By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Orlando Magic clinched the seventh seed on the final standings of the Eastern Conference with a 96-76 victory versus the shorthanded Boston Celtics in Kia Center on Wednesday.
Helping his side place on the best-possible situation, heading to the 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament, German Franz Wagner registered a game-high 23 points with 9/17 from the field. His efforts expanded to eight rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Coming off the bench for the team guided by Jamahl Mosley, Georgian Goga Bitadze threw in six points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and German Tristan da Silva went for five points, three rebounds, and one assist. German Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
On the losing side, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness reconditioning) was among several players missing for head coach Joe Mazzulla. Portuguese Neemias Queta jumped in with 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists, and two blocks.
In a new individual high in the NBA, French Rayan Rupert scored 19 points to go with four rebounds, two steals, and two assists, but the Portland Trail Blazers lost, 133-126, to the Utah Jazz in overtime. Belgian starter Toumani Camara piled up 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block in Delta Center. In contrast, Israeli Deni Avdija (right thumb sprain) and French Sidy Cissoko did not play. For the hosts, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk threw in seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal, but Finnish Lauri Markkanen (left knee injury management) was out.
Returning from a left knee contusion, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic registered a new personal best in the NBA with 24 points and also grabbed six rebounds but the Washington Wizards fell, 122-103, to the Washington Wizards in Capital One Arena. Starting center, French Alex Sarr went for 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, one block, and one assist. Fellow French import Bilal Coulibaly (right hamstring strain) remained sidelined, similar to French Guerschon Yabusele (personal reasons) of the Sixers. Starting at the winning end, Turkish Adem Bona ended up with 17 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
Meanwhile, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic was cleared from right calf soreness and contributed 20 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, two steals, and one block for the Chicago Bulls in a win, 119-111, over the Miami Heat in United Center. Fellow starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis chipped in 17 points, four rebounds, one block, and one steal. A right ankle sprain during pregame lifting forced Swedish Pelle Larsson to join Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hand fracture) on the injury list of the Heat.
Overcoming the absence of Austrian Jakob Poeltl (right hand MCP joint), Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic sent the Toronto Raptors to a blowout win, 126-96, over the Charlotte Hornets in Scotiabank Arena. French Moussa Diabate (illness) sat out for the visitors, but Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic tallied a season-high 26 points, plus nine rebounds and four assists. Fellow starter French Tidjane Salaun put up nine points and six rebounds.
With Dutch Quinten Post (illness) out for the Golden State Warriors, and Polish Jeremy Sochan (low back inflammation) recently joining French Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) on the list of unavailable players for the San Antonio Spurs, European participation in Chase Center was limited to Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili chipping in 11 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one assist in a win, 114-111, for the Spurs.
Wednesday results
Orlando Magic – Boston Celtics 96-76
Washington Wizards – Philadelphia 76ers 103-122
Toronto Raptors – Charlotte Hornets 126-96
Dallas Mavericks – Los Angeles Lakers 97-112
Chicago Bulls – Miami Heat 119-111
Utah Jazz – Portland Trail Blazers 133-126 OT (114-114)
Golden State Warriors – San Antonio Spurs 111-114
Phoenix Suns – Oklahoma City Thunder 112-125
Sacramento Kings – Denver Nuggets 116-124
Los Angeles Clippers – Houston Rockets 134-117
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 63-16
2. p-Boston Celtics 59-21
3. p-New York Knicks 50-29
4. p-Indiana Pacers 48-31
5. p-Milwaukee Bucks 45-34
6. p-Detroit Pistons 43-36
7. Orlando Magic 40-40
8. Atlanta Hawks 37-42
9. Chicago Bulls 37-43
10. Miami Heat 36-44
11. e-Toronto Raptors 30-50
12. e-Brooklyn Nets 26-53
13. e-Philadelphia 76ers 24-56
14. e-Charlotte Hornets 19-61
15. e-Washington Wizards 17-63
Western Conference
1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 66-14
2. p-Houston Rockets 52-28
3. p-Los Angeles Lakers 49-31
4. Denver Nuggets 48-32
5. Los Angeles Clippers 48-32
6. Memphis Grizzlies 47-32
7. Golden State Warriors 47-33
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 46-33
9. Sacramento Kings 39-41
10. Dallas Mavericks 38-42
11. e-Phoenix Suns 35-45
12. e-Portland Trail Blazers 35-45
13. e-San Antonio Spurs 33-47
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans 21-58
15. e-Utah Jazz 17-63
-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