By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic had 32 points, 16 rebounds, and nine assists, and the Denver Nuggets beat Los Angeles 111-108, keeping the Clippers winless since acquiring James Harden last month.
Serb defending champion Jokic was perfect on 14 free throw attempts, including two with 13 seconds left that helped the Nuggets hold off the Clippers’ comeback try.
Harden scored 21 points and Paul George tied a season-high with 35 points as Los Angeles fell to 0-2 in West Group B for the in-season tournament. Croatian big man Ivica Zubac almost had a double-double for the losing side with nine points and 13 rebounds.
On the contrary, Denver has a 2-0 in-season tournament record and also the best record in the NBA with 9-2 wins so far.
Dallas couldn’t follow the Nuggets, after losing to the Pelicans. Rookie Jordan Hawkins and Brandon Ingram each scored 25 points, and the Pelicans snapped a five-game skid with a 131-110 win.
Slovenian star Doncic scored 16 points, but missed 11 of 16 shots and turned the ball over eight times. For the winning side, Lithuanian big man Jonas Valanciunas added six points, three rebounds, and four assists.
Spaniard Santi Aldama scored a career-high 24 points but the depleted Grizzlies lost to the Lakers 134-107 with Marcus Smart getting hurt after eight minutes of action.
Last but not least, in the marquee matchup between Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren, Canadian Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had 28 points and a career-high seven steals as the Oklahoma City Thunder rolled past the San Antonio Spurs 123-87.
French sensation Wemby finished with eight points on 4-for-15 shooting. He grabbed 14 rebounds and blocked two shots. Holmgren had nine points on 3-for-10 shooting with seven rebounds and three assists.
Serb guard Vasilije Micic stayed on the court for 19 minutes, scoring eight points and dishing four assists for the winning side. Polish forward Jeremy Sochan added nine points and five assists for the Spurs, while Turkish swingman Cedi Osman had six points.
The rest of the results, plus the euro-scorers of the day are the following with the Draymond Green-Rudy Gobert incident stealing the show.
RESULTS
Charlotte – Miami 105-111 (Maledon 2 p. 3 r. 3 as.)
Detroit – Atlanta 120-126 (Hayes 8 p. 3 r. 5 as. – Bogdanovic 17 p. Capela 8 p. 8 r.)
Brooklyn – Orlando 124-104 (F.Wagner 21 p. 8 r. 5 as. Bitadge 14 p. 3 r. M. Wagner 11 p. 6 r. 4 as.)
Utah – Portland 115-99 (Markkanen 21 p. 9 r. Fontecchio 1 r. – Camara 9 p. 5 r. Rupert 1 p.)
Golden State – Minessota 101-104 (Saric 21 p. 4 r. 4 as. – Gobert 9 p. 13 r. 3 bl.
Philadelphia – Indiana 126-132
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Philadelphia 76ers 8-2
2. Boston Celtics 8-2
3. Indiana Pacers 7-4
4. Miami Heat 7-4
5. Milwaukee Bucks 6-4
6. Atlanta Hawks 6-4
7. Brooklyn Nets 6-5
8. Orlando Magic 5-5
9. Toronto Raptors 5-5
10. New York Knicks 5-5
11. Cleveland Cavaliers 4-6
12. Chicago Bulls 4-7
13. Charlotte Hornets 3-7
14. Washington Wizards 2-8
15. Detroit Pistons 2-10
Western Conference
1. Denver Nuggets 9-2
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 8-2
3. Dallas Mavericks 8-3
4. Houston Rockets 6-3
5. Oklahoma City Thunder 7-4
6. Sacramento Kings 5-4
7. Los Angeles Lakers 6-5
8. Golden State Warriors 6-6
9. New Orleans Pelicans 5-6
10. Phoenix Suns 4-6
11. Utah Jazz 4-7
12. Los Angeles Clippers 3-7
13. Portland Trail Blazers 3-7
14. San Antonio Spurs 3-8
15. Memphis Grizzlies 2-9
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins