Croatian basketball player Karlo Matković scored nine points (2-3 shooting, 1-1 three-point shooting) with three rebounds and one steal in 13:26 minutes spent on the court in the 116-118 defeat of the New Orleans Pelicans at the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.
With Zion Williamson’s basket five seconds before the end, the Pelicans reduced the score to one 118-116but until the end of the match they did not even manage to make a foul to get the ball once more.
Devin Booker led the Suns with 32 points, while Trey Murphy scored 22 for the Pelicans.
With a win-loss ratio of 20-45, the Pelicans are 13th in the Western Conference, far from the positions that lead to the playoffs, while the Suns, with 36-27, are in seventh place in the West.
Tatum is back on the floor
Friday marked the return of the Boston Celtics star to the NBA Jayson Tatum who played his first game since May 12 last year when he Achilles tendon ruptured during a matchup against the New York Knicks in the playoffs. In the 120-100 home victory of the Celtics against the Dallas Mavericks, Tatum started in the five and scored 15 points with 12 rebounds and 7 assists in 27 minutes spent on the court. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics scorers with 24 assists, while Klay Thompson scored 19 for the Mavs.
With 42-21 Boston is second in the East, while Dallas is 12th in the West with 21-42.
Overview of NBA game results:
San Antonio Spurs – LA Clippers 116 – 112
LA Lakers – Indiana Pacers 128 – 117
(Ivica Zubac was not part of Pacers)
Denver Nuggets – New York Knicks 103 – 142
Phoenix Suns – New Orleans Pelicans 118 – 116
(Karlo Matković played 13:26 minutes for the Pelicans, scored nine points and recorded three rebounds and one steal)
Houston Rockets – Portland Trail Blazers 106 – 99
Boston Celtics – Dallas Mavericks 120 – 100
Charlotte Hornets – Miami Heat 120 – 128
EASTERN CONFERENCE
ATLANTIC DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Boston Celtics 42 21 .667 —
2. New York Knicks 41 23 .641 1 1/2
3. Toronto Raptors 35 27 .565 6 1/2
4. Philadelphia 76ers 34 28 .548 7 1/2
5. Brooklyn Nets 15 47 .242 26 1/2
CENTRAL DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Detroit Pistons 45 16 .738 —
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 39 24 .619 7
3. Milwaukee Bucks 26 35 .426 19
4. Chicago Bulls 26 37 .413 20
5. Indiana Pacers 15 48 .238 31
SOUTHEAST DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Miami Heat 35 29 .547 —
2. Orlando Magic 33 28 .541 0 1/2
3. Atlanta Hawks 32 31 .508 2 1/2
4. Charlotte Hornets 32 32 .500 3
5. Washington Wizards 16 46 .258 18
WESTERN CONFERENCE
PACIFIC DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Los Angeles Lakers 38 25 .603 —
2. Phoenix Suns 36 27 .571 2
3. Golden State Warriors 32 30 .516 5 1/2
4. Los Angeles Clippers 30 32 .484 7 1/2
5. Sacramento Kings 14 50 .219 24 1/2
SOUTHWESTERN DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. San Antonio Spurs 46 17 .730 —
2. Houston Rockets 39 23 .629 6 1/2
3. Memphis Grizzlies 23 38 .377 22
4. Dallas Mavericks 21 42 .333 25
5. New Orleans Pelicans 20 45 .308 27
NORTHWESTERN DIVISION
WL PCT GB
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 49 15 .766 —
2. Minnesota Timberwolves 40 23 .635 8 1/2
3. Denver Nuggets 39 25 .609 10
4. Portland Trail Blazers 30 34 .469 19
5. Utah Jazz 19 44 .302 29 1/2
(Hina | Photo: New Orleans Pelicans)
