By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Following 14 lead changes in Kia Center, the Atlanta Hawks held on down the stretch and overthrew the Orlando Magic, 112-106, on Monday.
With Swiss Clint Capela remaining sidelined, Czech Vit Krejci was forced to an early exit with a lower back contusion after registering eight points, four assists, one steal, and one rebound over 18 minutes. French Zaccharie Risacher lasted just under 18 minutes, putting in 11 points, four assists, two rebounds, and one steal.
German Franz Wagner recording a game-high 37 points with 15/29 field goals was not enough for the hosts. Besides falling one point short of his career-high, his efforts extended into seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals over 37 minutes. “We had too many stretches throughout the game where we didn’t have the right urgency as a group,” he mentioned in the postgame press conference, “We just got to be better.”
Among more German options for the Magic, his brother Moritz (left knee surgery) was out, while Tristan da Silva generated nine points, two rebounds, one steal, and one block. Georgian starter Goga Bitadze did not score but finished with four blocks, three rebounds, and one steal.
Kristaps Porzingis returns with 17 points
After missing the previous outing in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season due to illness, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis bounced back with 17 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, and two assists, helping the Boston Celtics overpower the Miami Heat, 103-85, in Kaseya Center. Portuguese teammate Neemias Queta threw in four points and one rebound. Dealing with a right ankle sprain and coming off the bench for the new-look Heat, Serbian Nikola Jovic paired ten points with eight rebounds, while Swedish Pelle Larsson finished with three points and one rebound.
In Paycom Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder tucked in a franchise-high 27 three-pointers to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 137-101. With French Ousmane Dieng (right soleus strain), Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) stuck to the injury list, German Isaiah Hartenstein chipped in six points, 13 rebounds, and two assists. On the losing end, Croatian Karlo Matkovic had eight points, nine rebounds, three blocks, and two assists.
Monday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Minnesota Timberwolves 128-107
Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks 106-112
Washington Wizards – San Antonio Spurs 121-131
Brooklyn Nets – Charlotte Hornets 97-89
Miami Heat – Boston Celtics 85-103
Milwaukee Bucks – Golden State Warriors 111-125
Oklahoma City Thunder – New Orleans Pelicans 137-101
Dallas Mavericks – Sacramento Kings 128-129 OT (116-116)
Denver Nuggets – Portland Trail Blazers 146-117
Los Angeles Lakers – Utah Jazz 132-113
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 43-10
2. Boston Celtics 38-16
3. New York Knicks 34-18
4. Indiana Pacers 29-22
5. Milwaukee Bucks 28-24
6. Detroit Pistons 27-26
7. Miami Heat 25-26
8. Atlanta Hawks 26-28
9. Orlando Magic 26-29
10. Chicago Bulls 22-31
11. Philadelphia 76ers 20-32
12. Brooklyn Nets 19-34
13. Toronto Raptors 16-37
14. Charlotte Hornets 13-38
15. Washington Wizards 9-44
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 43-9
2. Memphis Grizzlies 35-17
3. Denver Nuggets 35-19
4. Los Angeles Lakers 32-19
5. Houston Rockets 33-20
6. Los Angeles Clippers 29-23
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 30-24
8. Dallas Mavericks 28-26
9. Sacramento Kings 27-26
10. Golden State Warriors 27-26
11. Phoenix Suns 26-26
12. San Antonio Spurs 23-28
13. Portland Trail Blazers 23-31
14. Utah Jazz 12-40
15. New Orleans Pelicans 12-41
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins