By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Oklahoma City Thunder never trailed on the way to a 118-102 victory versus the Philadelphia 76ers in Wells Fargo Center on Tuesday.
Improving to 33-6 in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season retained a safe distance from the remaining contenders of the Western Conference and a one-game deficit from the leaders of the Eastern Conference and overall standings, the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs were in Gainbridge Fieldhouse and overpowered the Indiana Pacers, 127-117.
With French Ousmane Dieng on a G League assignment, Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe sprain), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) on the injury list, European participation for the Thunder was limited to German Isaiah Hartenstein tallying nine points, 16 rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal over 30 minutes.
The opposite starting center, French Guerschon Yabusele combined 17 points with seven rebounds and four assists. Turkish reserve Adem Bona had seven points and three rebounds.
Connecting 7/21 from the field, including four three-pointers, Belgian Toumani Camara set his NBA high at 23 points but the Portland Trail Blazers fell, 132-114, to the Brooklyn Nets. “I don’t enjoy it at all. I don’t the point of it,” the 24-year-old forward commented on combining a career-best with a losing effort, “Just keep on moving on.”
Over 38 minutes, he put up five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists en route to earning praise from the Spanish head coach of the Nets, Jordi Fernandez. “He plays extremely hard every possession,” mentioned the winning play-caller, “He picks up full court, his uses his length, he embraces defense.”
Israeli teammate Deni Avdija was ruled out due to a right ankle sprain, while French Rayan Rupert did not get on the board over one minute of action. For the team coached by Fernandez, British Tosan Evbuomwan went for ten points, four rebounds, and one assist. Croatian Bojan Bogdanovic (left foot) remained sidelined.
Meanwhile, Trae Young scored 43 points for the Atlanta Hawks in a win, 122-117, against the Phoenix Suns in State Farm Arena. Cleared to play despite right knee inflammation, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in nine points and three rebounds off the bench. Among European starters, Czech Vit Krejci went for 15 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals, but Swiss Clint Capela was held to three points and eight rebounds, and French Zaccharie Risacher to two points and four rebounds. On the losing end, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic missed a second straight game due to illness.
A 22-point, 15-rebound double-double by Nikola Vucevic was not enough to prevent a loss, 119-113, for the Chicago Bulls versus the New Orleans Pelicans in United Center. The Montenegrin center added two assists, one block, and one steal. Lithuanian teammate Matas Buzelis finished with five points and four rebounds. On the winning end, German Daniel Theis recorded four points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal, but Croatian Karlo Matkovic did not play.
Tuesday results
Indiana Pacers – Cleveland Cavaliers 117-127
Philadelphia 76ers – Oklahoma City Thunder 102-118
Atlanta Hawks – Phoenix Suns 122-117
Chicago Bulls – New Orleans Pelicans 113-119
Milwaukee Bucks – Sacramento Kings 130-115
Dallas Mavericks – Denver Nuggets 99-118
Portland Trail Blazers – Brooklyn Nets 114-132
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 34-5
2. Boston Celtics 28-11
3. New York Knicks 26-15
4. Orlando Magic 23-18
5. Milwaukee Bucks 21-17
6. Indiana Pacers 22-19
7. Miami Heat 20-18
8. Detroit Pistons 21-19
9. Atlanta Hawks 20-19
10. Chicago Bulls 18-22
11. Philadelphia 76ers 15-23
12. Brooklyn Nets 14-26
13. Toronto Raptors 9-31
14. Charlotte Hornets 8-28
15. Washington Wizards 6-32
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 33-6
2. Houston Rockets 26-12
3. Memphis Grizzlies 25-15
4. Denver Nuggets 24-15
5. Los Angeles Clippers 21-17
6. Dallas Mavericks 22-18
7. Los Angeles Lakers 20-17
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-18
9. Sacramento Kings 20-20
10. San Antonio Spurs 19-19
11. Golden State Warriors 19-20
12. Phoenix Suns 19-20
13. Portland Trail Blazers 13-26
14. Utah Jazz 10-28
15. New Orleans Pelicans 9-32
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins