By Eurohoops team / info@eurohoops.net
Jokić couldn’t find his shooting rhythm early, but he turned it on after the break, dropping 30 points in the final two quarters to lead the Denver Nuggets past the Atlanta Hawks.
The Colorado team recorded a narrow 134–133 road win, with Jokić flirting with yet another triple-double.
The Serbian center finished with 40 points, nine rebounds and eight assists, while Jonas Valančiūnas added eight points for the Nuggets. On the other side, Kristaps Porziņģis scored 25 points, and Vít Krejčí added 15 for the Hawks.
Orlando Magic grabbed a 106–105 win in the Florida derby, with Franz Wagner leading the way with 32 points. Goga Bitadze followed with eight points and eight rebounds, while Simone Fontecchio scored five points for Miami.
Elsewhere, Lauri Markkanen’s 18 points weren’t enough for the Utah Jazz in a heavy 112–146 loss to the New York Knicks, while Adem Bona had 10 points in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 116–101 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, with Giannis Antetokounmpo remaining on the sidelines due to injury.
Portland Trail Blazers couldn’t find a way past the Detroit Pistons, falling 116–122 on the road to the Eastern Conference leaders, despite Deni Avdija erupting for 35 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists.
The Oklahoma City Thunder continued to impress, improving to 22–1 with a 132–111 win over the Dallas Mavericks, as Ajay Mitchell scored nine and Ousmane Dieng added seven points.
NBA results and standings:
Boston Celtics – LA Lakers 126-105
Orlando Magic – Miami Heat 106-105
Atlanta Hawks – Denver Nuggets 133-134
Cleveland Cavaliers – San Antonio Spurs 130-117
Detroit Pistons – Portland Trail Blazers 122-116
New York Knicks – Utah Jazz 146-112
Toronto Raptors – Charlotte Hornets 86-111
Chicago Bulls – Indiana Pacers 105-120
Houston Rockets – Phoenix Suns 117-98
Memphis Grizzlies – LA Clippers 107-98
Milwaukee Bucks – Philadelphia 76ers 101-116
Oklahoma City Thunder – Dallas Mavericks 132-11
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 22-1
2. Houston Rockets 15-5
3. Denver Nuggets 16-6
4. LA Lakers 16-6
5. San Antonio Spurs 15-7
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 14-8
7. Phoenix Suns 13-10
8. Golden State Warriors 11-12
9. Memphis Grizzlies 10-13
10. Portland Trail Blazers 9-14
11. Utah Jazz 8-14
12. Dallas Mavericks 8-16
13. LA Clippers 6-17
14. Sacramento Kings 5-17
15. New Orleans Pelicans 3-20
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 18-5
2. New York Knicks 15-7
3. Toronto Raptors 15-9
4. Boston Celtics 14-9
5. Miami Heat 14-9
6. Orlando Magic 14-9
7. Philadelphia 76ers 13-9
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 14-10
9. Atlanta Hawks 13-11
10. Milwaukee Bucks 10-14
11. Chicago Bulls 9-13
12. Charlotte Hornets 7-16
13. Brooklyn Nets 5-17
14. Indiana Pacers 5-18
15. Washington Wizards 3-18