By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic headlined Wednesday’s NBA action with his latest triple-double, pushing the Denver Nuggets to a 125-118 victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans in Smoothie King Center. The 30-year-old Serbian center went for 28 points behind 10/18 field goals, alongside 12 assists and 11 rebounds over 34:26.
“We found a way. We had a good run to finish the half. And in the second half, I think we controlled the game. I think we were a better team in the second half,” said Jokic in a postgame media session, describing overcoming a slow start and an early 13-point deficit in New Orleans.
Lasting 16 minutes off the bench, Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas tallied 14 points and seven rebounds. However, Croatian Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain) was on the injury list of the hosts.
Nikola Vucevic wins it
A buzzer-beater by Nikola Vucevic lifted the Chicago Bulls over the Portland Trail Blazers, 122-121, in Moda Center. Powered by the game-winning three-pointers, the 35-year-old Montenegrin center finished with 27 points, and Matas Buzelis threw in 11 points, but French Noa Essengue stayed on the bench. Israeli Deni Avdija, with a triple-double of 32 points, 11 assists, and 11 rebounds, was not enough for the Blazers. Fellow starters, Belgian Toumani Camara and French Sidy Cissoko had 14 and five points, but French Rayan Rupert did not get on the court.
Fueling a fifth consecutive win for the Houston Rockets in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Turkish Alperen Sengun posted a 28-point, 11-rebound double-double with his side taking down the Cleveland Cavaliers, 114-104, in Rocket Arena. He added seven assists, one block, and one steal in 38 minutes. Logging nearly 14 minutes, Swiss Clint Capela added four points, five rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Mitchell, Gobert, Fontecchio
The Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Sacramento Kings, 113-99, in Paycom Center, with Belgian Ajay Mitchell ending up at 14 points and German Isaiah Hartenstein combining four points with 12 rebounds, but French Ousmane Dieng stayed on the bench, and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) was out. German Dennis Schroder netted a team-high 22 points for the Kings, and French Maxime Raynaud had seven points, but Croatian Dario Saric did not play, and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee soreness) was sidelined.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo put in 12 points and French Rudy Gobert paired nine points with 15 rebounds as the Minnesota Timberwolves topped the Washington Wizards, 120-109, in Target Center, but French Joan Beringer did not play. Swiss Kyshawn George registered a team-high 23 points for the visitors, with French Bilal Coulibaly at 13 points and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic at seven points, but French Alex Sarr (left big toe soreness) sat out.
Swedish Pelle Larsson and Italian Simone Fontecchio scored ten points each as the Miami Heat defeated the shorthanded Golden State Warriors, 110-96, in Kaseya Center. In contrast, Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hip impingement) was unavailable, with Russian Vladislav Goldin on the bench and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis on a G League assignment with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On the wrong end, Dutch Quinten Post registered 19 points.
In American Airlines Center, the New York Knicks edged out the Dallas Mavericks, 113-111. French Guerschon Yabusele got four points, but French Mohamed Diawara did not score, French Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti did not play, and British O.G. Anunoby (left hamstring strain) was on the inactive list, which also included fellow British Tosan Evbuomwan.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl reached 19 points, helping the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers, 121-112, in Xfinity Mobile Arena. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili threw in seven points for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic. For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) was unavailable.
French Moussa Diabate tallied eight points, 12 rebounds, and three assists for the Charlotte Hornets in a loss, 127-118, to the Indiana Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fellow French import Tidjane Salaun remained on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm.
Wednesday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Houston Rockets 104-114
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Hornets 127-118
Miami Heat – Golden State Warriors 110-96
Philadelphia 76ers – Toronto Raptors 112-121
Minnesota Timberwolves – Washington Wizards 120-109
New Orleans Pelicans – Denver Nuggets 118-125
Oklahoma City Thunder – Sacramento Kings 113-99
Dallas Mavericks – New York Knicks 111-113
Portland Trail Blazers – Chicago Bulls 121-122
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 13-2
2. Toronto Raptors 10-5
3. New York Knicks 9-5
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-6
5. Miami Heat 9-6
6. Atlanta Hawks 9-6
7. Philadelphia 76ers 8-6
8. Chicago Bulls 8-6
9. Boston Celtics 8-7
10. Orlando Magic 8-7
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-7
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-11
13. Brooklyn Nets 2-12
14. Indiana Pacers 2-13
15. Washington Wizards 1-13
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-1
2. Denver Nuggets 11-3
3. Houston Rockets 10-3
4. Los Angeles Lakers 11-4
5. San Antonio Spurs 10-4
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-5
7. Phoenix Suns 9-6
8. Golden State Warriors 9-8
9. Portland Trail Blazers 6-9
10. Utah Jazz 5-9
11. Los Angeles Clippers 4-10
12. Memphis Grizzlies 4-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 4-12
14. Sacramento Kings 3-12
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-13
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins