By Eurohoops Team/ info@eurohoops.net
With Zach LaVine scoring 16 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, the Chicago Bulls beat the Detroit Pistons, 122-112, in Little Caesars Arena on Monday.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic logged a game-high 29 points with 11/18 from the field, including six of 23 three-pointers for the Bulls. Grabbing 12 rebounds shaped a double-double, his tenth in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season. His efforts stretched into three assists and three blocks.
Lithuanian teammate Matas Buzelis was limited to two minutes and did not get on the board. On the losing end, Italian Simone Fontecchio recorded six points with two triples and Swedish Bobi Klintman (right calf contusion) remained out.
Jakob Poeltl scores 30 points
Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic and the Toronto Raptors snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers, 130-119, in Scotiabank Arena. Austrian Jakob Poeltl neared his career-high with 30 points behind 13/18 two-pointers. He added 15 rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists.
“I feel like I can be productive out there. With my teammates finding me so much, that’s how the game comes to me,” said the 29-year-old center.
Meanwhile, Croatian Ivica Zubac threw in eight points, 17 rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block for the Los Angeles Clippers in a narrow win, 102-99, against the Golden State Warriors in Intuit Dome. French Nicolas Batum added nine points.
Knicks dominate
In the Madison Square Garden, British O.G. Anunoby piled up 16 points, five rebounds, two steals, and two assists, helping the New York Knicks overpower the Washington Wizards, 134-106. Coming off the bench, French Pacome Dadiet ended up with nine points and German Ariel Hukporti put in two points.
The visitors ruled out French Bilal Coulibaly due to a head injury sustained on NBA Sundays. Serbian Tristan Vukcevic (left knee contusion) was also sidelined. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas had 18 points and eight rebounds. French Alex Sarr had eight points with 4/12 field goals.
In Kaseya Center, Jimmy Butler returned to action with 30 points, lifting the Miami Heat over the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-89. Swedish Pelle Larsson and Serbian Nikola Jovic scored four and three points, respectively. On the opposite end, French Guerschon Yabusele registered three points in nine minutes but Turkish Adem Bona did not get on the board.
Monday games
Detroit Pistons – Chicago Bulls 112-122
Miami Heat – Philadelphia 76ers 106-89
New York Knicks – Washington Wizards 134-106
Toronto Raptors – Indiana Pacers 130-119
Milwaukee Bucks – Houston Rockets 101-100
Phoenix Suns – Orlando Magic 99-109
Sacramento Kings – Atlanta Hawks 108-109
Los Angeles Clippers – Golden State Warriors 102-99
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-0
2. Boston Celtics 11-3
3. Orlando Magic 9-6
4. New York Knicks 8-6
5. Atlanta Hawks 7-8
6. Miami Heat 6-7
7. Detroit Pistons 7-9
8. Indiana Pacers 6-8
9. Chicago Bulls 6-9
10. Charlotte Hornets 5-8
11. Milwaukee Bucks 5-9
12. Brooklyn Nets 5-9
13. Toronto Raptors 3-12
14. Philadelphia 76ers 2-11
15. Washington Wizards 2-11
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 11-3
2. Golden State Warriors 10-3
3. Los Angeles Lakers 9-4
4. Houston Rockets 10-5
5. Phoenix Suns 9-6
6. Denver Nuggets 7-5
7. Memphis Grizzlies 8-6
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 8-6
9. Sacramento Kings 8-7
10. Los Angeles Clippers 8-7
11. Dallas Mavericks 7-7
12. San Antonio Spurs 6-8
13. Portland Trail Blazers 6-8
14. New Orleans Pelicans 4-10
15. Utah Jazz 3-10
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins