By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

A new personal best in the NBA by Lithuanian rookie Matas Buzelis sent the Chicago Bulls to a 133-124 victory versus the Miami Heat in United Center on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old forward tucked in 10/10 field goals, including four triples, en route to 24 points. His efforts extended into two blocks and two rebounds over 31 minutes, off the bench. The starting center, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic tallied a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double alongside two assists and one steal. For the visitors, Serbian Nikola Jovic scored 20 points with 7/10 from the field, including five three-pointers, but Swedish Pelle Larsson stayed on the bench.

With European newcomers sidelined, Slovenian Luka Doncic (left calf strain) and Maxi Kleber (right foot fracture), the Los Angeles Lakers cruised past the Los Angeles Clippers, 122-97, in Intuit Dome. French Armel Traore registered two points and one rebound. For the hosts, Croatian Ivica Zubac finished with eight points, ten rebounds, three assists, and one steal, while French Nicolas Batum had three points, two rebounds, and one assist.

Guided by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, the Brooklyn Nets pulled out a win, 99-97, against the Houston Rockets in Barclays Center. British Tosan Evbuomwan threw in 14 points, including a key triple in a crazy finish, four assists, four rebounds, and two steals. Bouncing back from a left calf contusion, Turkish Alperen Sengun posted a 24-point, 20-rebound double-double and dished out four assists but was limited to a loss.

Joel Embiid returned to action with a triple-double, pushing the Philadelphia 76ers to a narrow win, 118-116, over the Dallas Mavericks in Wells Fargo Center. Retaining a spot in the starting lineup, French Guerschon Yabusele chipped in 19 points alongside eight rebounds and four assists. Turkish Adem Bona added two points plus one rebound, one block, and one assist.

In Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 19 points as the Boston Celtics topped the Cleveland Cavaliers, 112-105. Lasting nearly 35 minutes and making 7/20 field goals, he also put in seven rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists. Portuguese teammate Neemias Queta did not play.

Belgian Toumani Camara piled up 13 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal as the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Indiana Pacers, 112-89, in Moda Center. Israeli Deni Avdija threw in six points, four rebounds, and one assist. French Rayan Rupert grabbed one rebound.

British O.G. Anunoby (right foot sprain) was unavailable against his former team but the New York Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors, 121-115, in Scotiabank Arena. French Pacome Dadiet (right great toe sprain) remained sidelined as well. German Ariel Hukporti produced six points, five rebounds, and two assists.

For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Austrian Jakob Poeltl was forced to an early exit with a right hip pointer, after recording five points, two assists, two rebounds, and one steal in just under 15 minutes.

Tuesday results

Philadelphia 76ers – Dallas Mavericks 118-116
Cleveland Cavaliers – Boston Celtics 105-112
Brooklyn Nets – Houston Rockets 99-97
Toronto Raptors – New York Knicks 115-121
Chicago Bulls – Miami Heat 133-124
Los Angeles Clippers – Los Angeles Lakers 97-122
Portland Trail Blazers – Indiana Pacers 112-89

Standings

Eastern Conference

1. Cleveland Cavaliers 40-10
2. Boston Celtics 36-15
3. New York Knicks 34-17
4. Indiana Pacers 28-21
5. Milwaukee Bucks 26-22
6. Detroit Pistons 25-25
7. Miami Heat 24-24
8. Orlando Magic 24-27
9. Atlanta Hawks 23-27
10. Chicago Bulls 22-29
11. Philadelphia 76ers 20-29
12. Brooklyn Nets 17-33
13. Toronto Raptors 16-34
14. Charlotte Hornets 12-35
15. Washington Wizards 8-41

Western Conference

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 39-9
2. Memphis Grizzlies 34-16
3. Houston Rockets 32-18
4. Denver Nuggets 31-19
5. Los Angeles Lakers 29-19
6. Los Angeles Clippers 28-22
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 27-23
8. Dallas Mavericks 26-25
9. Sacramento Kings 25-24
10. Golden State Warriors 25-24
11. Phoenix Suns 25-24
12. San Antonio Spurs 21-26
13. Portland Trail Blazers 22-29
14. New Orleans Pelicans 12-38
15. Utah Jazz 11-37

-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins

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