By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In their only game across a quiet stretch of eight days, the Denver Nuggets dominated en route to a 136-105 victory over the Sacramento Kings in Golden 1 Center.
Serbian Nikola Jokic needed only 29:03 to score 36 points with 14/16 field goals, including 12/14 two-pointers. Grabbing 12 rebounds shaped a double-double, but his eight assists fell shy of yet another triple-double. The 30-year-old center also put in two steals, adding to one-way traffic in Sacramento on Thursday.
“We were like very professional. We played the right way from the beginning. We didn’t have any, I’m going to say, stupid mistakes, or stupid tries, turnovers,” Jokic said in a postgame interview, describing his side’s performance.
Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas got 15 points behind 7/7 from the field, along with six rebounds and two assists over 18:57 off the bench.
For the hosts, missing both Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear) and German Dennis Schroder (right hip flexor strain), French starter Maxime Raynaud collected 15 points, nine rebounds, one steal, and one assist in 36:36. In contrast, Croatian Dario Saric stayed on the bench.
“It’s pretty frustrating. Obviously, you’re here to win, and you’re here to compete. So, I wish I could have helped the team and have a better outcome as a team,” mentioned 22-year-old Raynaud, recapping the losing effort.
“It feels unbelievable. The way he sees the court, the way he’s smart, how to draw fouls, how to attack the basket, and all that. So, he’s really unique in that sense,” he said about facing the Joker.
Sengun posts double-double
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, Turkish Alperen Sengun registered a 22-point, 15-rebound double-double plus five assists and four steals, but Amen Thompson’s three-point play off Sengun’s miss saved the day by breaking a tie with 17.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter and sending the Houston Rockets to a 115-113 victory versus the Los Angeles Clippers in Toyota Center. “I always know where he is, and we communicate a lot too during the game,” the 23-year-old forward/center said on his connection with 22-year-old Thompson.
Swiss reserve Clint Capela added four points for the team coached by Ime Udoka. Croatian Ivica Zubac scored a game-high 33 points on 13/14 two-pointers, but settled on the wrong end, alongside Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and his ten points, and French Nicolas Batum with six points. Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser did not play.
A second win in nine outings without Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain) this season, the Milwaukee Bucks took down the Boston Celtics, 116-101, in Fiserv Forum. The Freak’s brother, Alex, remained on a G League assignment with the Wisconsin Herd, but Thanasis recorded two fruitless minutes. For the visitors, Portuguese starter Neemias Queta went for nine points and ten rebounds, with Spanish Hugo Gonzalez at six points, Bosnian Luka Garza on the bench, Ukrainian Max Shulga with the Maine Celtics, and British Amari Williams (right hand hairline fracture) on the injury list.
Securing a fourth season win, the New Orleans Pelicans overpowered the Portland Trail Blazers, 143-120, in Smoothie King Center. Croatian Karlo Matkovic was held to just over one minute with two points. On the losing side, French Sidy Cissoko tallied a personal NBA best, packing 20 points in 32 minutes, while starters, Israeli Deni Avdija and Belgian Toumani Camara, ended up at 16 and 15 points, respectively, and French reserve Rayan Rupert reached 14 points.
Thursday results
Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Clippers 115-113
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 116-101
New Orleans Pelicans – Portland Trail Blazers 143-120
Sacramento Kings – Denver Nuggets 105-136
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 19-5
2. New York Knicks 17-7
3. Boston Celtics 15-10
4. Orlando Magic 15-10
5. Toronto Raptors 15-11
6. Philadelphia 76ers 13-10
7. Miami Heat 14-11
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 14-11
9. Atlanta Hawks 14-11
10. Milwaukee Bucks 11-15
11. Chicago Bulls 9-14
12. Charlotte Hornets 7-17
13. Brooklyn Nets 6-17
14. Indiana Pacers 6-18
15. Washington Wizards 3-19
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-1
2. Denver Nuggets 18-6
3. Houston Rockets 16-6
4. San Antonio Spurs 17-7
5. Los Angeles Lakers 17-7
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-9
7. Phoenix Suns 14-11
8. Golden State Warriors 13-12
9. Memphis Grizzlies 11-13
10. Portland Trail Blazers 9-16
11. Dallas Mavericks 9-16
12. Utah Jazz 8-15
13. Sacramento Kings 6-19
14. Los Angeles Clippers 6-19
15. New Orleans Pelicans 4-22
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins