By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Using the advantage created by the San Antonio Spurs missing French superstar Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis), the New Orleans Pelicans rallied to a win, 114-96, in Smoothie King Center on NBA Sundays.
Jumping to a new personal best in the NBA, Croatian Karlo Matkovic threw in 19 points with 8/9 from the field. Over 21 minutes, he also contributed six rebounds, one block, and one assist.
“I think being in my spots, executing when I get the ball. Basically, that’s it. The teammates find me when I’m open. I had some easy ones,” the 23-year-old center mentioned during the postgame press conference.
“Being here, then Birmingham [Squadron], and then back and forth. Then getting minutes, not getting minutes. I think that’s a part of the journey. The way it all started, drafted, stashed, working a way through, I think that’s the way it has to go,” Matkovic described his path since being selected with the 52nd overall pick of the 2022 draft and leaving Cedevita Olimpija late in the 2023-24 season.
“I’m embracing it every time on the court, try to have fun and enjoy it,” he added, “From the place I came from, not a lot of people make it. I’m grateful for my opportunities and every minute I get.”
For the team coached by Mitch Johnson, Polish Jeremy Sochan settled at four points, eight rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili paired two points with one rebound.
Zubac, Wagner, Hartenstein, Aldama
Another standout performance stemming from Croatia, Ivica Zubac scored 22 points to go with six rebounds and two assists, but the Los Angeles Clippers fell, 129-111, to the Indiana Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. European reserves went from Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic piling up 11 points, two assists, one steal, and one rebound, to French Nicolas Batum pulling down two rebounds.
In Kia Center, German Franz Wagner combined 23 points with seven rebounds, five assists, and two steals, as the Orlando Magic topped the Washington Wizards, 110-90. Coming off the bench for the team coached by Jamahl Mosley, Georgian Goga Bitadze threw in 11 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and German Tristan da Silva scored three points.
Besides Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) being sidelined by the Magic for the rest of the 2024-25 Regular Season, the Wizards ruled out French Alex Sarr (left ankle sprain). Available European options on the losing end featured Serbian Tristan Vukcevic with 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists, and French Bilal Coulibaly packing 11 points and six assists.
A dominating finish in Target Center lifted the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Minnesota Timberwolves, 130-123. European contribution was limited to German Isaiah Hartenstein’s 12 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, since French Ousmane Dieng stayed on the bench, and Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe sprain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) the injury list.
The hosts ruled out starting center, French Rudy Gobert (low back spasms), for a second straight game. Also, Dutch Jesse Edwards suited up but fell shy of debuting in the NBA. In contrast, Bosnian Luka Garza lasted nearly nine minutes in Sunday’s contest, tallying seven points, four rebounds, and one assist.
With Austrian Jakob Poeltl (right hip pointer) stuck to the injury list of the Toronto Raptors and Serbian Vasilije Micic staying on the bench of the Phoenix Suns, the team guided by Serbian Darko Rajakovic picked up a win, 127-109, in Scotiabank Arena.
Before retiring the jersey of Andre Iguodala, the Golden State Warriors beat the Dallas Mavericks, 126-102, in Chase Center. Dutch Quinten Post chipped in ten points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal.
Meanwhile, Spanish Santi Aldama recorded 15 points, six rebounds, one steal, one block, and one assist for the Memphis Grizzlies in a loss, 129-123, to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rocket Arena.
NBA Sundays results
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 118-105
Golden State Warriors – Dallas Mavericks 126-102
Indiana Pacers – Los Angeles Clippers 129-111
Atlanta Hawks – Detroit Pistons 143-148
Orlando Magic – Washington Wizards 110-90
Toronto Raptors – Phoenix Suns 127-109
Milwaukee Bucks – Miami Heat 120-113
New Orleans Pelicans – San Antonio Spurs 114-96
Cleveland Cavaliers – Memphis Grizzlies 129-123
Minnesota Timberwolves – Oklahoma City Thunder 123-130
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 47-10
2. Boston Celtics 41-16
3. New York Knicks 37-20
4. Indiana Pacers 32-23
5. Milwaukee Bucks 32-24
6. Detroit Pistons 31-26
7. Orlando Magic 29-30
8. Miami Heat 26-29
9. Atlanta Hawks 26-31
10. Chicago Bulls 22-35
11. Brooklyn Nets 21-35
12. Philadelphia 76ers 20-36
13. Toronto Raptors 18-39
14. Charlotte Hornets 14-41
15. Washington Wizards 9-47
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 46-10
2. Memphis Grizzlies 37-20
3. Denver Nuggets 37-20
4. Los Angeles Lakers 34-21
5. Houston Rockets 35-22
6. Los Angeles Clippers 31-25
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 31-27
8. Dallas Mavericks 31-27
9. Golden State Warriors 30-27
10. Sacramento Kings 28-28
11. Phoenix Suns 27-30
12. San Antonio Spurs 24-31
13. Portland Trail Blazers 24-33
14. Utah Jazz 14-42
15. New Orleans Pelicans 14-43
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins