NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
It’s uncommon for Nikola Jokić to be sidelined in the NBA, but this occasion required him to miss several games to recuperate from some injuries.
After an 11-day hiatus, the Serbian center made his return to the court, and he quickly made an impact by leading the Denver Nuggets to a 127-117 victory against the Milwaukee Bucks.
In this game, the three-time NBA MVP notched another triple-double, scoring 39 points while shooting an impressive 16-of-25 from the field, along with collecting 10 rebounds and providing 10 assists.
This performance marked his 30th triple-double of the season, a remarkable achievement that only three other players have accomplished. Russell Westbrook reached this milestone thrice, while both Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain did it once each.
Though Jokić excelled against the Bucks, Luka Dončić helped guide the Los Angeles Lakers to a narrow 120-119 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Although Dončić missed a potential game-winning shot, LeBron James was there to tip in the ball just before the buzzer.
Dončić still delivered a solid performance, finishing with 34 points, alongside seven rebounds and seven assists for the Lakers.
In another game, Kristaps Porzingis shone in the Boston Celtics’ dominant 132-102 road victory over the Phoenix Suns, marking his first 30-point performance of the season.
The Latvian center finished with exactly 30 points and narrowly missed out on a double-double, contributing with 10-of-15 shooting from the floor. For the Suns, Vasilije Micic saw limited playing time and did not score in approximately four minutes on the court.
The Washington Wizards recorded a 119-114 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers away from home, highlighted by a contest between two French players.
Alex Sarr emerged victorious, tallying 24 points and securing seven rebounds, while Guershon Yabusele contributed 21 points and eight rebounds for the 76ers. Sarr received strong support from Tristan Vukcevic, who added 17 points and six rebounds for the winning team.
The Los Angeles Clippers also celebrated a significant win with a 126-113 triumph over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, featuring Ivica Zubac achieving a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Nicolas Batum contributed six points, while Bogdan Bogdanovic added four.
The Knicks were without their star player, Jalen Brunson, and despite a strong performance from OG Anunoby, who scored 28 points along with five rebounds and three assists, they couldn’t overcome the Clippers.
### Recent Game Results:
– Philadelphia 76ers – Washington Wizards: 114-119
– Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors: 86-116
– Indiana Pacers – Los Angeles Lakers: 119-120
– New York Knicks – LA Clippers: 113-126
– Denver Nuggets – Milwaukee Bucks: 127-117
– Phoenix Suns – Boston Celtics: 102-132
### Eastern Conference Standings:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers: 58-14
2. Boston Celtics: 54-19
3. New York Knicks: 45-27
4. Indiana Pacers: 42-30
5. Detroit Pistons: 41-32
6. Milwaukee Bucks: 40-32
7. Atlanta Hawks: 35-37
8. Orlando Magic: 35-38
9. Chicago Bulls: 32-40
10. Miami Heat: 31-41
11. Toronto Raptors: 26-47
12. Philadelphia 76ers: 23-50
13. Brooklyn Nets: 23-50
14. Charlotte Hornets: 18-54
15. Washington Wizards: 16-56
### Western Conference Standings:
1. Oklahoma City Thunder: 60-12
2. Houston Rockets: 47-26
3. Denver Nuggets: 46-28
4. Los Angeles Lakers: 44-28
5. Memphis Grizzlies: 44-28
6. LA Clippers: 41-31
7. Golden State Warriors: 41-31
8. Minnesota Timberwolves: 41-32
9. Sacramento Kings: 35-37
10. Phoenix Suns: 35-38
11. Dallas Mavericks: 35-38
12. Portland Trail Blazers: 32-41
13. San Antonio Spurs: 31-40
14. New Orleans Pelicans: 20-53
15. Utah Jazz: 16-57
