By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard debuted in the 2023 NBA Preseason on Sunday.
The Milwaukee Bucks drew the 108-97 victory versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Crypto.com Arena. The Freak shared the game-high 16 points with Anthony Davis. He also registered eight points and two blocks over 15 minutes. Lillard, his new sidekick, threw in 14 points, four steals, three assists, and two rebounds. Thanasis Antetokounmpo had five points, two rebounds, and one block in 12 minutes.
For the hosts, Hungarian Valerio Vincent recorded two rebounds and one block over five minutes. LeBron James and Austin Reaves did not play.
Domantas Sabonis posts double-double
The Golden State Warriors rested multiple players but got the overtime win, 121-115, over the Sacramento Kings in Golden 1 Center. European production was spread between Croatian Dario Saric tallying nine points in 14 minutes and Spanish Usman Garuba with two points in four minutes.
For the hosts, Lithuanian big Domantas Sabonis combined a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double with five assists and Ukrainian big Alex Len went for seven points, four assists, two blocks, and two rebounds. Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov registered two points and six rebounds and also committed three turnovers.
In Ball Arena, the Denver Nuggets defeated the Chicago Bulls, 116-102. The defending champions featured Serbian Nikola Jokic dropping 15 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one steal, and one block over 23 minutes. For the visitors, Turkish Onuralp Bitim scored six points behind two triples.
Vasilije Micic fits in the starting unit
Returning to Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets edged out the Oklahoma City Thunder, 117-115. French Frank Ntilikina put in five rebounds and six assists lasting 23 minutes. On the losing end, Serbian Vasilije Micic went for six points, eight assists, and three rebounds in his first start, while French Ousmane Dieng scored ten points and Latvian Davis Bertans added nine points.
Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic saw the Toronto Raptors crush Australia’s Cairns Taipans, 134-93, in Scotiabank Arena. British O.G. Anunoby chipped in ten points. The 2023 FIBA World Cup MVP from Germany, Dennis Schroder contributed seven points and three assists.
The lone European in Kaseya Center, Spanish Santi Aldama scored 15 points for the Memphis Grizzlies in the loss, 132-124, to the Miami Heat. Tyler Herro put up 30 points for the winning side.
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