By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Holding on down the stretch, the Los Angeles Lakers prevailed, 108-106, over the Utah Jazz in Delta Center on Sunday. Slovenian Luka Doncic tallied a game-high 33 points to go with 11 rebounds, eight assists, and three steals over 40:10.
“We didn’t play our best game, but we still found a way to win. So, that’s what great teams do,” noted the 26-year-old combo guard on his side and improving to 12-4 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
German teammate Maxi Kleber chipped in two points, three rebounds, and one block. However, Deandre Ayton was forced to an early exit due to a right knee contusion.
Finnish Lauri Markkanen ended up with 20 points, seven rebounds, two assists, one block, and one assist for the Jazz. Fellow European starters went from Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at 12 points, five assists, and two rebounds to Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic producing an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double plus two steals and two assists.
Early exit for Queta
Portuguese Neemias Queta sprained his left ankle in the first quarter, after tallying six points, but the Boston Celtics beat the Orlando Magic, 138-129, in TD Garden. Spanish Hugo Gonzalez had one point, while Bosnian Luka Garza stayed on the bench. British Amari Williams and Ukrainian Max Shulga remained inactive. For the visitors, German Franz Wagner went for 15 points, French Noah Penda reached 13 points, and German Tristan da Silva finished with nine points, but Georgian Goga Bitadze (left ankle soreness) was a late scratch, joining German Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) on the injury list.
Belgian Ajay Mitchell contributed 20 points behind 8/8 field goals in a blowout win, 122-95, for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Portland Trail Blazers. French Ousmane Dieng added eight points and German Isaiah Hartenstein combined his seven points with 14 rebounds, but Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) remained out. On the losing side, Israeli Deni Avdija went for 11 points, French Rayan Rupert got ten points, French Sidy Cissoko recorded seven points, and Belgian Toumani Camara got four points.
A seventh straight win for Serbian Darko Rajakovic with the Toronto Raptors defeating the Brooklyn Nets, 119-109, in Scotiabank Arena. With Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back injury management) out, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili started and put in 12 points. For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Russian Egor Demin had 12 points, but Israeli Ben Saraf (left ankle sprain) sat out alongside French Nolan Traore and Israeli Danny Wolf.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis resting at the bottom of a back-to-back, the Atlanta Hawks edged out the Charlotte Hornets, 113-110, in State Farm Arena. French Zaccharie Risacher chipped in five points, and Czech Vit Krejci had one point, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye remained out of the lineup. On the wrong end, French Moussa Diabate posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double, with fellow French import Tidjane Salaun out.
Zubac scores 33
In Rocket Arena, Croatian Ivica Zubac neared his career-high with 33 points, but the Los Angeles Clippers fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 120-105. The 28-year-old starting center also registered 18 rebounds and four assists, besides 15/22 two-pointers and 3/3 free throws. Off the bench, French Nicolas Batum got six points, but Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser did not score. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hip soreness) remained sidelined.
Six points apiece for Swedish Pelle Larsson and Italian Simone Fontecchio in a win, 127-117, for the Miami Heat against the Philadelphia 76ers in Xfinity Mobile Arena. Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hip impingement) was inactive, alongside Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis and Russian Vladislav Goldin. Turkish Adem Bona (right ankle sprain) was on the injury list of the Sixers.
In Mortgage Matchup Center, Polish Jeremy Sochan scored seven points for the San Antonio Spurs in a loss, 111-102, to the Phoenix Suns, with French Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) stuck on the injury list.
Sunday results
Philadelphia 76ers – Miami Heat 117-127
Atlanta Hawks – Charlotte Hornets 113-110
Boston Celtics – Orlando Magic 138-129
Cleveland Cavaliers – Los Angeles Clippers 120-105
Toronto Raptors – Brooklyn Nets 119-109
Oklahoma City Thunder – Portland Trail Blazers 122-95
Phoenix Suns – San Antonio Spurs 111-102
Utah Jazz – Los Angeles Lakers 106-108
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 14-2
2. Toronto Raptors 12-5
3. Cleveland Cavaliers 12-6
4. Miami Heat 11-6
5. Atlanta Hawks 11-7
6. New York Knicks 9-6
7. Philadelphia 76ers 9-7
8. Chicago Bulls 9-7
9. Orlando Magic 10-8
10. Boston Celtics 9-8
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-9
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-13
13. Brooklyn Nets 3-13
14. Indiana Pacers 2-14
15. Washington Wizards 1-15
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 17-1
2. Denver Nuggets 12-4
3. Los Angeles Lakers 12-4
4. Houston Rockets 10-4
5. San Antonio Spurs 11-5
6. Phoenix Suns 11-6
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-6
8. Golden State Warriors 9-9
9. Portland Trail Blazers 7-10
10. Memphis Grizzlies 6-11
11. Utah Jazz 5-11
12. Los Angeles Clippers 5-12
13. Dallas Mavericks 5-13
14. Sacramento Kings 4-13
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-15
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins