By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic was thrown out late in the third quarter and the Dallas Mavericks lost 111-99 to the Indiana Pacers at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The 19-year-old had eight points when he picked up his second technical four because he punted the ball into the stands in frustration after a foul call. “I didn’t know I would be ejected because there are different rules in Europe” he mentioned following the NBA 2018-19 Regular Season match.
Maxi Kleber scorers three points for the losing side. Dirk Nowitzki also played but didn’t get on the scorers’ table. Domantas Sabonis notched double-double with 16 points and 11 rebounds for the Pacers. Besides the 22-year-old Lithuanian’s 20th double-double this year, Bojan Bogdanovic added nine points of his own, also grabbed seven boards.
Nikola Jokic put up his sixth 2018-19 triple-double and the 22nd of his career with 19 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds for the Denver Nuggets that beat the Cleveland Cavaliers, 124-102. His teammate, Juan Hernangomez (abdomen) was sidelined. Ante Zizic’s career-high 23 points at the Pepsi Center wasn’t enough for the visitors, neither were Cedi Osman’s 17 points.
Giannis Antetokounmpo had 25 points in 13 rebounds for the Milwaukee Bucks that scored their fourth straight victory, 118-108, over the Orlando Magic in the Amway Center. Ersan Ilyasova added three points. Nikola Vucevic poured 27 points and Evan Fournier 11, but Timofey Mozgov (right knee) remained out and the hosts dropped their third consecutive game.
Following his career-high 26 points, Ivica Zubac scored 17, but the Los Angeles Lakers suffered a 138-134 overtime loss to the Houston Rockets on the road. Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had two points and Moritz Wagner watched the match from the bench. James Harden continued his historic run scoring 48 points, but Isaiah Hartenstein didn’t get any action and Clint Capela (right hand) remained sidelined.
Buddy Hield hit a buzzer beating winning shot for the Sacramento Kings in their 103-101 victory against the Detroit Pistons at the Little Caesars Arena. Bogdan Bogdanovic had eight points, Nemanja Bjelica five and Kostas Koufos added one block. The host’s Zaza Pachulia started for Andre Drummond and posted seven points, Jose Calderon notched five.
Dennis Schroder scored 21 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder grabbed a 117-115 win against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road. Paul George’s four-point play with 5.1 seconds to go sealed the victory. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot didn’t leave the bench and Alex Abrines (personal) was inactive. The host’s Furkan Korkmaz didn’t get any action.
Serge Ibaka put up an 18-point performance for the Toronto Raptors that overpowered the Memphis Grizzlies, 119-90, at the Scotiabank Arena. Jonas Valanciunas (left hand) and OG Anunoby (personal) remained out. Marc Gasol (back) and Joakim Noah (personal) were also inactive, but Omri Casspi notched eight points for the visitors.
Nicolas Batum got 15 points and Tony Parker 14, while Willy Hernangomez had nine points and 13 rebounds aiding the Charlotte Hornets in their 135-115 home win over the Phoenix Suns. Elie Okobo started the third quarter but only put up two points for the visitors. Dragan Bender didn’t record any stats in three minutes.
Goran Dragic (right knee) remained on the injury list, but the Miami Heat beat the Chicago Bulls, 117-103, in Dwyane Wade’s (14pts, 10reb, 7ast) last game at the United Center. Lauri Markkanen finished with 20 points and nine boards for the losing side.
Alex Len poured 15 points for the Atlanta Hawks that lost, 113-105, to the Boston Celtics in the State Farm Arena. Tyler Dorsey didn’t play. Neither did the winning side’s Guerschon Yabusele. However, Daniel Theis helped the visitors with five points.
Results and European action:
| Philadelphia 76ers | Oklahoma City Thunder | 115-117 | Dennis Schroder 21pts, 4reb, 2ast |
| Charlotte Hornets | Phoenix Suns | 135-115 | Nicolas Batum 15pts, 3reb, 6ast, 1stl, Tony Parker 14pts, 1reb, 4ast, Willy Hernangomez 9pts, 13reb – Elie Okobo 2pts, 2reb, 4ast, Dragan Bender 0pts |
| Detroit Pistons | Sacramento Kings | 101-103 | Zaza Pachulia 7pts, 12reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk, Jose Calderon 5pts, 2reb, 4ast – Bogdan Bogdanovic 8pts, 2reb, 7ast, 1stl, 1blk, Nemanja Bjelica 5pts, 1reb, Kostas Koufos 1blk |
| Indiana Pacers | Dallas Mavericks | 111-99 | Domantas Sabonis 16pts, 11reb, 2ast, Bojan Bogdanovic 9pts, 7reb, 1ast – Luka Doncic 8pts, 5reb, 6ast, 3stl, Maxi Kleber 3pts, 3blk, Dirk Nowitzki 1reb, 1blk |
| Orlando Magic | Milwaukee Bucks | 108-118 | Nikola Vucevic 27pts, 6reb, 4ast, 2blk, Evan Fournier 11pts, 1reb, 5ast, 2stl – Giannis Antetokounmpo 25pts, 13reb, 5ast, 2stl, Ersan Ilyasova 3pts, 1reb, 1ast, 1stl |
| Atlanta Hawks | Boston Celtics | 105-113 | Alex Len 15pts, 6reb, 2ast, 1stl, 1blk – Daniel Theis 5pts, 1reb |
| Toronto Raptors | Memphis Grizzlies | 119-90 | Serge Ibaka 18pts, 5reb, 1blk – Omri Casspi 8pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk |
| Chicago Bulls | Miami Heat | 103-117 | Lauri Markkanen 20pts, 9reb, 2stl, 1blk |
| Houston Rockets | Los Angeles Lakers | 138-134 | Ivica Zubac 17pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1blk, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk 2pts, 1ast |
| Denver Nuggets | Cleveland Cavaliers | 124-102 | Nikola Jokic 19pts, 11reb, 12ast, 1stl – Ante Zizic 23pts, 6reb, Cedi Osman 17pts, 3reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 33-12
2. Toronto Raptors 35-13
3. Indiana Pacers 30-15
4. Philadelphia 76ers 30-17
5. Boston Celtics 28-18
6. Brooklyn Nets 24-23
7. Miami Heat 22-22
8. Charlotte Hornets 22-23
9. Detroit Pistons 20-25
10. Washington Wizards 19-26
11. Orlando Magic 19-27
12. Atlanta Hawks 14-31
13. New York Knicks 10-34
14. Chicago Bulls 10-36
15. Cleveland Cavaliers 9-36
Western Conference
1. Golden State Warriors 32-14
2. Denver Nuggets 31-14
3. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-18
4. Portland Trail Blazers 28-19
5. Houston Rockets 26-19
6. San Antonio Spurs 27-20
7. Utah Jazz 26-21
8. Los Angeles Clippers 34-21
9. Los Angeles Lakers 25-22
10. Sacramento Kings 24-22
11. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-24
12. New Orleans Pelicans 21-25
13. Dallas Mavericks 20-25
14. Memphis Grizzlies 19-27
15. Phoenix Suns 11-36
Photo Credit: Getty Images