By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A dominating display in Toyota Center sent the Denver Nuggets to fourth place in the final standings of the Western Conference. They were in danger of falling all the way down to the 2025 SoFi Play-In Tournament, but instead, they secured home-court advantage in the opening round of the Playoffs presented by Google.
Lasting nearly 31 minutes in a rout, 123-103, of the Houston Rockets, Serbian superstar Nikola Jokic dropped 18 points with 7/10 field goals, seven assists, seven rebounds, two steals, and one block.
“This is it. This is what we are. I think if we play like this, we can go long in the playoffs,” Jokic said in a postgame interview, sharing his excitement on team improvements heading to the postseason.
Croatian Dario Saric and Slovenian Vlatko Cancar stayed on the bench for the team coached by David Adelman.
With his side locked in the second place and awaiting their next opponent via the Play-Ins, Turkish Alperen Sengun ended up with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists, and one block.
The Los Angeles Clippers captured the fifth seed and set up a best-of-seven series against the Nuggets after outlasting the Golden State Warriors, 124-119, in overtime. Croatian Ivica Zubac put in a 22-point, 17-rebound double-double alongside three assists, one block, and one steal. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic was held to five points, one steal, and one rebound, and French Nicolas Batum (right groin strain) stayed on the list of unavailable players. In 20 minutes for the Warriors, Dutch Quinten Post registered three rebounds.
Lakers get Timberwolves
After announcing an agreement to a multiyear contract extension with head coach Chauncey Billups, the Portland Trail Blazers closed the 2024-25 Regular Season with a 109-81 victory versus the Los Angeles Lakers in Moda Center. Israeli Deni Avdija (right thumb sprain) sat out, but Belgian Toumani Camara finished with 14 points, six rebounds, and four assists. A couple of French imports off the bench with Rayan Rupert posting a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double plus one assist, one steal, and one block, and Sidy Cissoko packing seven points, four assists, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
On the opposite side, Slovenian Luka Doncic (left quad soreness) joined Maxi Kleber (right foot surgery) on the injury list, but Ukrainian Alex Len started for four points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal. JJ Redick’s side was already placed third on the playoff bracket of the Western Conference. On NBA Sundays, the Minnesota Timberwolves emerged as the challenge in the first round of the Playoffs.
Dominating in the paint as the Wolves overpowered the Utah Jazz, 116-105, in Target Center, French Rudy Gobert combined a 19-point, 18-rebound double-double with four blocks and one assist. Bosnian Luka Garza did not play, and Dutch Jesse Edwards was inactive. For the visitors, Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk had 14 points, four assists, four rebounds, and one block, but Finnish Lauri Markkanen (left knee injury management) remained sidelined.
Sabonis hits 61st double-double
Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis posted a league-high 61st double-double as the Sacramento Kings rocked the Phoenix Suns, 109-98, in Golden 1 Center. His 20 points behind 8/10 field goals and 12 rebounds, accompanied by six assists and three steals, helped secure the ninth seed in the Play-In bracket. Jonas Valanciunas went for a 22-point, 10-rebound double-double plus four assists. Serbian Vasilije Micic did not suit up for the Suns.
“It was amazing. He works hard. He’s a professional. He does his job. He just has so much fun on the court,” Sabonis talked about his fellow Lithuanian import during a postgame press conference, “It’s great to see him enjoying his time here.”
Settling in the tenth seed after a loss, 132-97, opposite the Memphis Grizzlies in FedFexForum, the Dallas Mavericks are up next for the Kings. “It’s a very important game. It’s one game. Do-or-die. So, we got to be prepared. We got to be ready. It’s going to be hell. Fans will support us, I have no doubt,” Valanciunas previewed the matchup with the Mavs, “I can’t wait.”
Heading to the Play-Ins as the eighth seed, the Grizzlies, guided by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, ruled out Spanish Santi Aldama (left ankle soreness) for the finale of the Regular Season.
Mamukelashvili scores 12
A clash of eliminated sides saw Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili throw in 12 points, four rebounds, and one steal for the San Antonio Spurs in a win, 125-118, over the Toronto Raptors in Frost Bank Center. Polish Jeremy Sochan (low back inflammation) and Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) remained sidelined. For the team guided by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Austrian Jakob Poeltl (right hand MCP joint contusion) was ruled out.
In Smoothie King Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder beat the New Orleans Pelicans, 115-100. With French Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain), German Isaiah Hartenstein (left Achilles tendinitis), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) out, Belgian Ajay Mitchell was available and put in seven points, two assists, one rebound, and one block. Croatian Karlo Matkovic (left hamstring soreness) was out for the Pels.
NBA Sundays results
Atlanta Hawks – Orlando Magic 117-105
Boston Celtics – Charlotte Hornets 93-86
Philadelphia 76ers – Chicago Bulls 102-122
Miami Heat – Washington Wizards 118-119
Brooklyn Nets – New York Knicks 105-113
Milwaukee Bucks – Detroit Pistons 140-133 OT (123-123)
Cleveland Cavaliers – Indiana Pacers 118-126 2OT (109-109, 105-105)
Sacramento Kings – Phoenix Suns 109-98
Memphis Grizzlies – Dallas Mavericks 132-97
Minnesota Timberwolves – Utah Jazz 116-105
Portland Trail Blazers – Los Angeles Lakers 81-109
Houston Rockets – Denver Nuggets 111-126
New Orleans Pelicans – Oklahoma City Thunder 100-115
San Antonio Spurs – Toronto Raptors 125-118
Golden State Warriors – Los Angeles Clippers 119-124 OT (111-111)
Final standings
Eastern Conference
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 64-18
2. Boston Celtics 61-21
3. New York Knicks 51-31
4. Indiana Pacers 50-32
5. Milwaukee Bucks 48-34
6. Detroit Pistons 44-38
7. Orlando Magic 41-41
8. Atlanta Hawks 40-42
9. Chicago Bulls 39-43
10. Miami Heat 37-45
11. Toronto Raptors 30-52
12. Brooklyn Nets 26-56
13. Philadelphia 76ers 24-58
14. Charlotte Hornets 19-63
15. Washington Wizards 18-64
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 68-14
2. Houston Rockets 52-30
3. Los Angeles Lakers 50-32
4. Denver Nuggets 50-32
5. Los Angeles Clippers 50-32
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 49-33
7. Golden State Warriors 48-34
8. Memphis Grizzlies 48-34
9. Sacramento Kings 40-42
10. Dallas Mavericks 39-43
11. Phoenix Suns 36-46
12. Portland Trail Blazers 36-46
13. San Antonio Spurs 34-48
14. New Orleans Pelicans 21-61
15. Utah Jazz 17-65
-The top six teams from each conference clinched a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advanced to the Play-Ins
SoFi Play-In Tournament
Eastern Conference
1. Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks
2. Chicago Bulls – Miami Heat
3. Loser 1 – Winner 2
Western Conference
4. Golden State Warriors – Memphis Grizzlies
5. Sacramento Kings – Dallas Mavericks
6. Loser 4 – Winner 5
NBA Playoffs presented by Google
Eastern Conference Quarterfinals
7. Cleveland Cavaliers – Winner 3
8. Indiana Pacers – Milwaukee Bucks
9. New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons
10. Boston Celtics – Winner 1
Western Conference Quarterfinals
11. Oklahoma City Thunder – Winner 6
12. Denver Nuggets – Los Angeles Clippers
13. Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves
14. Houston Rockets – Winner 4
Eastern Conference Semifinals
15. Winners 7-8
16. Winners 9-10
Western Conference Semifinals
17. Winners 11-12
18. Winners 13-14
Eastern Conference Finals
Winners 15-16
Western Conference Finals
Winners 17-18
NBA Finals
Champions of Eastern and Western Conferences