By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Deni Avdija posted his second triple-double in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season and fourth overall, but the Portland Trail Blazers lost, 123-115, to the defending champions Oklahoma City Thunder, in Moda Center on Sunday.
The 24-year-old Israeli forward went for 31 points, 19 rebounds, and ten assists, plus one steal in 37:11. “I’m just having fun, and I’m trying to do the best I can to make the right decisions, if I get double-teamed or triple-teamed, but it definitely gives you a little boost of confidence that you hurt teams. I’m happy that I can create these passes and takes for my teammates after those double- and triple-teams,” he said in a postgame press conference, describing his approach to demanding challenges by the opponents.
Also in the starting lineup of interim head coach Tiago Splitter, Belgian Toumani Camara netted 19 points and French Sidy Cissoko recorded five points, while French reserve Rayan Rupert ended up with three points. On the winning side, Belgian Ajay Mitchell collected 17 points behind 5/9 field goals in a 12th straight win for the team coached by Mark Daigneault, with French Ousmane Dieng out of the rotation, and German Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) sidelined.
Lasting 28:25 and connecting 10/15 from the field, Turkish Alperen Sengun combined his 27 points with five assists, four rebounds, and one steal, helping the Houston Rockets prevail, 129-101, over the Utah Jazz in Delta Center. Swiss reserve Clint Capela threw in six points, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. Three European starters on the wrong end, all producing double-digit scoring showings, with Finnish Lauri Markkanen at 18 points, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic at 14 points, and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at 11 points.
In Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks overpowered the Toronto Raptors, 116-94, overcoming the latest absence of British O.G. Anunoby (left hamstring strain). French Guerschon Yabusele squeezed in seven points, but German Ariel Hukporti, French Mohamed Diawara, and British Tosan Evbuomwan did not score, and French Pacome Dadiet was reduced to G League action with the Westchester Knicks. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili reached nine points, but Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back injury management) sat out.
A 42-point showing by Payton Pritchard and a triple-double by Jaylen Brown as the Boston Celtics held on for a 117-115 victory versus the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rocket Arena. Spanish Hugo Gonzalez masterminded an incredible play for his three points, and British Amari Williams logged six fruitless minutes. However, Portuguese Neemias Queta (left ankle sprain injury management) was sidelined, and Bosnian Luka Garza and Ukrainian Max Shulga stayed on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Memphis Grizzlies beat the Sacramento Kings, 115-107, in Golden 1 Center, with Spanish Santi Aldama registering seven points for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo. On the opposite end, French Maxime Raynaud got nine points, but Croatian Dario Saric did not play, and German Dennis Schroder (right hip flexor strain) and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear) remained on the injury list.
Without Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness), the Atlanta Hawks grabbed a double-overtime win, 142-134, over the Philadelphia 76ers in Xfinity Mobile Arena. French Zaccharie Risacher put in 12 points, and Czech Vit Krejci added five points, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye were on assignments with the College Park Skyhawks. For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona tallied four points.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo chipped in 18 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a win, 125-112, against the San Antonio Spurs in Target Center. Fellow starter, French Rudy Gobert, finished with eight points, and French Joan Beringer did not play. For the visitors, Polish Jeremy Sochan had two points, and French Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) remained out.
Sunday results
Utah Jazz – Houston Rockets 101-129
Cleveland Cavaliers – Boston Celtics 115-117
New York Knicks – Toronto Raptors 116-94
Philadelphia 76ers – Atlanta Hawks 134-142 2OT (126-126, 115-115)
Portland Trail Blazers – Oklahoma City Thunder 115-123
Minnesota Timberwolves – San Antonio Spurs 125-112
Sacramento Kings – Memphis Grizzlies 107-115
Los Angeles Lakers – New Orleans Pelicans 133-121
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 16-4
2. New York Knicks 13-6
3. Toronto Raptors 14-7
4. Miami Heat 13-7
5. Atlanta Hawks 13-8
6. Orlando Magic 12-8
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 12-9
8. Boston Celtics 11-9
9. Philadelphia 76ers 10-9
10. Chicago Bulls 9-10
11. Milwaukee Bucks 9-12
12. Charlotte Hornets 6-14
13. Indiana Pacers 4-16
14. Brooklyn Nets 3-16
15. Washington Wizards 2-16
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 20-1
2. Los Angeles Lakers 15-4
3. Houston Rockets 13-4
4. Denver Nuggets 14-5
5. San Antonio Spurs 13-6
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 12-8
7. Phoenix Suns 12-9
8. Golden State Warriors 11-10
9. Memphis Grizzlies 9-12
10. Portland Trail Blazers 8-12
11. Utah Jazz 6-13
12. Dallas Mavericks 6-15
13. Los Angeles Clippers 5-15
14. Sacramento Kings 5-16
15. New Orleans Pelicans 3-18
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins