By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
On Wednesday, the Boston Celtics held on to defeat the Milwaukee Bucks, 119-116.
Adding to his solid 2023-24 NBA Regular Season campaign, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis chipped in 21 points, six rebounds, and one assist. Ukrainian teammate Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not leave the bench. Portuguese Neemias Queta was on a G League assignment.
In a visit to TD Garden, Giannis Antetokounmpo went for 21 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, and two steals, but was not enough for the Bucks to extend a five-game winning streak. His brother Thanasis Antetokounmpo did not check in.
Nikola Jokic posted a triple-double as the Denver Nuggets lost, 124-119, to the Orlando Magic. He tallied half his 30 points in the fourth quarter, besides 13 rebounds, 12 assists, three steals, and two blocks in Amway Center.
A total of 27 points with 11/18 field goals described the winning effort of German Franz Wagner. His brother Moritz Wagner added 12 points. Georgian Goga Bitadze had six points and 12 rebounds. British Admiral Schofield did not play.
Returning to Crypto.com Arena, Luka Doncic produced 30 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. The Dallas Mavericks prevailed, 104-101, over the Los Angeles Lakers. German teammate Maxi Kleber (dislocated right small toe) stayed on the injury list.
More action and European showings
Charlotte Hornets – Washington Wizards 117-114 (Theo Maledon DNP, Frank Ntilikina INJ – Deni Avdija 13pts, 5reb, 1ast, Bilal Coulibaly 7pts, 2ast, 1blk, Danilo Gallinari 1pts, 5reb, 1ast)
Atlanta Hawks – Brooklyn Nets 147-145 OT (Clint Capela 14pts, 15reb, 3blk, Bogdan Bogdanovic 14pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 96-129 (Ricky Rubio INA – Nikola Jovic INA)
Indiana Pacers – Toronto Raptors 131-132 (Dennis Schroder 26pts, 6reb, 5ast, 1blk, O.G. Anunoby 13pts, 4reb, 4ast, 1stl, Jakob Poeltl 6pts, 6ast, 4reb, 1blk)
Houston Rockets – Memphis Grizzlies 111-91 (Alperen Sengun 11pts, 7reb, 3ast, 3blk, Boban Marjanovic DNP – Santi Aldama 8pts, 2reb, 1blk)
Minnesota Timberwolves – Philadelphia 76ers 112-99 (Rudy Gobert 13pts, 11reb, 3ast, 3blk, Luka Garza 1pts, 1reb – Nicolas Batum 6pts, 3reb, 1blk, Furkan Korkmaz 3pts, 1reb, 1stl)
New Orleans Pelicans – Sacramento Kings 117-112 (Jonas Valanciunas 15pts, 11reb, 2ast – Domantas Sabonis 23pts, 9reb, 6ast, 1blk, Sasha Vezenkov 3pts, 2reb, Filip Petrusev DNP, Alex Len INJ)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Chicago Bulls 116-102 (Vasilije Micic 2pts, 2ast, Davis Bertans DNP, Ousmane Dieng DNP, Aleksej Pokusevski DNP, Olivier Sarr INA – Nikola Vucevic 16pts, 12reb, 3ast, 2stl, Onuralp Bitim INA)
San Antonio Spurs – Los Angeles Clippers 102-109 (Victor Wembanyama 22pts, 15reb, 3ast, 3blk, 1stl, Jeremy Sochan 19pts, 7ast, 5reb, Cedi Osman 5pts, 2stl, 1reb, Sandro Mamukelashvili DNP, Sidy Cissoko INA – Ivica Zubac 12pts, 8reb, 1ast, Daniel Theis 8pts, 11reb, 4ast, Moussa Diabate DNP)
Phoenix Suns – Golden State Warriors 123-115 (Jusuf Nurkic 9pts, 5reb – Dario Saric 17pts, 6reb, 4ast, 2stl, Usman Garuba INA)
Portland Trail Blazers – Utah Jazz 121-105 (Toumani Camara 12pts, 7reb, 3ast, 1blk, Rayan Rupert 0pts – Lauri Markkanen 24pts, 8reb, 3stl, Simone Fontecchio 8pts, 1reb, 1ast, 1stl, Omer Yurtseven 3pts, 6reb, 1ast, Luka Samanic DNP)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Boston Celtics 12-3
2. Orlando Magic 10-5
3. Milwaukee Bucks 10-5
4. Miami Heat 10-5
5. Philadelphia 76ers 10-5
6. Indiana Pacers 8-6
7. New York Knicks 8-6
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-7
9. Atlanta Hawks 7-7
10. Toronto Raptors 7-8
11. Brooklyn Nets 6-8
12. Charlotte Hornets 5-9
13. Chicago Bulls 5-11
14. Washington Wizards 2-12
15. Detroit Pistons 2-13
Western Conference
1. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-3
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-4
3. Denver Nuggets 10-5
4. Dallas Mavericks 10-5
5. Phoenix Suns 9-6
6. Sacramento Kings 8-6
7. Los Angeles Lakers 9-7
8. Houston Rockets 7-6
9. New Orleans Pelicans 8-7
10. Los Angeles Clippers 6-7
11. Golden State Warriors 7-9
12. Portland Trail Blazers 4-11
13. Utah Jazz 4-11
14. Memphis Grizzlies 3-11
15. San Antonio Spurs 3-12
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins
Photo Credit: Getty Images