By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Orlando Magic secured an important “W” by defeating the New York Knicks, 114-100, at the Amway Center. Nikola Vucevic paved the way with 29 points and 13 boards for his 58th double-double of the NBA 2018-19 Regular Season, Evan Fournier scored 19 points. Mario Hezonja had 29 points for the visitors.
Nikola Jokic finished with 20 points, 11 boards and nine dimes and the Denver Nuggets took down the San Antonio Spurs, 113-85, following Gregg Popovich’s ejection after just 63 seconds of action. Clint Capela notched a 24-point, 15-rebound double-double and the Houston Rockets defeated the Los Angeles Clippers, 135-103.
Serge Ibaka was among the main contributors at the Barclays Center ending up with a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double. The Toronto Raptors prevented the Milwaukee Bucks from clinching the top spot in the Eastern Conference by defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 115-105.
Luka Doncic went off for 27 points, grabbed 12 rebounds as well, but the Dallas Mavericks suffered an 110-108 home loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Rudy Gobert posted a 17-point, 13-rebound double-double, also rejected five shots for the shorthanded Utah Jazz that beat the Phoenix Suns, 118-97.
Enes Kanter kept on rocking on Wednesday with 21 points and 15 boards for the Portland Trail Blazers covering for injured Jusuf Nurkic. His team routed the Memphis Grizzlies, 116-89, at the Moda Center.
The Indiana Pacers comfortably beat the Detroit Pistons, 108-89, on the road. Bojan Bogdanovic sank 17 points and Domantas Sabonis added a 15-point, 13-rebound double-double.
Results and European action:
| Detroit Pistons – Indiana Pacers | 89-108 | Pachulia 1reb, Calderon DNP, Mykhailiuk OUT – Boj. Bogdanovic 17pts, 4reb, 3ast, 1stl, 1blk, Sabonis 15pts, 13reb, 2ast, 1stl |
| Orlando Magic – New York Knicks | 114-100 | Vucevic 29pts, 13reb, 3ast, 1blk, Fournier 19pts, 4reb, 1ast, 1stl, 1blk, Mozgov OUT – Hezonja 29pts, 9reb, 5ast, 2stl, Ntilikina OUT |
| Washington Wizards – Chicago Bulls | 114-115 | Satoransky 8pts, 3reb, 4ast, 1stl, Mahinmi DNP – Luwawu-Cabarrot 11pts, 5reb, 1ast, 1blk, Markkanen OUT |
| Atlanta Hawks – Philadelphia 76ers | 130-122 | Len 11pts, 3reb, 1blk – Marjanovic 8pts, 8reb, 4ast, 1stl, Korkmaz OUT |
| Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors | 105-115 | Kurucs 11pts, 4reb, 2ast, 1blk, Musa DNP – Ibaka 23pts, 12reb, 2ast, 1stl, M. Gasol 8pts, 9reb, 6ast, 4stl, Anunoby OUT |
| Miami Heat – Boston Celtics | 102-112 | Dragic 11pts, 2reb, 5ast, 1stl – Theis 1ast, Yabusele DNP |
| New Orleans Pelicans – Charlotte Hornets | 109-115 | Dair. Bertans 6pts, 3reb, 1ast – W. Hernangomez 7reb, 2ast, Batum DNP, Parker OUT |
| Dallas Mavericks – Minnesota Timberwolves | 108-110 | Doncic 27pts, 12reb, 6ast, 1blk, Nowitzki 9pts, 4reb, 2ast, Kleber 2pts, 6reb, 1ast, 2blk, K. Antetokounmpo OUT, Porzingis OUT – Saric 14pts, 5reb, 3ast, 1stl, Deng OUT |
| Denver Nuggets – San Antonio Spurs | 113-85 | Jokic 20pts, 11reb, 9ast, J. Hernangomez 1ast, 1stl – Dav. Bertans 11pts, 2reb, 2ast, 3stl, Poeltl 3pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1stl, 2blk, Belinelli 1reb, 1ast, Motiejunas DNP |
| Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz | 97-118 | Okobo 15pts, 1reb, 2ast, 1blk, Bender 7pts, 7reb, 3ast, 1stl – Gobert 17pts, 13reb, 3ast, 5blk, Sefolosha 2pts, 2reb, 1ast, Mitrou-Long DNP, Rubio OUT |
| Portland Trail Blazers – Memphis Grizzlies | 116-89 | Kanter 21pts, 15reb, 3stl, Nurkic OUT – Dorsey 8pts, 2reb, 2ast, 1stl, Noah OUT, Valanciunas OUT |
| Los Angeles Clippers – Houston Rockets | 103-135 | Gallinari 16pts, 4reb,1ast, Zubac 5pts, 8reb, 1ast, 3stl, 1blk – Capela 24pts, 15reb, 1ast, 2blk, Hartenstein OUT |
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. y-Milwaukee Bucks 58-20
2. y-Toronto Raptors 56-23
3. x-Philadelphia 76ers 49-29
4. x-Boston Celtics 47-32
5. x-Indiana Pacers 47-32
6. Detroit Pistons 39-39
7. Brooklyn Nets 39-40
8. Orlando Magic 39-40
9. Miami Heat 38-40
10. Charlotte Hornets 36-42
11. e-Washington Wizards 32-47
12. e-Atlanta Hawks 29-50
13. e-Chicago Bulls 22-57
14. e-Cleveland Cavaliers 19-59
15. e-New York Knicks 15-63
Western Conference
1. y-Golden State Warriors 53-24
2. x-Denver Nuggets 52-26
3. y-Houston Rockets 51-28
4. x-Portland Trail Blazers 50-28
5. x-Utah Jazz 48-30
6. x-Los Angeles Clippers 47-32
7. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 45-33
8. x-San Antonio Spurs 45-34
9. e-Sacramento Kings 38-40
10. e-Minnesota Timberwolves 35-43
11. e-Los Angeles Lakers 35-43
12. e-New Orleans Pelicans 32-47
13. e-Memphis Grizzlies 31-47
14. e-Dallas Mavericks 31-47
15. e-Phoenix Suns 18-61
y-clinched division and a playoffs spot
x-Secured a playoffs spot
e-Eliminated from playoffs