By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Alperen Sengun contributed 20 points as the Houston Rockets beat the Phoenix Suns, 111-104, at Toyota Center.
Wednesday’s game was marked by a fight between Steven Adams and Mason Plumlee in the second quarter. Both players were ejected.
The 22-year-old Turkish center delivered a brilliant showing as the Rockets picked up a fourth win in a row. He made all of his eight shots from the field en route to 20 points to go with seven assists, four rebounds, and one steal over 33 minutes. Serbian Vasilije Micic did not play for the team coached by Mike Budenholzer.
A buzzer-beater by Mikal Bridges lifted the New York Knicks to an overtime win, 114-113, over the Portland Trail Blazers in Moda Center. British O.G. Anunoby threw in 23 points, seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal. For the Blazers, Israeli Deni Avdija produced 27 points, 15 rebounds, and five assists, while Belgian Toumani Camara finished with 14 points, four assists, and three rebounds.
“We fought a very good team. It was a scrappy game. It was a physical game. In overtime, we had to do so much. And when a game-winning shot and you lose it, is is heartbreaking for sure,” reacted 24-year-old Avdija in a postgame press conference.
Playing through discomfort in his right wrist, Czech Vit Krejci chipped in 11 points with 7/8 field goals, one steal, and one rebound, helping the Atlanta Hawks beat the Charlotte Hornets, 123-110, in State Farm Arena. French Zaccharie Risacher combined eight points with four rebounds, plus one block and one steal. However, Swiss Clint Capela was ruled out due to personal reasons.
Out of the visitors’ lineup, French Tidjane Salaun was assigned to the G League’s Greensboro Swarm, but Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic was medically cleared from a left shin contusion and recorded two points alongside five rebounds, lasting nearly 11 minutes. Fellow European reserve, French Moussa Diabate had two points, five rebounds, and two assists.
Navigating the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season without French Victor Wembanyama, the San Antonio Spurs took down the depleted Dallas Mavericks, 126-116, in Frost Bank Center. Polish Jeremy Sochan overcame a left calf contusion with 18 points, seven rebounds, and two assists, while Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili pulled down one rebound.
Out of low back injury management, Finnish Lauri Markkanen paired 14 points with six rebounds for the Utah Jazz in a loss, 122-115, to the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum. Ukrainian teammate Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not play. On the opposite side, Spanish Santi Aldama remained sidelined with a right calf strain.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched a playoff berth with a 118-112 victory versus the Boston Celtics in TD Garden. Reduced to a reserve role, German Isaiah Hartenstein put in 11 points, six rebounds, three assists, and one steal. French teammate Ousmane Dieng combined two points with one rebound.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl put in nine points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and two assists for the Toronto Raptors as the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic topped the Philadelphia 76ers, 118-105, in Scotiabank Arena.
On the losing end, French Guerschon Yabusele sat out with right knee soreness. Lasting 22 minutes off the bench, Turkish Adem Bona went for 13 points, nine rebounds, two blocks, one steal, and one assist.
Wednesday results
Atlanta Hawks – Charlotte Hornets 123-110
Boston Celtics – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-118
Toronto Raptors – Philadelphia 76ers 118-105
Miami Heat – Los Angeles Clippers 104-119
Houston Rockets – Phoenix Suns 111-104
Memphis Grizzlies – Utah Jazz 122-115
San Antonio Spurs – Dallas Mavericks 126-116
Denver Nuggets – Minnesota Timberwolves 95-115
Portland Trail Blazers – New York Knicks 113-114 OT (106-106)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 55-10
2. Boston Celtics 47-19
3. New York Knicks 42-23
4. Milwaukee Bucks 36-28
5. Indiana Pacers 36-28
6. Detroit Pistons 37-29
7. Atlanta Hawks 32-34
8. Orlando Magic 30-36
9. Miami Heat 29-36
10. Chicago Bulls 27-38
11. Toronto Raptors 23-43
12. Philadelphia 76ers 22-43
13. Brooklyn Nets 22-43
14. Charlotte Hornets 16-49
15. Washington Wizards 13-51
Western Conference
1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 54-12
2. Memphis Grizzlies 42-24
3. Denver Nuggets 42-24
4. Los Angeles Lakers 40-23
5. Houston Rockets 41-25
6. Golden State Warriors 37-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 38-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 36-30
9. Sacramento Kings 33-31
10. Dallas Mavericks 33-34
11. Phoenix Suns 30-36
12. San Antonio Spurs 27-37
13. Portland Trail Blazers 28-39
14. New Orleans Pelicans 18-48
15. e-Utah Jazz 15-51
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins
p-clinched a playoff berth
e-eliminated