By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Zaccharie Risacher scored 22 points with 9/15 field goals, helping the Atlanta Hawks lead from start to finish en route to a 132-119 victory versus the Philadelphia 76ers. Lasting nearly 27 minutes on NBA Sundays, he added two assists, two rebounds, and one block.
“I feel like I have been working the whole year, and mostly my whole life to keep the consistency every day. And I trust the work I put in,” said the 19-year-old French forward in a postgame press conference, “I’m glad to have the opportunity to showcase what I can do. I’m just glad to help my team win games and that’s the most important for me.”
Drafted with the first pick last summer, he was immediately supported by new teammate Trae Young, a fifth pick in the 2018 draft. “I think Tray has been a great role model for me since day one. The first day I got here, he texted me. I always knew he was here for me, for advice, about anything on the court, obviously, and off the court,” he praised the 26-year-old point guard.
Logging almost 16 minutes off the bench, Czech teammate Vit Krejci went for five points, three assists, and two rebounds. In contrast, Swiss Clint Capela remained sidelined with a ligament injury in the fourth metacarpal of his left hand and is expected to sit out the remainder of the 2024-25 Regular Season.
Starting for the Sixers, French Guerschon Yabusele settled at 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. Turkish Adem Bona is stuck to the injury list with a left ankle sprain.
“That’s just the NBA for you”
After ruling out Latvian Kristaps Porzingis in the process of reconditioning from a recent illness, the Boston Celtics extended a winning streak to five games by taking down the Portland Trail Blazers, 129-116, in Moda Center. Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday were also out for the C’s. Despite absences, Portuguese reserve Neemias Queta did not play.
“That’s just the NBA for you. Anybody can play in any team. If you get to this level, I feel like anybody can come and have a night one day,” Belgian Toumani Camara talked about the shorthanded opponents after 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals for the Blazers.
Fellow starter, Israeli Deni Avdija produced a 17-point, 11-rebound double-double to go with four assists and one steal. French teammates, Rayan Rupert stayed on the bench and Sidy Cissoko was left out of the lineup.
Spurs and Heat win
In Scotiabank Arena, the San Antonio Spurs routed the Toronto Raptors, 123-89. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili put in 13 points, seven rebounds, one block, and one assist, and Polish Jeremy Sochan piled up nine points, five rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block, with French Victor Wembanyama out for the rest of the season. Austrian Jakob Poeltl was rested by the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic.
Andrew Wiggins scored 42 points behind 16/21 field goals and the Miami Heat snapped a ten-game losing streak by defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 122-105, in Kaseya Center. Swedish Pelle Larsson was limited to 19 seconds and Serbian Nikola Jovic stayed on the injury list due to a broken right hand.
For the visitors, French Tidjane Salaun tallied seven points, five rebounds, one steal, and one assist, after being cleared from a right ankle sprain. Fellow French import Moussa Diabate had six points, two rebounds, and one steal. Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic recorded five points, three rebounds, and two assists.
NBA Sundays results
Detroit Pistons – New Orleans Pelicans 136-130
Utah Jazz – Cleveland Cavaliers 91-120
Atlanta Hawks – Philadelphia 76ers 132-119
Miami Heat – Charlotte Hornets 122-105
Toronto Raptors – San Antonio Spurs 89-123
Portland Trail Blazers – Boston Celtics 116-129
Houston Rockets – Denver Nuggets 111-116
Los Angeles Clippers – Oklahoma City Thunder 101-103
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 57-14
2. p-Boston Celtics 52-19
3. New York Knicks 44-26
4. Indiana Pacers 41-29
5. Milwaukee Bucks 40-30
6. Detroit Pistons 40-32
7. Atlanta Hawks 35-36
8. Orlando Magic 33-38
9. Chicago Bulls 31-40
10. Miami Heat 30-41
11. Toronto Raptors 24-47
12. Brooklyn Nets 23-48
13. Philadelphia 76ers 23-48
14. e-Charlotte Hornets 18-53
15. e-Washington Wizards 15-55
Western Conference
1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 59-12
2. Houston Rockets 46-26
3. Denver Nuggets 45-27
4. Los Angeles Lakers 43-27
5. Memphis Grizzlies 43-28
6. Golden State Warriors 41-30
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 41-31
8. Los Angeles Clippers 40-31
9. Sacramento Kings 35-35
10. Phoenix Suns 34-37
11. Dallas Mavericks 34-37
12. Portland Trail Blazers 32-40
13. San Antonio Spurs 31-39
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans 19-53
15. e-Utah Jazz 16-56
-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