By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Coming off a jersey retirement ceremony to celebrate his career with Gonzaga on Saturday, Domantas Sabonis confirmed himself as the driving force of the Sacramento Kings, fueling a win, 123-100, over the Washington Wizards in Golden 1 Center on Sunday.
The Lithuanian star posted a 29-point, 18-rebound double-double plus four assists and one steal over 31 minutes. Besides leading the Kings to victory on NBA Sundays, he outdueled fellow Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas, sidestepping a 23-point, 12-rebound double-double by the reserve center of the Wizards. “He’s been a big brother to me, a mentor since I got in the league, even way back before,” the 28-year-old forward/center described his relationship with Valanciunas.
Off the bench, Ukrainian Alex Len logged four points, four rebounds, two steals, and two assists over 16 minutes. For the Wizards, Valanciunas complemented his double-double with three assists and one steal, French Bilal Coulibaly paired 11 points with four rebounds, French Alex Sarr recorded six points and seven rebounds, and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic did not get on the board over three minutes.
After missing the three previous games of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season with a right ankle sprain, Israeli Deni Avdija dropped a 20-point, 12-rebound double-double plus three steals and three assists as the Portland Trail Blazers drove back from a 15-point deficit to beat the Chicago Bulls, 113-102, in Moda Center. Belgian Toumani Camara did not score but chipped in six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and one block. For the visitors, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic combined a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double with seven assists, three steals, and one block, besides Lithuanian Matas Buzelis registering seven points, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal.
Cleared to play with back soreness, Croatian Ivica Zubac posted a 21-point, 19-rebound double-double as the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Los Angeles Lakers, 116-102, in Intuit Dome. The starting center of the Clips added three blocks, three assists, and one steal over 35 minutes. French teammate Nicolas Batum dealt with a minor injury en route to six points, three rebounds, two steals, and one assist over 15 minutes.
Another French NBA import, Ousmane Dieng tallied 12 points, three rebounds, two assists, and one block for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a win, 127-101, against the Brooklyn Nets in Paycom Center. For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, British Tosan Evbuomwan went for nine points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block.
NBA Sundays results
Miami Heat – San Antonio Spurs 128-107
Orlando Magic – Denver Nuggets 100-113
Milwaukee Bucks – Philadelphia 76ers 123-109
Oklahoma City Thunder – Brooklyn Nets 127-101
Los Angeles Clippers – Los Angeles Lakers 116-102
Portland Trail Blazers – Chicago Bulls 113-102
Sacramento Kings – Washington Wizards 123-100
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-6
2. Boston Celtics 29-13
3. New York Knicks 27-16
4. Milwaukee Bucks 24-17
5. Indiana Pacers 24-19
6. Atlanta Hawks 22-19
7. Orlando Magic 23-21
8. Miami Heat 21-20
9. Detroit Pistons 21-21
10. Chicago Bulls 18-25
11. Philadelphia 76ers 15-26
12. Brooklyn Nets 14-29
13. Charlotte Hornets 10-28
14. Toronto Raptors 10-32
15. Washington Wizards 6-35
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 35-7
2. Houston Rockets 28-13
3. Memphis Grizzlies 27-15
4. Denver Nuggets 26-16
5. Los Angeles Clippers 24-17
6. Los Angeles Lakers 22-18
7. Dallas Mavericks 23-19
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 22-20
9. Sacramento Kings 22-20
10. Phoenix Suns 21-20
11. Golden State Warriors 21-20
12. San Antonio Spurs 19-22
13. Portland Trail Blazers 14-28
14. New Orleans Pelicans 11-32
15. Utah Jazz 10-30
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins