The Slovenian Luka Doncic got this Saturday in the NBA a ‘triple-double’ of 20 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, to guide the Dallas Mavericks to a victory of 112-98.
They escorted Doncic on offense with Tim Hardaway Jr., who posted his best touchdown of the season with 36 points, and Trey Burke with 29 cards.
Hardaway and Burke played very prominent roles.
Dallas succeeded despite not having its incumbents Josh Richardson and Dorian Finney Smith, due to covid-19 protocols.
None of the three absentees traveled with the team from Denver, where Dallas prevailed in overtime Thursday.
One of the three, who has not been identified, tested positive for coronavirus.
Hardaway and Burke both stood out to eclipse Doncic’s second triple-double of the season.
– Denver castiga a Sixers –
Previously, in the afternoon, the Denver Nuggets relied on the actions of Serbian Nikola Jokic to surprise with a score of 115-103 a diminished Philadelphia 76ers, who played with just eight players due to injuries and protocols against positive covid- 19.
The Sixers, now down 7-3, asked to play despite coach Doc Rivers’ concerns about a depleted lineup after the stars, Cameroonian Joel Embiid and Australian Ben Simmons, went on the disabled list. 90 minutes before the start of the game.
Rivers didn’t use Mike Scott, who missed the last four games with a left knee injury, but dressed so the 76ers had a minimal roster.
“I don’t think we should (play) but it’s not my place to express that,” Rivers said. “I am concerned about the health of our players.”
The Cameroonian center, Embiid, was out of the game due to a stiff back, while the Australian point guard was out with knee problems.
Seth Curry came out after testing positive for COVID-19. Tobias Harris, Matisse Thybulle, Shake Milton and Vincent Poirier were also missing, following the security protocols and contact tracing for outbreaks of the virus implemented by the NBA.
Veterans Dwight Howard and Danny Green started for the Sixers along with rookie guards Isaiah Joe, Tyrese Maxey and Dakota Mathias.
All three rookies played more than 40 minutes for the Sixers, with Maxey scoring 39 points plus seven rebounds and six assists.
Gary Harris led Denver with 21 points, while Jokic added 15 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds. Argentine Facundo Campazzo was far from shining with just three points, two rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes.
The loss snapped a 20-game winning streak for the Sixers at their home stadium.
The Nuggets were left without Michael Porter, who like several Sixers players is in quarantine due to covid-19 security protocols.
“They thought it was safe enough to play,” said Nuggets coach Mike Malone. “To be honest, I think we are going to start to see more of this”, in relation to infections by the new coronavirus.
En otros resultados de la jornada, Hornets a Howks 113-105, Suns a Pacers 125-117, Heat a Wizards 128-124, Bucks a Cavaliers 100-90 y Spurs a Timberwolves 125-122.
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