October 18, 2019 – Croatian basketball player Mario Hezonja was the Portland Trail Blazers’ top scorer in a 104-110 defeat to the Denver Nuggets in the last preseason game before the regular NBA season begins.
Gol.hr writes that Hezonja scored 18 points in 28 minutes on the court with 6/11 shots in play and 3/4 for three-pointers. He also achieved five rebounds, six assists, and one block. The best for Denver was Will Barton and Paul Millsap, who each scored 13 points. This is Portland’s third defeat in five preseason games.
This is the most graceful and 1 we've ever seen. @mariohezonja | #RipCity pic.twitter.com/FRNt6ZJ47n
— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) October 18, 2019
”I’m by no means happy with the team’s defensive reaction. Hezonja taught us a lesson,” Denver coach Mike Malone said after the game.
In the five preseason games, Hezonja averaged 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists with a shooting percentage of 50%. However, most important is that he’s made his role clear on the team and guaranteed minutes in the rotation.
Ivica Zubac and Dragan Bender also hit the NBA court on Thursday night. In the LA Clippers defeat to the Dallas Mavericks (87-102), Zubac booked 16 minutes on the court, scored two points (shots in play 1/3 shot), and recorded three rebounds and one assist.
The Clippers’ top scorer was Montrezl Harell with 14 points, while Dallas was led by Kristaps Porzingis and Justin Jackson with 18 points. Luka Doncic added 15. In the NBA preseason, the Clippers have two wins and three losses.
Dragan Bender had a weak night in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 118-96 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. In the three minutes he spent on the court, he only registered one block. Giannis Antetokounmpo, with 26 points, was the best for the Bucks, who had five wins in five preseason games.
Croatian basketball player Bojan Bogdanovic had a tough shooting night in the 118-126 home defeat of the Utah Jazz against the Portland Trail Blazers in their last preseason game on Wednesday. Bogdanovic started the game in Utah’s top five and was on the court for 25 minutes, where he missed all nine shots in play (0-4 for two-pointers, 0-5 for three-pointers), hitting just one free throw with one assist.
The regular NBA season begins on October 22, 2019.
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