By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Golden State Warriors took down the Orlando Magic, 121-115, in Kia Center.
Dominating Thursday’s game, Stephen Curry put up 56 points, a new personal best for the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, behind 16/25 field goals, including 12 from beyond the arc. Coming off the bench and lasting 24 minutes, Dutch teammate Quinten Post added 18 points with 7/9 shots, five rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist.
Paolo Banchero’s 41 points were not enough for the hosts. German Franz Wagner finished with 27 points plus four assists, three steals, and three rebounds. With his brother Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) on the injury list, Georgian Goga Bitadze went for seven points and five rebounds, and German Tristan da Silva had two points.
Starting for the New Orleans Pelicans, Croatian Karlo Matkovic posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double and dished out one assist, complementing the first career-triple-double of Zion Williamson in a win, 124-116, over the Phoenix Suns in PHX Arena. Serbian Vasilije Micic did not leave the bench of the team coached by Mike Budenholzer.
French Tidjane Salaun (right ankle sprain) and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (illness) remained out as the Charlotte Hornets fell to the Dallas Mavericks, 103-96, in American Airlines Center. European action was limited to French Moussa Diabate packing eight points, six rebounds, and one steal on the losing end.
Thursday results
Orlando Magic – Golden State Warriors 115-121
Milwaukee Bucks – Denver Nuggets 121-112
Dallas Mavericks – Charlotte Hornets 103-96
Phoenix Suns – New Orleans Pelicans 116-124
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 111-102
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 48-10
2. Boston Celtics 42-17
3. New York Knicks 38-20
4. Indiana Pacers 33-24
5. Milwaukee Bucks 33-25
6. Detroit Pistons 33-26
7. Orlando Magic 29-32
8. Miami Heat 27-30
9. Atlanta Hawks 27-32
10. Chicago Bulls 23-36
11. Brooklyn Nets 21-37
12. Philadelphia 76ers 20-38
13. Toronto Raptors 18-41
14. Charlotte Hornets 14-44
15. Washington Wizards 10-48
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 47-11
2. Memphis Grizzlies 38-20
3. Denver Nuggets 38-21
4. Los Angeles Lakers 36-21
5. Houston Rockets 37-22
6. Los Angeles Clippers 32-26
7. Golden State Warriors 32-27
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-28
9. Dallas Mavericks 32-28
10. Sacramento Kings 32-28
11. Phoenix Suns 27-32
12. Portland Trail Blazers 26-33
13. San Antonio Spurs 26-33
14. New Orleans Pelicans 16-43
15. Utah Jazz 14-44
-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins