By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Turkish center Alperen Sengun paved the way for the Houston Rockets in a winning display, 119-115, opposite the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum on Thursday. A 32-point, 14-rebound double-double combined with five assists and one block. Returning to action after missing the previous six games of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with a left ankle sprain, Spanish Santi Aldama tallied 12 points, nine rebounds, and one steal.
Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic stayed on the bench in Footprint Center as the Phoenix Suns beat the Atlanta Hawks, 123-115. Overcoming a left lower leg contusion and coming off the bench, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic tallied 17 points for the Hawks. Starting teammates, Czech Vit Krejci recorded 12 points, Swiss Clint Capela posted a 10-point, 11-rebound double-double, and French Zaccharie Risacher had five points.
With Slovenian Luka Doncic (left calf strain) remaining sidelined, the Dallas Mavericks used a late 16-0 run to edge out the Portland Trail Blazers, 117-111, in American Airlines Center. German Maxi Kleber banked in two points and two rebounds. For the visitors, Belgian Toumani Camara produced 11 points and Israeli Deni Avdija went for nine points, eight rebounds, and four assists.
The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a third straight win by defeating the Orlando Magic, 104-89, in Kia Center. French Rudy Gobert chipped in a 10-point, 12-rebound double-double. On the wrong end, Georgian Goga Bitadze scored a team-high 15 points and German Tristan da Silva finished with six points. Franz Wagner (right oblique tear) and Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) remained out.
Dealing with a left hip contusion, German Dennis Schroder contributed 13 points and six assists in a 107-104 victory of the Golden State Warriors against the Detroit Pistons in Little Caesars Arena. For the hosts, Italian Simone Fontecchio was limited to 1/7 shots and three points.
Overcoming a 23-point display by Finnish Lauri Markkanen, the Miami Heat took down the Utah Jazz, 97-92, in Delta Center. Serbian Nikola Jovic put in 11 points, six rebounds, five assists, and one block for the team coached by Erik Spoelstra.
The team guided by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, the Toronto Raptors fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 132-126. Austrian Jakob Poeltl ended up with 17 points in the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
Thursday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 132-126
Detroit Pistons – Golden State Warriors 104-107
Orlando Magic – Minnesota Timberwolves 89-104
Memphis Grizzlies – Houston Rockets 115-119
Dallas Mavericks – Portland Trail Blazers 117-111
Phoenix Suns – Atlanta Hawks 123-115
Utah Jazz – Miami Heat 92-97
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 33-4
2. Boston Celtics 27-10
3. New York Knicks 25-13
4. Orlando Magic 22-17
5. Milwaukee Bucks 19-16
6. Miami Heat 19-17
7. Indiana Pacers 20-18
8. Detroit Pistons 19-19
9. Atlanta Hawks 19-19
10. Chicago Bulls 17-20
11. Philadelphia 76ers 15-20
12. Brooklyn Nets 13-24
13. Charlotte Hornets 8-27
14. Toronto Raptors 8-30
15. Washington Wizards 6-29
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 30-6
2. Houston Rockets 25-12
3. Memphis Grizzlies 24-14
4. Denver Nuggets 21-15
5. Dallas Mavericks 22-16
6. Los Angeles Lakers 20-16
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 20-17
8. Los Angeles Clippers 20-17
9. Golden State Warriors 19-18
10. Sacramento Kings 18-19
11. San Antonio Spurs 18-19
12. Phoenix Suns 17-19
13. Portland Trail Blazers 13-24
14. Utah Jazz 9-27
15. New Orleans Pelicans 7-31
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins