The regular season of the NBA league is now over, and Croatia will have two representatives in the playoffs - Bojan Bogdanović and Ivica Zubac.

Two days ago, Mario Hezonja became only the second Croatian basketball player after Toni Kukoč to hit a triple-double in the NBA league. Now, he’s set a new career record. 

Mario Hezonja played another great game in the New York Knicks jersey. The Croatian basketball player found a place in the starting lineup and made his debut as a point guard for the New York club. But better yet, he also achieved the first triple-double of his career against James Harden's Houston Rockets, reports Gol.hr on April 6, 2019. 

Apart from making his debut as the Knicks’ point guard on Friday night, with a spot in the starting five, Mario Hezonja achieved the first triple-double of his career with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists. The Knicks’ might have lost to the Houston Rockets (120:96), but it’ll be a game Hezonja will remember for a lifetime.

"Super Mario" has thus become only the second player in Knicks’ history with at least 16/16/11 in a single game. Before he was only Richie Guerin in 1957. It was also the first triple-double of a Knicks’ player after Jarrett Jack’s on January 11, 2018, and he even became the first Croatian after Toni Kukoč with a triple-double performance. 

"He had a great game, organized us, called for real attacks, attacked when he had to attack and did a great job on rebounds,” Knicks coach David Fizdale said.

Harden had a relatively quiet evening for his standards lately. He still scored 26 points and eight assists in just 29 minutes on the court, while Chris Paul (11 points, 10 assists) and Clint Capela (12 points, 15 rebounds) achieved double-doubles.

Hezonja was given a chance to start as the point guard as Emmanuel Mudiay is out for a left shoulder injury. Hezonja showed he was indeed worthy of his spot on the Knicks' team. 

Dario Šarić scored 19 points (4/6 for two-pointers, 2/4 for three-pointers, 5/5 free throws) in the Minnesota Timberwolves' win against Miami Heat (111:109).

Ante Žižić scored 12 points with six rebounds in the Cleveland Cavaliers' close defeat to the Western Conference leader Golden State Warriors, led by Steph Curry with 40 points, seven assists and six rebounds. The Warriors celebrated 120:114.

Dragan Bender’s Phoenix Suns won against the New Orleans Pelicans after extra time 133:126 (117-117). The Croatian scored 11 points and added six assists and 10 rebounds. The most efficient was Jackson with 35 points, nine assists and five rebounds.

Ivica Zubac scored 11 points in the derby of the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers and added eight rebounds. 

To read more about sport in Croatia, follow TCN’s dedicated page. 

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.

Ivica Zubac and his Los Angeles Clippers have moved into 5th place in the NBA's Western Conference, which secures them a spot in the playoffs. 

29-year-old Bojan Bogdanović continues his thrilling NBA season for the Indiana Pacers and scored an average of 27.2 points in the last five games.

A brilliant week for Bojan Bogdanović was crowned with a prestigious NBA honor. 

Bojan Bogdanović was the best scorer for the Indiana Pacers against the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday night, while Dario Šarić played his best match in the Minnesota Timberwolves jersey. 

A touch of Croatia at the world’s most famous arena as Klapa Astoria serenade the audience at Madison Square Garden in New York. 

Croatia’s basketball representatives in the NBA were brilliant again on Friday night, and 22-year-old Split native Ante Žižić had the score of his career. Namely, in the Cleveland Cavaliers loss to the Houston Rockets, Žižić scored 18 points, which is his career high, reports HRT on January 12, 2019. 

In the clash of the Indiana Pacers and the New York Knicks, Bojan Bogdanović’s scored 15 points in the Pacers’ win, while Mario Hezonja scored 10 points in the Knicks’ loss. Ivica Zubac also scored 10 points in the defeat of his Los Angeles Lakers, though Dario Šarić had the worst evening of them all, and went without a point in the loss of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Ante Žižic for the Cavs

Cleveland, the last team in the Eastern Conference, did not have a chance against the Houston Rockets who beat them 141:113. Ante Žižić played 24 minutes and was the best scorer of his defeated team, scoring 18 points (shots in play 6/8) with eight rebounds and two steals.

Houston was led by their most efficient player James Harden, who scored 43 points, making it his 13th game where he scored over 40 points. In addition to last night's 'triple-double,' Harden recorded ten rebounds and 12 assists.

Bogdanović v. Hezonja

The Indiana Pacers and New York Knicks played at Madison Square Garden, though it was Bojan Bogdanvić's team to celebrate 121:106. Bogdanović was better than fellow countryman Mario Hezonja, scoring 15 points in 26 minutes (shots in play 5/12, three-pointers 3/5) with two rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Hezonja, the 23-year-old Dubrovnik native, played 30 minutes and achieved 10 points (shots in play 4/12, three-pointers 1/4), adding six rebounds, two assists, five steals, and one block.

Domantas Sabonis was the best shooter for the Pacers, with 22 points and 15 rebounds, while Victor Oladipo added 19 points. Emmanuel Mudiay was the best for New York, scoring all of his points (21) in the second half.

Dario Šarić goes without a single point

The Minnesota Timberwolves were defeated at home, and the Dallas Mavericks were better 119:115. Dario Šarić had one of his worst nights, and in his 19 minutes on the court, he went without a single point (shots in play 0/5, three-pointers 0/3), though he did achieve four rebounds and one assist.

The Dallas victory was marked by rookie player Luka Dončić who scored a three-pointer for the win 22.9 seconds before the end. He also scored 29 points and achieved 12 assists and eight rebounds. The Wolves were led by Karl-Anthony Towns who scored 30 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

Ivica Zubac continues to get playing time at the Lakers

The Utah Jazz won at home against the Los Angeles Lakers 113:95. Ivica Zubac played 14 minutes, scoring 10 points with five rebounds, one assist, and one block. Donovan Mitchell was the best for Utah with 33 points and nine assists, while Michael Beasley was the best for the Lakers with 17 points.

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