By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
With Nikola Jokic ruled out after the warmups, the Denver Nuggets suffered a home loss, 128-108, to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
On the bottom half of the latest back-to-back in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Serbian superstar was ruled out with right elbow inflammation. Slovenian Vlatko Cancar (left knee surgery) was already on the injury list, but Croatian Dario Saric played nearly 19 minutes, registering eight points, five assists, and four rebounds.
The visitors never trailed in Ball Arena with Alperen Sengun among the standouts and nearing a triple-double. Besides making 9/21 field goals en route to 20 points, the Turkish center tallied nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals.
French Zaccharie Risacher sat out with left adductor irritation but the Atlanta Hawks beat the Chicago Bulls, 110-94, in United Center. Swiss Clint Capela posted an 11-point, 10-rebound double-double, Czech Vit Krejci paired his 11 points with six assists, and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic added three points with 1/10 from the field. On the losing end, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic combined 14 points with 16 rebounds and Lithuanian Matas Buzelis eight points with five rebounds.
In Delta Center, Serbian Vasilije Micic lasted nearly ten minutes, producing two points, three assists, and three rebounds as the Charlotte Hornets topped the Utah Jazz, 117-112. French Tidjane Salaun put in one rebound and one assist over 13 minutes.
Besides Bogdanovic and Micic, fellow Serbian Nikola Jovic scored 12 points for the Miami Heat in a loss, 117-108, to the Los Angeles Lakers in Crypto.com Arena.
Wednesday results
Philadelphia 76ers – New York Knicks 119-125 OT (109-109)
Toronto Raptors – Boston Celtics 110-97
Chicago Bulls – Atlanta Hawks 94-110
Milwaukee Bucks – Orlando Magic 122-93
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 115-116
New Orleans Pelicans – Dallas Mavericks 119-116
San Antonio Spurs – Memphis Grizzlies 115-129
Denver Nuggets – Houston Rockets 108-128
Utah Jazz – Charlotte Hornets 112-117
Los Angeles Lakers – Miami Heat 117-108
Los Angeles Clippers – Brooklyn Nets 126-67
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 34-5
2. Boston Celtics 28-12
3. New York Knicks 27-15
4. Milwaukee Bucks 22-17
5. Orlando Magic 23-19
6. Indiana Pacers 22-19
7. Detroit Pistons 21-19
8. Atlanta Hawks 21-19
9. Miami Heat 20-19
10. Chicago Bulls 18-23
11. Philadelphia 76ers 15-24
12. Brooklyn Nets 14-27
13. Toronto Raptors 10-31
14. Charlotte Hornets 9-28
15. Washington Wizards 6-32
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 33-6
2. Houston Rockets 27-12
3. Memphis Grizzlies 26-15
4. Denver Nuggets 24-16
5. Los Angeles Clippers 22-17
6. Los Angeles Lakers 21-17
7. Dallas Mavericks 22-19
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-19
9. Sacramento Kings 20-20
10. Golden State Warriors 20-20
11. San Antonio Spurs 19-20
12. Phoenix Suns 19-20
13. Portland Trail Blazers 13-26
14. Utah Jazz 10-29
15. New Orleans Pelicans 10-32
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins