By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Snapping a four-game losing streak in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Sacramento Kings overpowered the Portland Trail Blazers, 128-107, in Golden 1 Center on Thursday. Tucking in 9/11 from the field, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis dropped a 22-point, 19-rebound double-double plus six assists and one steal in just under 35 minutes. Off the bench, fellow Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas registered six points, six rebounds, one steal, and one assist.
For the visitors, Israeli Deni Avdija tallied 24 points, nine rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Belgian Toumani Camara had six points, four steals, four rebounds, one block, and one assist, playing through left foot soreness. French Rayan Rupert did not get on the board in two minutes and fellow French import Sidy Cissoko was on assignment with the G League’s Rip City Remix.
Alperen Sengun produced a 33-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside two assists and two blocks, pushing the Houston Rockets to a win, 121-110, against the Utah Jazz in Delta Center. Logging 32 minutes, the 22-year-old Turkish center made 11/19 field goals en route to a huge double-double. The Jazz ruled out Finnish Lauri Markkanen (return to competition reconditioning) and kept Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk on the bench.
In Kia Center, German Franz Wagner hurt his right ankle but returned to finish with 20 points, nine rebounds, two assists, and one steal for the Orlando Magic in a loss, 101-92, to the Dallas Mavericks. His brother Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) remains out, but Georgian Goga Bitadze recorded three points, five rebounds, two assists, one block, and one steal. German Tristan da Silva had two points and one rebound.
Setting new franchise records in points and triples, the Indiana Pacers destroyed the Washington Wizards, 162-109, in Capital One Arena. French Alex Sarr scored a team-high 22 points to go with seven rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist on the wrong end. Serbian Tristan Vukcevic added four points, two assists, and one rebound. French Bilal Coulibaly (right hamstring strain) remained sidelined.
Wizards fans booed the Pacers for refusing to score in the final minute of the game while being up by 53 points !
pic.twitter.com/ouf86uOnUq— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 28, 2025
Czech Vit Krejci entered the starting lineup of the Atlanta Hawks but was limited to a losing effort, with the Miami Heat prevailing, 122-112, in Kaseya Center. He tallied 14 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block. Fellow starter, French Zaccharie Risacher, settled at five points and four assists. Swiss Clint Capela (left fourth metacarpal ligament sprain) is out.
Serbian Nikola Jovic (right second metacarpal fracture) was sidelined by the Heat. In contrast, Swedish Pelle Larsson registered three points, one steal, and one assist.
Thursday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – San Antonio Spurs 124-116
Orlando Magic – Dallas Mavericks 92-101
Washington Wizards – Indiana Pacers 109-162
Miami Heat – Atlanta Hawks 122-112
Chicago Bulls – Los Angeles Lakers 119-117
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 125-104
Utah Jazz – Houston Rockets 110-121
Sacramento Kings – Portland Trail Blazers 128-107
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 59-14
2. p-Boston Celtics 54-19
3. p-New York Knicks 45-27
4. Indiana Pacers 43-30
5. Detroit Pistons 41-32
6. Milwaukee Bucks 40-32
7. Atlanta Hawks 35-38
8. Orlando Magic 35-39
9. Chicago Bulls 33-40
10. Miami Heat 32-41
11. Toronto Raptors 26-47
12. Philadelphia 76ers 23-50
13. e-Brooklyn Nets 23-50
14. e-Charlotte Hornets 18-54
15. e-Washington Wizards 19-57
Western Conference
1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 61-12
2. Houston Rockets 48-26
3. Denver Nuggets 46-28
4. Los Angeles Lakers 44-29
5. Memphis Grizzlies 44-29
6. Los Angeles Clippers 41-31
7. Golden State Warriors 41-31
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 41-32
9. Sacramento Kings 36-37
10. Dallas Mavericks 36-38
11. Phoenix Suns 35-38
12. Portland Trail Blazers 32-42
13. San Antonio Spurs 31-41
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans 20-53
15. e-Utah Jazz 16-58
-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