By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a EuroBasket 2025 rematch and a since-resolved dispute between Alperen Sengun and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Houston Rockets rallied past the Milwaukee Bucks to prevail, 122-115, in Fiserv Forum on Sunday. With two clutch buckets, the 23-year-old Turkish center ended up with a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double plus seven assists, while the 30-year-old Greek point forward reached 37 points, eight rebounds, three assists, and one block, playing through left knee patellar tendinopathy. Further European action was limited to Swiss reserve Clint Capela getting four points for the Rockets, since Thanasis did not play and Alex was inactive for the hosts.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Minnesota Timberwolves rocked the Sacramento Kings, 144-117, in Golden 1 Center. French Rudy Gobert posted a 19-point, 12-rebound double-double behind 9/10 two-pointers and also blocked five shots, with fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo putting in eight points. French reserve Joan Beringer recorded two points. On the losing end, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis returned from a left ribcage contusion with a 20-point, 13-rebound double-double, and fellow starter, German Dennis Schroder, was held to three points, with French reserve Maxime Raynaud squeezing in five points and Croatian Dario Saric staying on the bench.
Bosnian Luka Garza got 16 points over 17 minutes off the bench for the Boston Celtics in a win, 111-107, versus the Orlando Magic in Kia Center. Portuguese starter Neemias Queta added eight points and Spanish reserve Hugo Gonzalez had three points, but British Amari Williams and Ukrainian Max Shulga did not suit up. On the wrong end, German Franz Wagner went for 20 points, German Tristan da Silva had 12 points, and Georgian Goga Bitadze got two points, but French Noah Penda was limited to ten seconds and German Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) remained sidelined.
With the Oklahoma City Thunder storming back from a 19-point deficit to beat the Memphis Grizzlies, 114-100, in FedExForum, German Isaiah Hartenstein posted an 18-point, 13-rebound double-double, and Belgian Ajay Mitchell scored 21 points. Besides the starters, Ousmane Dieng had one steal and one rebound in seven minutes, but Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) was out. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama recorded 12 points, nine rebounds, four assists, two blocks, and one steal, despite dealing with left shoulder soreness.
British O.G. Anunoby poured in 19 points as the New York Knicks overpowered the Brooklyn Nets, 134-98. French teammates Guerschon Yabusele and Mohamed Diawara got five points each, and French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti put in two points apiece. On the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Russian Egor Demin tallied ten points, with French Nolan Traore, Israeli Danny Wolf, and Israeli Ben Saraf on the Long Island Nets roster in the G League.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons prevailed, 111-108, over the Philadelphia 76ers in Xfinity Mobile Arena. Swedish Bobi Klintman went in six fruitless minutes on the winning side, while Turkish Adem Bona got two points, four rebounds, and three blocks in 12 minutes for the Sixers.
Dutch starter Quinten Post chipped in 14 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 24 minutes, helping the Golden State Warriors take down the Indiana Pacers, 114-83, in Chase Center.
Sunday results
Milwaukee Bucks – Houston Rockets 115-122
New York Knicks – Brooklyn Nets 134-98
Orlando Magic – Boston Celtics 107-111
Memphis Grizzlies – Oklahoma City Thunder 100-114
Philadelphia 76ers – Detroit Pistons 108-111
Golden State Warriors – Indiana Pacers 114-83
Sacramento Kings – Minnesota Timberwolves 117-144
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 8-2
2. Cleveland Cavaliers 7-3
3. New York Knicks 6-3
4. Chicago Bulls 6-3
5. Miami Heat 6-4
6. Milwaukee Bucks 6-4
7. Philadelphia 76ers 6-4
8. Toronto Raptors 5-5
9. Atlanta Hawks 5-5
10. Boston Celtics 5-6
11. Orlando Magic 4-6
12. Charlotte Hornets 3-6
13. Brooklyn Nets 1-9
14. Indiana Pacers 1-9
15. Washington Wizards 1-9
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 10-1
2. San Antonio Spurs 7-2
3. Denver Nuggets 7-2
4. Los Angeles Lakers 7-3
5. Houston Rockets 6-3
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 6-4
7. Portland Trail Blazers 5-4
8. Golden State Warriors 6-5
9. Phoenix Suns 5-5
10. Memphis Grizzlies 4-7
11. Utah Jazz 3-6
12. Los Angeles Clippers 3-6
13. Sacramento Kings 3-7
14. Dallas Mavericks 3-7
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-7
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins