By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Matching a franchise record with 24 three-pointers, the Denver Nuggets cruised past the Utah Jazz, 135-112, in Ball Arena, with Nikola Jokic posting his 14th triple-double of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season and 178th of his career on Monday. An effective showing amounting to 14 points on 5/7 field goals, 13 assists, 13 rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 28:39.
Playing through an illness and logging 16:13 off the bench for David Adelman’s side, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas chipped in a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double plus one assist. Returning from right groin injury management after sitting out the last two Jazz games, Finnish Lauri Markkanen recorded 27 points, eight rebounds, and one assist, with fellow European starters, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, ranging from 17 points, 16 rebounds, and six assists, to six points and one rebound.
With the Portland Trail Blazers defeated by the Detroit Pistons, 110-102, in Moda Center, Israeli Deni Avdija registered 18 points, nine assists, eight rebounds, and one block. French reserve Sidy Cissoko produced 16 points, three assists, three rebounds, and one steal, Belgian starter Toumani Camara combined eight points with two rebounds, and French Rayan Rupert did not generate a stat. On the opposite end, Swedish Bobi Klintman was assigned to the G League’s Motor City Cruise.
Dutch starter Quinten Post put in eight points, 12 rebounds, and four assists, helping the Golden State Warriors overpower the Orlando Magic, 120-97, in Chase Center. Fellow Dutch import, Malevy Leons, was inactive, similar to the Magic’s German options in Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery), Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain), and Tristan da Silva (right shoulder contusion). French Noah Penda and Georgian Goga Bitadze had five and two points, respectively, for the visitors.
In Paycom Center, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Memphis Grizzlies, 119-103. Before an early exit in the fourth quarter, Belgian Ajay Mitchell threw in 16 points, nine rebounds, two steals, and two assists, with French Ousmane Dieng (right calf strain), German Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus soreness), and Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) unavailable. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama got nine points, seven rebounds, and one assist.
French action in Rocket Arena, with the Charlotte Hornets falling, 139-132, to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Moussa Diabate piled up five points, 14 rebounds, six steals, and two assists. Tidjane Salaun had two points, three rebounds, and one assist.
Croatian Karlo Matkovic produced five points, six rebounds, one block, and one assist for the New Orleans Pelicans in a win, 119-113, against the Dallas Mavericks in Smoothie King Center.
Monday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Charlotte Hornets 139-132
Boston Celtics – Indiana Pacers 103-95
New Orleans Pelicans – Dallas Mavericks 119-113
Denver Nuggets – Utah Jazz 135-112
Oklahoma City Thunder – Memphis Grizzlies 119-103
Golden State Warriors – Orlando Magic 120-97
Portland Trail Blazers – Detroit Pistons 102-110
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 23-6
2. New York Knicks 20-8
3. Boston Celtics 18-11
4. Philadelphia 76ers 16-11
5. Toronto Raptors 17-13
6. Orlando Magic 16-13
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 16-14
8. Miami Heat 15-14
9. Atlanta Hawks 15-15
10. Chicago Bulls 13-15
11. Milwaukee Bucks 11-18
12. Charlotte Hornets 9-20
13. Brooklyn Nets 8-19
14. Indiana Pacers 6-23
15. Washington Wizards 5-22
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 26-3
2. Denver Nuggets 21-7
3. San Antonio Spurs 21-7
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 15-15
9. Memphis Grizzlies 13-16
10. Portland Trail Blazers 12-17
11. Dallas Mavericks 11-19
12. Utah Jazz 10-18
13. New Orleans Pelicans 8-22
14. Los Angeles Clippers 7-21
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