By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio Spurs outlasted the New Orleans Pelicans, 120-116, in overtime on Friday.
Visiting Smoothie King Center, Victor Wembanyama posted a 29-point, 11-rebound double-double to go with nine blocks, two assists, and one steal. His last rejection paved the way for a commanding start to the extra period. A brilliant reaction by the 21-year-old French center after missing his shot versus Zion Williamson at the end of the fourth quarter, to push his side to 2-0 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
“I really enjoyed it, once it was over. It was stressful,” reacted Wemby to open the postgame press conference.
Polish teammate Jeremy Sochan (left wrist sprain) was out, similar to Croatian Karlo Matkovic (low back spasms) of the hosts.
Sabonis sinks game-winner
With 5.2 seconds on the clock, Domantas Sabonis completed a 2+1 play and Dennis Schroder followed with a defensive stop to lift the Sacramento Kings over the Utah Jazz, 105-104, in Golden 1 Center. After sitting out the season opener with a right hamstring strain, the 29-year-old Lithuanian big bounced back with a 12-point, 12-rebound double-double. The 32-year-old German guard threw in 17 points, and Croatian Dario Saric put in five points off the bench, but French Maxime Raynaud did not play. On the wrong end of the nail-biter, Finnish Lauri Markkanen recorded a game-high 33 points behind 12/23 field goals, including 4/13 from beyond the arc. Also starting, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk produced nine points, and Bosnian reserve Jusuf Nurkic paired his four points with 11 boards.
German Franz Wagner tallied a game-high 27 points, but the Orlando Magic went from a 12-point advantage early in the fourth quarter to a loss, 111-107, against the Atlanta Hawks in Kia Center. Fellow German import, Tristan da Silva, finished with 15 points, and Georgian Goga Bitadze got three points, but French Noah Penda did not play, and German Moritz Wagner (left knee recovery) remained sidelined. On the winning end, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and French Zaccharie Risacher (right ankle sprain) were ruled out, alongside Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye, who did not follow the team to Orlando. Only Czech Vit Krejci was available among European options for head coach Quin Snyder, and he put up five points.
George, Avdija, Jovic
Standing out in American Airlines Center, Swiss Kyshawn George scored 34 points with 11/15 field goals, including seven three-pointers, and pulled down 11 rebounds to shape a double-double, leading the Washington Wizards to a win, 117-107, against the Dallas Mavericks. Fellow starter, French Alex Sarr added 14 points, and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic ended up with two points, but French Bilal Coulibaly (right hand surgery) stayed on the injury list.
Israeli Deni Avdija scored a team-high 26 points and Belgian Toumani Camara added 19 more points as the Portland Trail Blazers slowed down the Golden State Warriors with a 139-119 victory in Moda Center. French Rayan Rupert logged 3:43 with one rebound and one assist, but fellow French import Sidy Cissoko was inactive. For the visitors, Dutch Quinten Post registered a start with five points.
Serbian Nikola Jovic contributed 20 points and Italian Simone Fontecchio threw in 14 more points for the Miami Heat in a win, 146-114, over the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum. Swedish Pelle Larsson banked in eight more European points, but Russian Vladislav Goldin sat out alongside Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis (right groin strain). For Finnish Tuomas Iisalo’s side, Spanish Santi Aldama produced 13 points.
Pistons stun Sengun
Spoiling a 37-point display by Kevin Durant, the Detroit Pistons beat the Houston Rockets, 115-111, in Toyota Center. Turkish Alperen Sengun finished with 17 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and three steals, with Swiss reserve Clint Capela limited to four minutes and two points. On the winning end, Swedish Bobi Klintman stayed on the bench.
Moving to Intuit Dome, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Phoenix Suns, 129-102. Croatian Ivica Zubac packed eight points, Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser had six points, and French Nicolas Batum got three points, but Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic did not leave the bench.
Friday results
Orlando Magic – Atlanta Hawks 107-111
New York Knicks – Boston Celtics 105-95
Brooklyn Nets – Cleveland Cavaliers 124-131
Toronto Raptors – Milwaukee Bucks 116-122
Houston Rockets – Detroit Pistons 111-115
Memphis Grizzlies – Miami Heat 114-146
New Orleans Pelicans – San Antonio Spurs 116-120 OT (107-107)
Dallas Mavericks – Washington Wizards 107-117
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 128-110
Portland Trail Blazers – Golden State Warriors 139-119
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz 105-104
Los Angeles Clippers – Phoenix Suns 129-102
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Milwaukee Bucks 2-0
2. New York Knicks 2-0
3. Charlotte Hornets 1-0
4. Chicago Bulls 1-0
5. Philadelphia 76ers 1-0
6. Toronto Raptors 1-1
7. Atlanta Hawks 1-1
8. Orlando Magic 1-1
9. Miami Heat 1-1
10. Cleveland Cavaliers 1-1
11. Detroit Pistons 1-1
12. Washington Wizards 1-1
13. Indiana Pacers 0-1
14. Boston Celtics 0-2
15. Brooklyn Nets 0-2
Western Conference
1. San Antonio Spurs 2-0
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0
3. Golden State Warriors 2-1
4. Los Angeles Lakers 1-1
5. Utah Jazz 1-1
6. Los Angeles Clippers 1-1
7. Sacramento Kings 1-1
8. Phoenix Suns 1-1
9. Minnesota Timberwolves 1-1
10. Portland Trail Blazers 1-1
11. Memphis Grizzlies 1-1
12. Denver Nuggets 0-1
13. Dallas Mavericks 0-2
14. New Orleans Pelicans 0-2
15. Houston Rockets 0-2
Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins