By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Jalen Brunson scoring 42 points led the New York Knicks to a win, 98-91, versus the Sacramento Kings in Golden 1 Center on Saturday. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic added nine points, four rebounds, and one assist over 24 minutes. Lasting 28 minutes, German starter Isaiah Hartenstein stuffed in seven points, 14 rebounds, four blocks, three assists, and one block. Fellow starter for Tom Thibodeau, British O.G. Anunoby finished with two points, six rebounds, three blocks, two assists, and one steal.
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posted a 49th straight double-double in the Regular Season as his side fell outside of the top six spots of the Western Conference leading directly to the 2024 NBA Playoffs. He combined 21 points with 14 rebounds and also registered two assists and one steal over 40 minutes. In seven minutes, Ukrainian Alex Len missed both of his shots and pulled down one rebound. Bulgarian Sasha Vezenkov (right ankle sprain) remained on the injury list.
Elsewhere on NBA Saturdays, Nikola Vucevic paced the Chicago Bulls in a win, 127-98, over the Washington Wizards. The Montenegrin center piled up 29 points, 13 rebounds, two assists, and one steal in United Center. Turkish teammate Onuralp Bitim chipped in six points, six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. On the opposite end, French Bilal Coulibaly registered 15 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal, and Israeli Deni Avdija (right knee contusion) sat out.
In Wells Fargo Center, French Nicolas Batum threw in eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks for the Philadelphia 76ers in a win, 109-98, against the Charlotte Hornets. On the losing side, Latvian Davis Bertans dropped 16 points plus one rebound, one assist, and one steal, Serbian Vasilije Micic logged 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal, and fellow Serbian Aleksej Pokusevski had five points, three rebounds, two steals, and two assists.
More European showings on NBA Saturdays
Houston Rockets – Cleveland Cavaliers 117-103 (Boban Marjanovic 0pts, Alperen Sengun INJ)
Indiana Pacers – Brooklyn Nets 121-100 (Dennis Schroder 13pts, 5ast, 2reb, 1stl)
New Orleans Pelicans – Portland Trail Blazers 126-107 (Jonas Valanciunas 4pts, 5ast, 3reb – Toumani Camara 11pts, 6reb, 3blk, 1ast, Rayan Rupert 2pts, 1reb)
Memphis Grizzlies – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-118 (Santi Aldama 16pts, 6reb, 4ast, 1stl, 1blk – Ousmane Dieng GL, Olivier Sarr GL)
Los Angeles Lakers – Golden State Warriors 121-128 (Dario Saric DNP, Usman Garuba GL)
Utah Jazz – Minnesota Timberwolves 100-119 (Omer Yurtseven 14pts, 5reb, 3blk, Luka Samanic DNP, Lauri Markkanen INJ – Luka Garza 9pts, 3reb, Rudy Gobert INJ)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. q-Boston Celtics 52-14
2. Milwaukee Bucks 43-24
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 42-25
4. New York Knicks 40-27
5. Orlando Magic 39-28
6. Indiana Pacers 38-30
7. Philadelphia 76ers 37-30
8. Miami Heat 36-30
9. Chicago Bulls 33-35
10. Atlanta Hawks 29-37
11. Brooklyn Nets 26-41
12. Toronto Raptors 23-44
13. Charlotte Hornets 17-51
14. e-Detroit Pistons 12-54
15. e-Washington Wizards 11-56
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 47-20
2. Denver Nuggets 47-20
3. Minnesota Timberwolves 46-21
4. Los Angeles Clippers 42-24
5. New Orleans Pelicans 41-26
6. Phoenix Suns 39-28
7. Sacramento Kings 38-28
8. Dallas Mavericks 38-29
9. Golden State Warriors 35-31
10. Los Angeles Lakers 36-32
11. Houston Rockets 32-35
12. Utah Jazz 29-38
13. Memphis Grizzlies 23-45
14. e-Portland Trail Blazers 19-48
15. e-San Antonio Spurs 14-53
q-qualified for Playoffs
e-eliminated from Playoffs
-Teams ranking first through sixth advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh through tenth compete in the Play-Ins