By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Israeli Deni Avdija combined a 24-point, 10-assist double-double with seven rebounds, helping the Portland Trail Blazers prevail, 114-108, over the Boston Celtics. “It’s all about energy. We stuck to the game plan,” mentioned fellow starter, Belgian Toumani Camara, in a postgame press conference, after adding 20 points. French reserves featured scoreless showings by Sidy Cissoko and Rayan Rupert. On the wrong end of the clash in Moda Center, Spanish Hugo Gonzalez finished with 13 points, Portuguese Neemias Queta got 11 points, and Bosnian Luka Garza settled at five points. However, Ukrainian Max Shulga and British Amari Williams remained assigned to G League affiliate Maine Celtics.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, French Alex Sarr went for 20 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, two assists, and one steal, pushing the Washington Wizards to a win, 116-112, over the Memphis Grizzlies in Capital One Arena. Fellow French starter for head coach Brian Keefe, Bilal Coulibaly, threw in 14 points, eight rebounds, three steals, two blocks, and two assists, but Serbian Tristan Vukcevic stayed on the bench. Starting for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama recorded a 14-point, 10-rebound double-double plus five steals and three assists.
Meanwhile, Kawhi Leonard scored a career-high 55 points, lifting the Los Angeles Clippers to a 112-99 victory versus the Detroit Pistons in Intuit Dome. With Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hamstring injury management) and Croatian Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) sidelined, French Nicolas Batum contributed 12 points as a starter, and Swiss reserve Yanic Konan Niederhauser put in two points. The only European option for the Pistons, Swedish Bobi Klintman, was with the Motor City Cruise.
German starter Isaiah Hartenstein and Belgian reserve Ajay Mitchell sustained ankle injuries as the Oklahoma City Thunder topped the Philadelphia 76ers, 129-104, in Paycom Center. With French Ousmane Dieng (right calf strain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) already out, they tallied five and 13 points, respectively, before their early exits on Sunday. For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona had 11 points.
Sunday results
Toronto Raptors – Golden State Warriors 141-127 OT (122-122)
Oklahoma City Thunder – Philadelphia 76ers 129-104
Washington Wizards – Memphis Grizzlies 116-112
Portland Trail Blazers – Boston Celtics 114-108
Los Angeles Clippers – Detroit Pistons 112-99
Los Angeles Lakers – Sacramento Kings 125-101
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 24-8
2. New York Knicks 22-9
3. Boston Celtics 19-12
4. Toronto Raptors 19-14
5. Orlando Magic 18-14
6. Philadelphia 76ers 16-14
7. Miami Heat 17-15
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-16
9. Chicago Bulls 15-16
10. Atlanta Hawks 15-18
11. Milwaukee Bucks 13-19
12. Charlotte Hornets 11-20
13. Brooklyn Nets 10-19
14. Washington Wizards 7-23
15. Indiana Pacers 6-26
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 27-5
2. San Antonio Spurs 23-8
3. Denver Nuggets 22-9
4. Los Angeles Lakers 20-10
5. Houston Rockets 19-10
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 20-12
7. Phoenix Suns 18-13
8. Golden State Warriors 16-16
9. Memphis Grizzlies 15-17
10. Portland Trail Blazers 13-19
11. Utah Jazz 12-19
12. Dallas Mavericks 12-21
13. Los Angeles Clippers 10-21
14. Sacramento Kings 8-24
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-25
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins