First modification: 28/03/2021 – 05:12
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Los Angeles (AFP)
Two days after being traded by the Magic, Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic made his Chicago Bulls debut in Saturday’s 120-104 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
Vucevic, who played his second All-Star in February, added 21 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists in 32 minutes of play for the Bulls, on a dull night of the team’s other star, guard Zach Lavine (18 points and 3 assists).
On the final day of the transfer market, Vucevic was the most prominent player to change teams.
His franchise since 2012, the Orlando Magic, sent him to the Bulls alongside backup Al Farouq Aminu in exchange for forward Otto Porter Jr., young center Wendell Carter Jr. and first two rounds of the Draft.
The Montenegrin, who is averaging 24.5 points and 11.8 rebounds this season, struggled in defense against the Austrian Jakob Poeltl, the Spurs figure this Saturday with 20 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks.
– Westbrook equals triple doubles record –
Veteran Russell Westbrook had 19 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists in the Washington Wizards’ 106-92 win over the Detroit Pistons.
With this performance, Westbrook reached 15 triple-doubles this season, equaling the franchise record, held by retired Darrell Walker alone.
The 32-year-old point guard has achieved this mark in just 37 games with the Wizards, a team that was traded this season from the Houston Rockets.
Guard Bradley Beal fell to just 17 points for the second-to-last Wizards in the East, while shooter Wayne Ellington led the Pistons’ offense with 15 points.
– New injury to Mitch Robinson –
Young center Mitch Robinson was injured again in the New York Knicks’ 102-96 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, who booked four of their five starters.
Just one day after their loss to the Boston Celtics, the Bucks did not field their star, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday and Donte DiVincenzo this Saturday.
Thanasis Antetokounmpo, Giannis’ older brother and regular backup, was Milwaukee’s leading scorer with 23 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists.
For the Knicks, Robinson (2.13m) was removed from the game in the first quarter with a broken right foot. The center will be reevaluated on Sunday when the team returns to New York.
Robinson, 22, has already been out for more than a month due to a fractured right wrist suffered in February.
Guards Alec Burks and RJ Barrett each scored 21 points for the New York franchise, which remains in an unexpected fifth place in the East.
Results of the NBA Saturday day:
Washington Wizards – Detroit Pistons 106-92
Milwaukee Bucks – New York Knicks 96-102
Minnesota Timberwolves – Houston Rockets 107-129
San Antonio Spurs – Chicago Bulls 120-104
In Game:
New Orleans Pelicans – Dallas Mavericks
Oklahoma City Thunder – Boston Celtics
Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies
LA Clippers – Philadelphia 76ers
Sacramento Kings – Cleveland Cavaliers
© 2021 AFP
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