By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Bouncing back after the break, the Houston Rockets overpowered the New Orleans Pelicans, 109-97, to snap a three-game losing streak in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.
On Thursday in Smoothie King Center, Turkish Alperen Sengun stood out among three players contributing over 20 points with a team-high 22. The 22-year-old center made 11/14 two-pointers and missed three free throws. Over 36 minutes, his efforts also resulted in eight assists, six rebounds, three steals, and one block. On the wrong end, Croatian Karlo Matkovic had six points, six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and one steal.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) missing a fourth straight game, Portuguese Neemias Queta started and tallied eight points, nine rebounds, four assists, and two blocks as the Boston Celtics topped the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-105, in TD Garden. For the visitors, Turkish Adem Bona recorded six points, two rebounds, one block, and one assist, while French Guerschon Yabusele combined four points with four assists and four rebounds.
Meanwhile, Stephen Curry scored 40 points, including a crazy half-court shot, sending the Golden State Warriors to a 121-119 victory versus the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center. Dutch Quinten Post chipped in ten points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and two assists. On the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, British Tosan Evbuomwan did not suit up.
😱 ONE OF THE CRAZIEST SHOTS STEPHEN CURRY HAS EVER HIT ⁉
pic.twitter.com/ZU2if8xAHI— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) March 7, 2025
In State Farm Arena, French Zaccharie Risacher tallied 11 points, four rebounds, two assists, and one block for the Atlanta Hawks in a win, 124-118, over the Indiana Pacers. Swiss Clint Capela added six points and five rebounds. Czech Vit Krejci (lumbar fracture) remained sidelined.
Thursday results
Orlando Magic – Chicago Bulls 123-125
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 124-118
Boston Celtics – Philadelphia 76ers 123-105
Brooklyn Nets – Golden State Warriors 119-121
New Orleans Pelicans – Houston Rockets 97-109
Los Angeles Lakers – New York Knicks 113-109 OT (99-99)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 52-10
2. Boston Celtics 45-18
3. New York Knicks 40-22
4. Milwaukee Bucks 36-25
5. Indiana Pacers 35-26
6. Detroit Pistons 35-28
7. Miami Heat 29-32
8. Atlanta Hawks 29-34
9. Orlando Magic 29-35
10. Chicago Bulls 25-38
11. Philadelphia 76ers 21-41
12. Brooklyn Nets 21-41
13. Toronto Raptors 20-42
14. Charlotte Hornets 14-47
15. Washington Wizards 12-49
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51-11
2. Los Angeles Lakers 40-21
3. Denver Nuggets 40-22
4. Memphis Grizzlies 38-24
5. Houston Rockets 38-25
6. Golden State Warriors 35-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 35-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 33-29
9. Sacramento Kings 32-29
10. Dallas Mavericks 32-31
11. Phoenix Suns 29-33
12. Portland Trail Blazers 28-35
13. San Antonio Spurs 26-34
14. New Orleans Pelicans 17-46
15. Utah Jazz 15-47
-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 playoff berth