Jazz had 75 points by halftime, making short work of the Lakers’ problematic defense. They closed the match with a 30-21 score in the fourth quarter.
The Minnesota Timberwolves were the latest team to fall to Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks. Giannis posted his first triple-double of 2022-23 with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists to push Milwaukee to a 115 – 102 win and an 8-0 start.
It’s the best season beginning in the history of the Bucks franchise. Antetokounmpo could’ve scored a lot more but struggled from the free-throw line with 10-20.
Rudy Gobert was held to just seven points (on 3-6 shots) while getting 13 rebounds for the Timberwolves.
The rest of Friday’s (4/11) NBA results and notable Euro-scorers:
Detroit Pistons – Cleveland Cavaliers 88 – 112 (Cedi Osman 15 points, six rebounds)
Indiana Pacers – Miami Heat 101 – 99
Philadelphia 76ers – New York Knicks 104 – 106
Washington Wizards – Brooklyn Nets 86 – 128 (Kristaps Porzingis 14 points, 10 rebounds)
Boston Celtics – Chicago Bulls 124 – 113 (Nikola Vucevic 24 points, 12 rebounds)
Memphis Grizzlies – Charlotte Hornets 130 – 99
Los Angeles Clippers – San Antono Spurs 113 – 106 (Ivica Zubac 17 points, 15 rebounds, four blocks)
New Orleans Pelicans – Golden State Warriors 114 – 105
Phoenix Suns – Portland Trail Blazers 106 – 108 (Jusuf Nurkic 14 points, eight rebounds)