By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio Spurs took down the Guangzhou Loong Lions, 119-88, to open the NBA Preseason 2025 schedule on Monday. Starring in Frost Bank Center, Victor Wembanyama recorded nine points, ten rebounds, seven assists, and three blocks. “We don’t have the intensity of the high-stakes games yet, but it feels great. It feels like I belong. Being away, it was hard,” the French big commented on his first game after the premature ending to the 2024-25 journey. Polish Jeremy Sochan was ruled out of his side’s preseason opener.
Turkish Alperen Sengun piled up 19 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two blocks, pushing the Houston Rockets to a 122-113 victory versus the Atlanta Hawks in the first preparation fixture for both sides. Swiss Clint Capela added eight points. The visitors at Toyota Center featured Latvian newcomer Kristaps Porzingis scoring five points, while French Zaccharie Risacher finished with nine points, Serbian Nikola Djurisic with eight points, Czech Vit Krejci with four points, and Spanish Eli Ndiaye with two points.
In Vancouver’s Rogers Arena, Serbian Nikola Jokic dropped 17 points with 5/5 two-pointers, alongside six rebounds, five assists, and one steal as the Denver Nuggets topped the Toronto Raptors, 112-108. Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas chipped in six points. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili netted 15 points and French Olivier Sarr had two points, but Austrian Jakob Poeltl sat with a sore back.
Without Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo in their preseason opener, the Milwaukee Bucks prevailed, 103-93, over the Miami Heat in Kaseya Center. Thanasis Antetokounmpo had one rebound and one assist. For the hosts, Serbian Nikola Jovic tallied nine points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and two steals, but Russian Vladislav Goldin did not play, and Italian Simone Fontecchio, Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis, and Swedish Pelle Larsson were on the injury list.
The Memphis Grizzlies and Detroit Pistons started their exhibition schedule in FedExForum, with the visitors earning a win, 128-112. Swedish Bobi Klintman produced three points for the winning side. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama ended up with eight points and seven rebounds.