By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Restoring safe distance in the fourth quarter, the Los Angeles Lakers sidestepped the absence of Slovenian Luka Doncic (left calf injury management). They overpowered the Portland Trail Blazers, 110-102, in Moda Center on Thursday. LeBron James paved the way with 40 points, including 12 over the last 12 minutes.
Further European options for head coach JJ Redick, German Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) remained sidelined and Ukrainian Alex Len stayed on the bench. For the Blazers, besides French teammates, Rayan Rupert sitting out and Sidy Cissoko on a G League assignment, Israeli Deni Avdija registered a team-high 28 points behind 9/14 from the field, alongside five assists, four rebounds, and two steals, while Belgian Toumani Camara piled up 19 points, seven rebounds, five steals, and three assists.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic went for 21 points and grabbed nine rebounds in Madison Square Garden but missed a chance to hand a win to the Chicago Bulls at the end of regulation. In overtime, his side was eventually edged out, 113-111, by the New York Knicks. Fellow starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis finished with five points and seven rebounds. The winning side ruled out British O.G. Anunoby (right foot sprain) and French Pacome Dadiet did not play, but German Ariel Hukporti put in two points, five rebounds, and one block.
Rallying in the second half, the Orlando Magic topped the Atlanta Hawks, 114-108, in State Farm Arena. German star Franz Wagner chipped in 25 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists. Off the bench, Georgian Goga Bitadze and German Tristan da Silva added six and three points. German Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) remained sidelined. For the hosts, French Zaccharie Risacher posted an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Swiss Clint Capela generated three points, while Czech Vit Krejci (lumbar fracture) stayed on the injury list.
After ruling out French Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder blood clot) for the remainder of the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the San Antonio Spurs beat the Phoenix Suns, 120-109, in Austin’s Moody Center. With Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili staying on the bench, European contribution was limited to Polish Jeremy Sochan recording 12 points alongside five rebounds, four assists, and one steal. Awaiting his debut with the Suns, Serbian Vasilije Micic remained out of the rotation.
Latvian Kristaps Porzingis banked in 17 points for the Boston Celtics in a win, 124-104, against the Philadelphia 76ers in Wells Fargo Center. Lasting just under five minutes, Portuguese Neemias Queta pulled down two rebounds. On the wrong end, French Guerschon Yabusele paired four points with eight rebounds, but Turkish Adem Bona did not get on the board.
Bouncing back in the NBA, French Killian Hayes tallied five points, three assists, one block, and one rebound as the Brooklyn Nets, guided by Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez, fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 110-97, in Barclays Center. British Tosan Evbuomwan was on a G League assignment.
Meanwhile, the Indiana Pacers dropped the Memphis Grizzlies, 127-113, in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Falling shy of a win, Spanish Santi Aldama had ten points with 4/14 field goals, in addition to seven rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal.
Thursday results
Indiana Pacers – Memphis Grizzlies 127-113
Philadelphia 76ers – Boston Celtics 104-124
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 124-108
Brooklyn Nets – Cleveland Cavaliers 97-110
New York Knicks – Chicago Bulls 113-111 OT (104-104)
Milwaukee Bucks – Los Angeles Clippers 116-110
Denver Nuggets – Charlotte Hornets 129-115
San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns 120-109
Portland Trail Blazers – Los Angeles Lakers 102-110
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 45-10
2. Boston Celtics 40-16
3. New York Knicks 37-18
4. Indiana Pacers 31-23
5. Milwaukee Bucks 30-24
6. Detroit Pistons 29-26
7. Orlando Magic 28-29
8. Miami Heat 25-28
9. Atlanta Hawks 26-30
10. Chicago Bulls 22-34
11. Philadelphia 76ers 20-35
12. Brooklyn Nets 20-35
13. Toronto Raptors 17-39
14. Charlotte Hornets 14-40
15. Washington Wizards 9-45
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 44-10
2. Denver Nuggets 37-19
3. Memphis Grizzlies 36-19
4. Houston Rockets 34-21
5. Los Angeles Lakers 33-21
6. Los Angeles Clippers 31-24
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 31-25
8. Dallas Mavericks 30-26
9. Sacramento Kings 28-27
10. Golden State Warriors 28-27
11. Phoenix Suns 26-29
12. San Antonio Spurs 24-29
13. Portland Trail Blazers 23-33
14. Utah Jazz 13-41
15. New Orleans Pelicans 13-42
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins