By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Among several comeback wins on Thursday, the Atlanta Hawks rallied past the Chicago Bulls, 141-133, in State Farm Arena. Helping his side improve to 16-15 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, French Zaccharie Risacher scored 16 points with 5/12 field goals, besides recording five rebounds, three assists, and one steal over 23 minutes. Fellow starter, Swiss Clint Capela added eight points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block. Off the bench, Czech Vit Krejci finished with three points, four assists, one steal, and one rebound. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left lower leg contusion) was out.
Allowing 50 points in the fourth quarter, the Bulls fell short of a win despite initially leading by a margin of 21 points and also being up by 17 points with 6:23 on the clock. Starting and playing 36 minutes, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic produced 19 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Lithuanian Matas Buzelis was a late scratch due to an illness.
A left ankle sprain forced Nikola Jovic to an early exit after contributing eight points, five assists, four rebounds, and three steals to the Miami Heat en route to an 89-88 victory versus the Orlando Magic in Kia Center. The Serbian international lasted 23 minutes before the setback in the fourth quarter.
Ending up with a 10-point, 14-rebound double-double to go with three blocks, three steals, and two assists, Georgian Goga Bitadze put the Magic in front with 4.9 seconds left, before Tyler Herro hit the game-winning shot for the visitors. Looking to cover for fellow Germans, Franz and Moritz Wagner, Tristan da Silva scored 18 points.
Putting in 27 points and sharing a game-high with Shaedon Sharpe, Israeli Deni Avdija fueled a 122-120 victory for the Portland Trail Blazers over the Utah Jazz in Moda Center. Belgian Toumani Camara threw in six points and eight rebounds. On the wrong end, Finnish Lauri Markkanen logged 25 points and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk finished with 18 points.
French Bilal Coulibaly went for 20 points as the Washington Wizards edged out the Charlotte Hornets, 113-110, in Capital One Arena. French Alex Sarr threw in 15 points and Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas posted a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double. In a narrow loss, Serbian Vasilije Micic and French Tidjane Salaun finished with six points each, but Moussa Diabate was limited to three rebounds without scoring.
With Ukrainian Alex Len replacing Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (illness) in the starting lineup, the Sacramento Kings lost, 114-113 to the Detroit Pistons in Golden 1 Center. Len registered four points, six rebounds, four assists, and two blocks. On the opposite end, Italian Simone Fontecchio chipped in three rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
A ninth straight win for the Oklahoma City Thunder was highlighted by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scoring 45 points, but German Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double in a 120-114 victory versus the Indiana Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Belgian Ajay Mitchell added nine points, but French Ousmane Dieng stayed on the bench.
Turkish Alperen Sengun combined a 10-point, 13-rebound double-double with six assists, helping the Houston Rockets beat the shorthanded New Orleans Pelicans, 128-111, in Smoothie King Center. For the hosts, German Daniel Theis put in two points, five rebounds, two assists, and one steal.
Thursday games
Indiana Pacers – Oklahoma City Thunder 114-120
Orlando Magic – Miami Heat 88-89
Washington Wizards – Charlotte Hornets 113-110
Atlanta Hawks – Chicago Bulls 141-133
Memphis Grizzlies – Toronto Raptors 155-126
Milwaukee Bucks – Brooklyn Nets 105-111
New Orleans Pelicans – Houston Rockets 111-128
Portland Trail Blazers – Utah Jazz 122-120
Sacramento Kings – Detroit Pistons 113-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 26-4
2. Boston Celtics 22-8
3. New York Knicks 20-10
4. Orlando Magic 19-13
5. Milwaukee Bucks 16-13
6. Miami Heat 15-13
7. Atlanta Hawks 16-15
8. Indiana Pacers 15-16
9. Detroit Pistons 14-17
10. Chicago Bulls 13-18
11. Brooklyn Nets 12-18
12. Philadelphia 76ers 11-17
13. Charlotte Hornets 7-23
14. Toronto Raptors 7-24
15. Washington Wizards 5-23
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-5
2. Houston Rockets 21-9
3. Memphis Grizzlies 21-10
4. Dallas Mavericks 19-11
5. Denver Nuggets 16-12
6. Los Angeles Lakers 17-13
7. Los Angeles Clippers 17-13
8. Phoenix Suns 15-14
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-14
10. Golden State Warriors 15-14
11. San Antonio Spurs 15-15
12. Sacramento Kings 13-18
13. Portland Trail Blazers 10-20
14. Utah Jazz 7-22
15. New Orleans Pelicans 5-26
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins