By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In the first official game since a severely sprained ankle ended his 2023-24 campaign, Alperen Sengun posted a 25-point, 18-rebound double-double.
Despite his efforts, the Houston Rockets lost, 110-105, to the Charlotte Hornets in Toyota Center on Wednesday.
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The Turkish center started the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with 10/22 from the field, including two three-pointers. Lasting nearly 34 minutes, he also tallied five assists, four steals, and one block.
On the losing end, Serbian Vasilije Micic had five points, five assists, one assist, and one steal in 16 minutes. French Moussa Diabate recorded two points, five rebounds, two blocks, and one steal in 15 minutes. However, French Tidjane Salaun, the sixth pick of the 2024 draft, stayed on the bench.
In Kaseya Center, Paolo Banchero scored 33 points and German Franz Wagner threw in 23 points to go with four rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block, fueling a 116-97 victory for the Orlando Magic versus the Miami Heat. German Moritz Wagner added seven points, six rebounds, and two assists, but Georgian Goga Bitadze was scoreless as well as German Tristan da Silva in his NBA debut.
Starting for the team coached by Erik Spoelstra, Serbian forward Nikola Jovic had 7/15 field goals, including 1/7 from beyond the arc, in a 15-point showing. Swedish rookie Pelle Larsson debuted with two points and one steal.
One-way traffic in Toronto
As for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, the Toronto Raptors were blown out by the Cleveland Cavaliers, 136-106, in Scotiabank Arena. Austrian Jakob Poeltl tallied five points and nine rebounds as the starting center.