By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The San Antonio Spurs secured a sixth straight win in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season by topping the Washington Wizards, 124-113, in Capital One Arena.
Lasting 21:30 off the bench, French superstar Victor Wembanyama produced a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double plus two blocks and two assists, but Polish Jeremy Sochan did not check in for the team coached by Mitch Johnson. With French teammates Alex Sarr (right adductor injury management) and Bilal Coulibaly (left ankle sprain) sitting out, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic started for the hosts, registering 18 points, nine rebounds, and three blocks over 27:12.
A major European highlight in German Dennis Schroder tucking in a corner three with 2.2 seconds remaining in overtime to hand the Sacramento Kings a win, 125-124, over the Houston Rockets in Golden 1 Center. “We did it together, I think, as a team pushed the pace, and yeah, knocked down some threes,” he said in a postgame media session. “Overall, great game. Everyone contributed to this win.”
The 32-year-old combo guard ended up with a 24-point, 10-assist double-double, alongside seven rebounds. French starter Maxime Raynaud posted a 12-point, 14-rebound double-double before fouling out early in the extra period, while Croatian Dario Saric stayed on the bench and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee partial meniscus tear) remained stuck on the injury list.
For the visitors, Turkish Alperen Sengun recorded a game-high 28 points on 12/17 from the field. Over 40:55, the 23-year-old center also tallied six rebounds, three assists, two blocks, and two steals. His Swiss backup, Clint Capela, got two points, six rebounds, and one assist in 11:56.
In a clash of European play-callers, the Brooklyn Nets overpowered the Toronto Raptors, 96-81. Starting for the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Russian Egor Demin put up 16 points. French reserve Nolan Traore added eight points, but Israeli Danny Wolf went scoreless over nearly 19 minutes, and fellow Israeli Ben Saraf was assigned to G League affiliate Long Island Nets.
On the wrong end of Sunday’s game in Barclays Center, Austrian Jakob Poeltl returned from lower back injury management but lasted only 6:36, scoring two points for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, before exiting due to back stiffness. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili had four points after returning to a bench role with Poeltl in the starting lineup.
In Madison Square Garden, Jalen Brunson poured in 47 points, lifting the New York Knicks over the Miami Heat, 132-125. British starter OG Anunoby chipped in 18 points, with French reserve Mohamed Diawara at three points, but British Tosan Evbuomwan, German Ariel Hukporti, and French Guerschon Yabusele did not play, and French Pacome Dadiet did not suit up.
Two European players came off the bench for Erik Spoelstra’s side, Italian Simone Fontecchio and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis, tallying seven and two points, respectively. The Heat were missing Serbian Nikola Jovic (right elbow contusion/laceration) and Swedish Pelle Larsson (left ankle sprain), and Russian Vladislav Goldin stayed on the bench.
Sunday results
Atlanta Hawks – Chicago Bulls 150-152
Brooklyn Nets – Toronto Raptors 96-81
New York Knicks – Miami Heat 132-125
Washington Wizards – San Antonio Spurs 113-124
Minnesota Timberwolves – Milwaukee Bucks 103-100
Sacramento Kings – Houston Rockets 125-124 OT (112-112)
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 22-6
2. New York Knicks 20-8
3. Boston Celtics 17-11
4. Philadelphia 76ers 16-11
5. Orlando Magic 16-12
6. Toronto Raptors 17-13
7. Miami Heat 15-14
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-14
9. Atlanta Hawks 15-15
10. Chicago Bulls 13-15
11. Milwaukee Bucks 11-18
12. Charlotte Hornets 9-19
13. Brooklyn Nets 8-19
14. Indiana Pacers 6-22
15. Washington Wizards 5-22
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 25-3
2. San Antonio Spurs 21-7
3. Denver Nuggets 20-7
4. Los Angeles Lakers 19-8
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 19-10
6. Houston Rockets 17-9
7. Phoenix Suns 15-13
8. Golden State Warriors 14-15
9. Memphis Grizzlies 13-15
10. Portland Trail Blazers 12-16
11. Dallas Mavericks 11-18
12. Utah Jazz 10-17
13. Los Angeles Clippers 7-21
14. New Orleans Pelicans 7-22
15. Sacramento Kings 7-22
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins