By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Lauri Markannen had one of his top games of the season with 33 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Utah Jazz past the Philadelphia 76ers 120 – 109 on the road.
This was Markannen’s third-highest scoring performance in 2023-24. The Finnish big man shot a solid 12-19 from the field, including 5-9 triples during the 35 minutes he spent on the floor to make short work of the Sixers‘ defense.
“Last night was tough, but it tells a lot about our group to be able to refocus and come here locked in,” Markkanen said, referring to how the Jazz reacted following a blowout 126 – 97 defeat to the Boston Celtics. “For the most part, we were doing the right things.”
Philadelphia didn’t have enough offensive solutions to counter the Jazz in MVP Joel Embiid’s absence due to knee swelling. “Without him [Embiid], we’ve got to find different ways and different guys have to got to step up, myself included, and help us win games,” said Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey after pacing the team with 25 points and nine assists.
Simone Fontecchio scored seven points for the Jazz.
January hasn’t been pretty so far for the Milwaukee Bucks. Behind 21 points and 11 rebounds by Alperen Sengun, the Houston Rockets handed the 2021 champions a 112 – 108 defeat, despite a 48-piece by Giannis Antetokounmpo.
“We have to be better,” said Giannis, who also had 17 rebounds. This was the Bucks‘ third loss over the last four games, after also back-to-back losses by the Indiana Pacers. We have to play better, we have to defend better, we have to trust one another better, we have to be coached better.”
Deni Avdija had a season-high 23 points, along with 10 rebounds and six assists but his Washington Wizards needed a lot more than that and Kyle Kuzma’s 27 points to counter the hot New York Knicks.
The duo of Julius Randle (39 points) and Jalen Brunson (33 points) was unstoppable and the Knicks outplayed the Wizards 121 – 105 to register their fourth straight win.
Isaiah Hartenstein contributed a season-high 19 rebounds for the Knicks to go with his eight points.
The rest of Saturday’s (6/1) results and notable Euro performers:
Boston Celtics – Indiana Pacers 118 – 101
Standings (via NBA.com):
Eastern Conference:
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
 Boston Celtics |
28 | 7 | .800 | — | 22-4 | 10-1 | 17-0 | 11-7 | 1-3 | 8-2 | W 2 |
2
 Milwaukee Bucks |
25 | 11 | .694 | 3.5 | 20-10 | 6-5 | 16-3 | 9-8 | 1-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
3
 Philadelphia 76ers |
23 | 12 | .657 | 5 | 17-9 | 5-3 | 13-6 | 10-6 | 0-1 | 5-5 | L 2 |
4
 New York Knicks |
21 | 15 | .583 | 7.5 | 16-9 | 4-3 | 10-4 | 11-11 | 0-0 | 6-4 | W 4 |
5
 Miami Heat |
20 | 15 | .571 | 8 | 15-10 | 7-0 | 9-6 | 11-9 | 0-0 | 6-4 | L 1 |
6
 Orlando Magic |
20 | 15 | .571 | 8 | 14-9 | 4-2 | 12-4 | 8-11 | 0-1 | 4-6 | W 1 |
7
 Indiana Pacers |
20 | 15 | .571 | 8 | 17-11 | 9-2 | 11-8 | 9-7 | 0-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
8
 Cleveland Cavaliers |
20 | 15 | .571 | 8 | 13-9 | 3-3 | 11-8 | 9-7 | 2-0 | 7-3 | W 2 |
9
 Brooklyn Nets |
16 | 20 | .444 | 12.5 | 13-11 | 1-4 | 10-8 | 6-12 | 0-1 | 3-7 | W 1 |
10
 Chicago Bulls |
16 | 21 | .432 | 13 | 11-15 | 3-5 | 12-9 | 4-12 | 2-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
11
 Atlanta Hawks |
14 | 20 | .412 | 13.5 | 9-16 | 4-3 | 5-9 | 9-11 | 1-0 | 4-6 | L 1 |
12
 Toronto Raptors |
14 | 21 | .400 | 14 | 9-17 | 0-9 | 9-9 | 5-12 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
13
 Charlotte Hornets |
8 | 25 | .242 | 19 | 7-16 | 3-5 | 4-11 | 4-14 | 1-0 | 1-9 | L 1 |
14
 Washington Wizards |
6 | 29 | .171 | 22 | 4-24 | 1-9 | 3-12 | 3-17 | 0-0 | 2-8 | L 4 |
15
 Detroit Pistons |
3 | 32 | .086 | 25 | 3-20 | 1-7 | 2-14 | 1-18 | 0-2 | 1-9 | L 3 |
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
 Minnesota Timberwolves |
25 | 9 | .735 | — | 18-5 | 4-1 | 14-2 | 11-7 | 1-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
2
 Oklahoma City Thunder |
23 | 11 | .676 | 2 | 14-8 | 5-2 | 14-5 | 9-6 | 2-0 | 7-3 | L 2 |
3
 Denver Nuggets |
25 | 12 | .676 | 1.5 | 16-9 | 2-3 | 14-4 | 11-8 | 0-0 | 8-2 | L 1 |
4
 LA Clippers |
22 | 12 | .647 | 3 | 17-9 | 5-2 | 14-4 | 8-8 | 0-1 | 8-2 | W 5 |
5
 Sacramento Kings |
21 | 13 | .618 | 4 | 15-11 | 5-4 | 13-6 | 8-7 | 3-0 | 6-4 | W 2 |
6
 Dallas Mavericks |
21 | 15 | .583 | 5 | 16-12 | 6-3 | 10-7 | 11-8 | 0-0 | 5-5 | W 2 |
7
 New Orleans Pelicans |
21 | 15 | .583 | 5 | 14-13 | 4-5 | 12-8 | 9-7 | 0-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
8
 Phoenix Suns |
19 | 16 | .543 | 6.5 | 12-12 | 3-6 | 11-10 | 8-6 | 2-0 | 6-4 | W 1 |
9
 Houston Rockets |
18 | 16 | .529 | 7 | 14-10 | 7-2 | 15-6 | 3-10 | 0-2 | 5-5 | W 1 |
10
 |
17 | 18 | .486 | 8.5 | 11-15 | 3-6 | 11-9 | 6-9 | 1-2 | 6-4 | W 1 |
11
 Los Angeles Lakers |
17 | 19 | .472 | 9 | 13-12 | 4-2 | 11-6 | 6-13 | 1-1 | 2-8 | L 4 |
12
 Utah Jazz |
17 | 20 | .459 | 9.5 | 10-15 | 3-5 | 11-5 | 6-15 | 2-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
13
 Memphis Grizzlies |
12 | 23 | .343 | 13.5 | 9-19 | 5-6 | 3-13 | 9-10 | 1-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
14
 Portland Trail Blazers |
9 | 25 | .265 | 16 | 5-20 | 1-4 | 5-11 | 4-14 | 1-2 | 3-7 | L 3 |
15
 San Antonio Spurs |
5 | 29 | .147 | 20 | 5-19 | 1-7 | 2-15 | 3-14 | 1-1 | 1-9 | L 4 |