By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Cleared to debut in the NBA Preseason 2025, Slovenian Luka Doncic logged 22 minutes with the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday.
The 26-year-old combo guard, who is expected to make one more exhibition appearance before switching to the 2025-26 Regular Season, poured in 25 points with 7/15 field goals, including 4/8 from beyond the arc, but he was not enough to prevent a loss, 113-104, to the Phoenix Suns in Mortgage Matchup Center. He added seven assists and four rebounds. German Maxi Kleber and Lithuanian Augustas Marciulionis did not play for the team coached by JJ Redick.
With the hosts resting most of their regulars, Nigel Hayes-Davis, the Most Valuable Player of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Final Four 2025, started and scored ten points, alongside six rebounds and one assist in nearly 27 minutes. Jared Butler generated game-highs of 35 points and nine assists.
Jokic and Giannis
Serbian Nikola Jokic registered 18 points with 7/10 two-pointers to go with eight assists and eight rebounds for the Denver Nuggets in a win, 124-117, over the Chicago Bulls in Ball Arena. Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas threw in seven points. Fellow Lithuanian, Matas Buzelis, scored 20 points for the Bulls, while Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic paired his five points with ten rebounds, and French Noa Essengue had two points.
In Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum, Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo tallied 16 points, seven rebounds, four assists, two steals, and one block in the preseason finale of the Bucks. The Freak lasted nearly 25 minutes in a losing effort, 116-112, to the Oklahoma City Thunder. His brother Thanasis had four points behind 2/2 two-pointers over 6:34.
With Serbian Nikola Topic and Belgian Ajay Mitchell on the injury list, Thunder European action spread from German starter Isaiah Hartenstein logging 13 points, eight rebounds, two blocks, and one assist, to French Ousmane Dieng and Dutch Malevy Leons coming off the bench and ending up with eight and six points, respectively.
Curry drops 28, Kuminga ejected
In Moda Center, the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 118-111, with Stephen Curry recording 28 points. Dutch Quinten Post chipped in 16 points and five rebounds, plus one block, one steal, and one assist. In the first half, Jonathan Kuminga was ejected after an altercation with a referee.
The hosts ruled out Belgian Toumani Camara with knee soreness, but Israeli Deni Avdija put up 15 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and one steal. French Sidy Cissoko had five points, but fellow French import Rayan Rupert did not score.
Early exit for Matkovic
Dealing with right elbow soreness, Croatian Karlo Matkovic was held to nine minutes with three points, two rebounds, and one assist for the New Orleans Pelicans. His side fell, 130-128, to the Houston Rockets in Legacy Arena at the BJCC.
On the winning end, Turkish Alperen Sengun put in eight points. 12 rebounds, seven assists, two steals, and one block. Off the bench, Swiss Clint Capela added six points with 3/3 two-pointers, six rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Closing their preseason schedule in Rocket Arena, the Cleveland Cavaliers overpowered the Detroit Pistons, 118-100. However, Dutch Tristan Enaruna and French Killian Hayes did not play. The visitors featured Swedish Bobi Klintman, who scored four points.