Croats in NBA: Super Mario Hezonja Sets New Record, Šarić Solid

Daniela Rogulj

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. 

Dubrovnik-native Mario Hezonja continues with excellent play in the NBA, and on Sunday, scored a record 30 points and the critical three-pointer 44.8 seconds before the final buzzer to give the New York Knicks the win against the Washington Wizards (113-110), reports 24 Sata on April 8, 2019. 

You also might us recall us raving about Hezonja just two days ago, when he became only the second Croatian basketball player after Toni Kukoč to hit a triple-double in the NBA, with 16 points, 16 rebounds and 11 assists against the Houston Rockets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=9Hf0seY7xd0

On Sunday, Hezonja started for the second time ahead of the injured Emmanuel Mudiay and hit 12 out of 21 shots for the Knicks. With 30 points, Hezonja made six rebounds and five assists.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v=cg88_xKtw2k

Luke Kornet scored 17 points, and Mitchell Robinson added 11 points and 11 rebounds for New York, which ended a series of nine home defeats. Despite the victory, the Knicks remain in the last place in the Eastern Conference with only 16 victories and 64 defeats. Washington was headed by Jeff Green with 19 points and Thomas Bryant added 17 points.

Dragan Bender also played well, although his team lost to the Houston Rockets. Bender scored 19 points with eight rebounds for the Phoenix Suns, who lost to the Rockets 149-113 at home. The Suns, who played without half of their standard players, have lost eight of the last 10 games. They will end the season in the last place of the Western Conference and will play their final game against Dallas on Tuesday.

The Rockets set an NBA record on Sunday with 27 three-pointers, with James Harden hitting 30 points (shots in play 10/14), 13 rebounds and nine assists in just 29 minutes. Clint Capela added 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Eric Gordon finished with 26 points with a record-breaking eight three-pointers. The Rockets moved into third place in the Western Conference with this victory.

Dario Šarić, Bojan Bogdanović and Ante Žižić were all solid on Sunday, although their clubs lost.

Dario Šarić scored 23 points, the most he’s managed this season, though he hit only one point for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the last quarter of their loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The Indiana Pacers lost to the Brooklyn Nets and Bogdanović scored 13 points. The San Antonio Spurs lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers, for whom Ante Žižić scored 14 points.

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