A statement victory for the Sixers, a strong Luka Doncic as usual, a personal record for Julius Randle – and honor for Gregg Popovich: the NBA on Tuesday morning.
1335 victories: Gregg Popovich with Lakers head coach Frank Vogel (right) and his assistant David Fizdale.
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Age before youth: Gregg Popovich has reached another milestone in his illustrious coaching career. The 73-year-old head coach of the San Antonio Spurs celebrated his 1,335th win as an NBA coach in a 117-110 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, tying the gap with Don Nelson as the coach with the most regular-season wins in league history . “Coach Pop” racked up all of his wins for Spurs, which also included five championship titles.
The Spurs, like the defeated Lakers, who competed without LeBron James (knee problems), are currently in the lower midfield of the Western Conference. The Dallas Mavericks, who led by their superstar Luka Doncic, won their fifth game in a row, are significantly higher. The Mavericks defeated the Utah Jazz 111:103 in a direct duel between two top teams. Doncic, who was missing recently, had 35 points and a personal best of the season of 16 rebounds as well as seven assists and three steals. Maxi Kleber, who missed two games with ankle problems, had eight points and six rebounds and two blocks off the bench and had the best plus-minus value of any player. Dallas is fifth in the West and now, like Utah, has 40 wins this season.
Jokic once again furious
A 131-124 win for the Denver Nuggets over the Golden State Warriors brings the top teams in the West closer together. Denver’s star center Nikola Jokic, last season’s MVP, posted another triple double with the Serb having 32 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists. The Warriors, who were without their top stars Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins, conceded their fifth loss in a row.
Without the injured Dennis Schröder, however, the Houston Rockets had to accept the next bankruptcy. The Rockets, who just ended a 12-game losing streak on Monday, lost 106-123 at the Miami Heat and remain bottom of the Western Conference. Schröder was out for the fourth time in a row after suffering an ankle injury.
Embiid and Randle over 40
In the Eastern Conference, the Philadelphia 76ers also won their fifth game with superstar James Harden since his move from the Brooklyn Nets in February. League top scorer Joel Embiid scored 43 points in the 121:106 against the ailing Chicago Bulls. It was Chicago’s fifth loss in a row.
Julius Randle also knew how to clear the 40 hurdle, setting a personal record of 46 points in the New York Knicks’ 131:115 against the Sacramento Kings and leading the Knicks to victory after initially being 20 points behind.
