Emotions were still raw when Dallas Mavericks played Oklahoma City Thunder on Monday. The tragic Helicopter death of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant still hung heavily over America and its basketball world.
This was certainly the case with 20-year-old Slovenian sensation Luca Doncic.
“I broke down after the first quarter,” the high-flying young Dallas guard admitted. “That was when it really hit me. It was really hard to explain.”
His emotive state didn’t seem to slow him up too much, however. A Slovenian international since he was 17, he went out and got the job done. Playing away, he posted 29 points and 11 rebounds in Dallas’s 107-97 victory over Oklahoma City Thunder.
It was another of his top-notch performances that must have strengthened his challenge for the NBA’s 2019/2020’s MVP award.
Antetokounmpa is MVP favourite; Doncic’s No 2
The New Jersey sportsbooks’ hot favourite right now is Gianiss Antetokounmpa who tops the Bookies list at futures odds of -216. Doncic is second with +380 and James Hardin and Le Bron James are tied for third at +700.
The Thunder was without star guard Chris Paul, who sat out his first game of the season, reportedly to mourn the loss of close friend Bryant. Oklahoma City cited ‘personal reasons’.
Eric Gordon scored a career-high 50 points as the Rockets defeated the high-flying Jazz 126-117 in Utah.
In the absence of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, Gordon became the first Rockets player besides Harden to score 50 points in a game since Hakeem Olajuwon posted 51 in 1996.
Career night for Hield
In the meantime a career-high 42 points from Buddy Hield helped the Sacramento Kings outlast the Minnesota Timberwolves 133-129 in overtime. The Kings rallied brilliantly from a 27-point deficit.
DeMar DeRozan put up 36 points and 10 rebounds in the San Antonio Spurs’ narrow 110-109 defeat the Chicago Bulls.
Bam Adebayo’s third triple-double of the season (20 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists) inspired a 113-92 victory for the Miami Heat against the Orlando Magic.
“It was about honouring Kobe,” Adebayo said. “I felt like I had the ‘Mamba Mentality’ tonight … I never got to meet him but he was here in spirit.”
The Jazz lost but Donovan Mitchell starred with 36 points against the soaring Rockets.
Usually a strong contributor, Joe Ingles struggled for the Jazz. The Australian was two of eight from the floor and one of seven from three-point range for just seven points in 33 minutes.
Timberwolves honour Bryant
Teams across the league have continued to honour five-time champion and 2008 MVP Bryant.
On Monday, the Timberwolves opened the game by taking an eight-second backcourt violation and Sacramento took a 24-second shot-clock violation in honour of the two numbers Bryant wore in his famed 20-year career.
While taking their violation, Timberwolves star Andrew Wiggins placed the ball on the free throw line – where Bryant scored to eclipse Michael Jordan for third place on the NBA’s scoring list in December 2014.
The showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers was supposed to headline play this week. That it has been postponed following Bryant’s death is understandable.
All the Monday’s results
Cleveland Cavaliers 115-100 Detroit Pistons
Miami Heat 113-92 Orlando Magic
Dallas Mavericks 107-97 Oklahoma City Thunder
Chicago Bulls 110-109 San Antonio Spurs
Sacramento Kings 133-129 Minnesota Timberwolves (OT)
Houston Rockets 126-117 Utah Jazz