By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Denver Nuggets jumped into to a 3-2 lead with a convincing 108-90 home win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday. Nikola Jokic notched a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double, also tallied eight assists before gaining the luxury to return to the bench with the rest of the starters.
Damian Lillard nailed a game-winning buzzer-beater and the Portland Trail Blazers beat the Oklahoma City Thunder, 118-115, behind his 50 points. Enes Kanter put up a 13-point, 13-rebound double-double for the Blazers that went through on the 4-1 triumph in the best-of-seven series.
The Toronto Raptors and the Philadelphia 76ers will square off in the next round after finishing their opening round series, 4-1. The Canadian organization routed the Orlando Magic, 115-96, at the Scotiabank Arena. Serge Ibaka scored ten points and Marc Gasol added nine.
Fellow Europeans Boban Marjanovic and Furkan Korkmaz notched seven points apiece for the Sixers in the 122-100 home victory against the Brooklyn Nets. Rodions Kurucs signed off with 14 points in 15 minutes.
Results and European action:
| Denver Nuggets – San Antonio Spurs | 108-90 | Jokic 16pts, 11reb, 8ast, 2stl, 1blk, J. Hernangomez 2reb – Poeltl 12pts, 7reb, 4ast, Belinelli 7pts, 1reb, 2ast, 1blk, Dav. Bertans 3pts, 2reb, 1ast, Motiejunas 2pts, 3reb, 1ast |
| Philadelphia 76ers – Brooklyn Nets | 122-100 | Marjanovic 7pts, 7reb, 4ast, Korkmaz 7pts, 1reb, 2ast – Kurucs 14pts, 7reb, 1ast, 1stl, Musa 1stl |
| Portland Trail Blazers – Oklahoma City Thunder | 118-115 | Kanter 13pts, 13reb, 4ast, 1blk, Nurkic OUT – Schroder 17pts, 2reb, 3ast |
| Toronto Raptors – Orlando Magic | 115-96 | Ibaka 10pts, reb, 2ast, 1stl, M. Gasol 9pts, 9reb, 2ast, 1blk, Anunoby OUT – Fournier 10pts, 3reb, 2ast, 2stl, Vucevic 6pts, 7reb, 1ast, Mozgov OUT |