Willy Hernangomez came up big against Domantas Sabonis and the Kings

By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net

Facing Domantas Sabonis and without Jonas Valanciunas, the New Orleans Pelicans found an important asset in Willy Hernangomez, who came off the bench to deliver his best performance of the season.

The Spanish center produced a double-double of 22 points and 16 rebounds, adding 4 assists while shooting 7/16 from the field and 8/8 at the line. “I love playing basketball so much, I’m playing well. We executed the defensive plan perfectly, our communication was really high”, he said after the win.

On the losing side, instead, the Lithuanian center had a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, but he wasn’t enough.

His fellow countryman Ricky Rubio went close to a double-double with 7 points and 9 assists, grabbing 3 rebounds as well, to help Cleveland beat Indiana. Cedi Osman scored 9 points with 4 rebounds.

Santi Aldama didn’t come off the bench, but he wasn’t enough to help Memphis against Toronto. The 22-year-old Spaniard had 15 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.

Without Nikola Jokic, the Denver Nuggets couldn’t have the upper hand over Minnesota. Vlatko Cancar was put in the starting five, but only had 6 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. Rudy Gobert contributed to his team’s victory with 16 points and 8 rebounds.

Paolo Banchero had one of his best games of the year with 22 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists, being almost perfect at the charity stripe (10/11) in the 119-113 win against Charlotte.

Franz Wagner added 14 points and 6 rebounds, while his brother Moritz had 8 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists off the bench.

NBA Round Up and European showings

Charlotte Hornets – Orlando Magic 113-119 (Banchero 22 p, 10 r, 5 a; Franz Wagner 14 p, 6 r; Moritz Wagner 8 p, 5 r, 4 a)
Indiana Pacers – Cleveland Cavaliers 103-122 (Rubio 7 p, 9 a, 3 r; Osman 9 p, 4 r)
New York Knicks – Philadelphia 76ers 108-97
Memphis Grizzlies – Toronto Raptors 103-106 (Aldama 15 p, 6 r, 4 a)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Denver Nuggets 128-98 (Gobert 16 p, 8 r; Cancar 6 p, 5 r, 3 a)
New Orleans Pelicans – Sacramento Kings 136-104 (Willy Hernangomez 22 p, 16 r, 4 a; Sabonis 12 p, 11 r)

2022-23 STANDINGS

EAST

TEAM	W	L	LAST 10
1 BOSTON	37	16	6-4
2 MILWAUKEE	36	17	9-1
3 PHILADELPHIA	34	18	8-2
4 BROOKLYN	32	20	5-5
5 CLEVELAND	33	22	5-5
6 MIAMI	29	25	5-5
7 NEW YORK	29	26	4-6
8 ATLANTA	27	27	5-5
9 CHICAGO	25	27	6-4
10 WASHINGTON	24	28	6-4
11 INDIANA	25	30	2-8
12 TORONTO	25	30	5-5
13 ORLANDO	22	32	6-4
14 CHARLOTTE	15	40	4-6
15 DETROIT	14	40	3-7

WEST

TEAM	W	L	LAST 10
1 DENVER	37	17	6-4
2 MEMPHIS	32	21	2-8
3 SACRAMENTO	29	23	5-5
4 LA CLIPPERS	30	26	7-3
5 PHOENIX	29	26	8-2
6 DALLAS	28	26	4-6
7 MINNESOTA	29	27	7-3
8 GOLDEN STATE	27	26	6-4
9 NEW ORLEANS	28	27	2-8
10 UTAH	27	27	6-4
11 PORTLAND	26	27	5-5
12 OKLAHOMA CITY	25	27	6-4
13 LA LAKERS	25	29	5-5
14 SAN ANTONIO	14	39	1-9
15 HOUSTON	13	40	3-7

PHOTO CREDIT: Getty Images