By John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Luka Doncic missed a game-tying shot, then Bogdan Bogdanovic found Nemanja Bjelica for the clutch bucket sealing the 110-106 win for the Sacramento Kings over the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. With his clinching effort in the dying seconds, the Serbian forward matched his NBA-best 30 points, also tallied seven rebounds, four dimes, one steal and one rejection on Sunday. Bogdanovic finished with ten points, three assists and a couple of boards. Doncic nailed a team-high 27 points, added eight dimes and seven rebounds to his outing, Kristaps Porzingis had 13 points, eight boards, one assist and one block, and Maxi Kleber three points and five rebounds. Boban Marjanovic did not see any action.
Dennis Schroder poured 21 points from the bench, tallied two rebounds and a pair of dimes as well for the Oklahoma City Thunder in the 108-96 victory versus the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center. Fellow European Danilo Gallinari was held to 1/8 beyond the arc and 4/11 from the field but contributed to the “W” with 12 points, seven boards and one interception. The losing side featured Mario Hezonja at two points and four rebounds, and Jaylen Hoard at one point, one board and one assist, but Jusuf Nurkic (left leg) remained out.
Ivica Zubac with seven points, five boards, two blocks and one assist helped the Los Angeles Clippers prevail, 135-119, against the Washington Wizards at the Capital One Arena. A season-high and team-high 25 points from Davis Bertans did not to the trick for the hosts, nor did his three boards, two assists and one steal. In his long-awaited return, Ian Mahinmi had nine points, six rebounds, three rejections and a pair of dimes, while Moritz Wagner notched seven points and six boards, Isaac Bonga only one assist.
The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Toronto Raptors, 110-104, at the Wells Fargo Center, despite lone European Furkan Korkmaz being held to three points, two dimes, two rebounds and one steal. As for the losing side OG Anunoby went for 19 points, ten boards, four interceptions, a couple of assists and one block, and Serge Ibaka for 12 points, seven rebounds and three dimes. Marc Gasol did not score but notched four rebounds, three assists and one rejection.
Alex Len notched his first double-double of the 2019-20 Regular Season with 13 points and ten rebounds to go along with one dime, one steal and one rejection for the Atlanta Hawks that overpowered the Charlotte Hornets, 122-107, at the Spectrum Center. As for the hosts, Willy Hernagomez did not register any stat in limited action and Nicolas Batum did not leave the bench.
Goran Dragic (groin) was still out, but the Miami Heat got the job done at the AmericanAirlines Center with an 110-105 overtime victory opposite to the Chicago Bulls. The visitors were led by Lauri Markkanen, but his 22 points, seven boards, two assists and one interception were not enough. Tomas Satoransky added six points, three rebounds and two dimes, but Adam Mokoka was inactive.
Earlier, the Brooklyn Nets beat the Denver Nuggets, 105-102, at the Barclays Center. Dzanan Musa chipped in with seven points and one rebound, but Rodions Kurucs and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot were left on the bench. Nikola Jokic posted 24 points, 11 boards and six assists for the losing side, and Juan Hernangomez two points and three rebounds, but Vlatko Cancar did not play.
The league-leading Los Angeles Lakers took down the Minnesota Timberwolves, 142-125, at the Staples Center with Anthony Davis pouring 50 points and LeBron James 32. No European action here with Kostas Antetokounmpo on assignment and the visitors being the only NBA team without any Old Continent players.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 20-3
2. Boston Celtics 16-5
3. Miami Heat 17-6
4. Philadelphia 76ers 17-6
5. Toronto Raptors 15-7
6. Indiana Pacers 15-8
7. Brooklyn Nets 13-10
8. Orlando Magic 11-11
9. Detroit Pistons 9-14
10. Charlotte Hornets 9-16
11. Chicago Bulls 8-16
12. Washington Wizards 7-15
13. Atlanta Hawks 6-17
14. Cleveland Cavaliers 5-17
15. New York Knicks 4-19
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 21-3
2. Los Angeles Clippers 17-7
3. Dallas Mavericks 16-7
4. Houston Rockets 15-7
5. Denver Nuggets 14-7
6. Utah Jazz 13-10
7. Oklahoma City Thunder 10-12
8. Phoenix Suns 10-12
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-12
10. Sacramento Kings 9-13
11. San Antonio Spurs 9-14
12. Portland Trail Blazers 9-15
13. Memphis Grizzlies 6-16
14. New Orleans Pelicans 6-17
15. Golden State Warriors 5-19
Photo Credit: Getty Images