NBA: Da Silva & Magic Limit Jokic’s Impact

The best thrower on the court was Orlando’s Anthony Black, who set a career high with 38 points – and thus helped his team decisively to survive against Jokic. The Serb achieved a triple-double with 34 points, 21 rebounds and 12 assists, his 16th of the current season.

With 18 wins and 14 defeats, Orlando occupies a direct play-off spot as fourth in the Eastern Conference, but is only one win above the line for the play-in tournament. The Nuggets (22:9) are one of the strongest teams in the league in the West. Magic continues to hope for a speedy return from world and European champion Franz Wagner, who has been missing since the beginning of December with an ankle injury. His brother Moritz Wagner, also world champion, is at least getting closer to making a comeback after tearing his cruciate ligament.

World and European champion Dennis Schröder came off the bench again for the Sacramento Kings, but was able to celebrate a rare victory: against the Dallas Mavericks led by top talent Cooper Flagg (23 points), they scored 113:107, Schröder contributed 10 points and 5 assists. It was only the eighth win in 23 defeats for the Kings; the last place for the play-in tournament in the Western Conference is currently occupied by the Portland Trail Blazers (12:19).

Superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo from the Milwaukee Bucks made an impressive return. The Greek had missed eight games due to injury, but he now scored 29 points in 25 minutes in the 112:103 win at the Chicago Bulls. Without the two-time MVP, the Bucks had lost six of the eight games, and with a record of 13:19 they first have to fight for participation in the play-in tournament.

(SID)