Croatian basketball player Mario Hezonja played the best match of his NBA career against his former team, Orlando Magic. Despite the New York Knicks defeat (114:100), coach David Fizdale praised Hezonja after the game and revealed that he was the one to motivate the Croatian player.
While Orlando Magic is still fighting for a place in the playoffs, the New York Knicks have long been out of the race, which has resulted in coach David Fizdale making frequent changes to the starting five, reports T.portal on April 4, 2019.
Against Orlando, Mario Hezonja was given a chance in the starting five, which resulted in a career-high 29 points (shots in play 11/22, three-pointers 1/5, free throws 6/6) in his 34 minutes on the court. Even better is that 22 of the 29 points came in the second half. Hezonja also added nine rebounds, five assists, and two steals. Many analysts agreed that Hezonja looked like a serious NBA player and there is no doubt that clubs will be interested when he becomes a free player in the summer.
The Dubrovnik native, who was chosen by Orlando as fifth in the NBA draft in 2015, had an extra motive to prove himself against the club where he spent the first three seasons in the NBA.
"I told Mario earlier, regardless of everything, you're starting in the game and I want you to go out on the court and show everyone in Orlando what a player you are and how there has been a place for you in this league for many years," said David Fizdale after the game, revealing that he motivated the Croat.
"I think he showed everyone what he was capable of doing on the court,” added Fizdale.
“I really appreciate the coach's move. I hope that Orlando will make the playoffs and I will be their top fan watching them in the playoffs,” said Hezonja after the game.
Bojan Bogdanović was solid for the Pacers in their away victory against the Detroit Pistons (108:89). In 34 minutes on the court, Bogdanović scored 17 points (shots in play 7/15, three-pointers 0/3), adding four rebounds, three assists, one steal and one block. Thaddeus Young was the best scorer for Indiana with 21 points, eight rebounds and four assists. Andre Drummond led the Pistons with 28 points and 19 rebounds.
Darijo Šarić’s Minnesota Timberwolves defeated the Dallas Mavericks (110:108). Šarić played 30 minutes and scored 14 points (shots in play 5/14, three-pointers 2/8), five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Karl-Anthony Towns was the best for Minnesota with 28 points and 13 rebounds, followed by Andrew Wiggins, who finished with 19 points and scored the winning basket 19 seconds before the final buzzer.
Luka Dončić was the best for Dallas with 27 points, 12 rebounds and six assists, which was his 16th double-double this season.
The LA Clippers lost to the Houston Rockets (103:135). Ivica Zubac played 20 minutes for the Clippers, adding five points (shots in play 1/3), one assist, three steals and one block. The Clippers are now a game and a half behind Utah for the fifth spot in the Western Conference.
Utah Jazz visited the Phoenix Suns to win 118:97. Dragan Bender played 23 minutes for the Suns, scoring 7 points (shots in play 3/7, three-pointers 0/4), seven rebounds, three assists and one steal.
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