By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Fueling a 130-125 victory for the New York Knicks over the New Orleans Pelicans in Smoothie King Center, British OG Anunoby dropped a 23-point, 11-rebound double-double. Fellow starter, French Mohamed Diawara improved his career high at the senior level to 18 points as the latest youngster to spread the roster and deliver such a strong showing for head coach Mike Brown in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. French reserve Guerschon Yabusele added nine points, but German Ariel Hukporti was forced to an early exit due to a mouth laceration before getting on the board, French Pacome Dadiet did not play, and British Tosan Evbuomwan was not in the lineup. On the wrong end, Croatian Karlo Matkovic stayed on the bench.
With German Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain) rejoining French Ousmane Dieng (right calf strain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) on the inactive list, Belgian Ajay Mitchell overcame an early exit at the top half of a back-to-back with ten points for the Oklahoma City Thunder in a win, 140-129, against the Atlanta Hawks in Paycom Center. Czech Vit Krejci entering Quin Snyder’s starting lineup combined with 18 points, and fellow starter, French Zaccharie Risacher registered 12 points, but Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Spanish Eli Ndiaye (left shoulder surgery) were out alongside Serbian Nikola Djurisic, who was assigned to the G League affiliate, College Park Skyhawks.
Storming back from a 21-point deficit, the Toronto Raptors edged out the Orlando Magic, 107-106, in Scotiabank Arena. Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain) was ruled out for one more week before Monday’s game, but Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili started for Serbian Darko Rajakovic and chipped in 13 points. With German brothers Franz (left high ankle sprain) and Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery) out, Georgian Goga Bitadze returned from a left knee strain with two points, German Tristan da Silva reached six points, and French Noah Penda got one point for the visitors.
In Barclays Center, the Golden State Warriors beat the Brooklyn Nets, 120-107, with Dutch starter Quinten Post limited to 4:52 and three points, and fellow Dutch import Malevy Leons on assignment with the Santa Cruz Warriors. For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Russian starter Egor Demin netted 23 points behind seven triples, French Nolan Traore had nine points, Israeli Danny Wolf went scoreless, and Israeli Ben Saraf was with the Long Island Nets.
With Coby White and Josh Giddey sustaining injuries, the Chicago Bulls lost, 136-101, to the Minnesota Timberwolves in United Center, despite Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic recording a team-high 23 points. Fellow starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, got 13 points, but French Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remained sidelined. On the winning side, Italian Donte DiVincenzo put in 12 points and French Rudy Gobert paired nine points with ten rebounds, but French Joan Beringer did not score.
After blowing a 17-point advantage, the Portland Trail Blazers rallied to defeat the Dallas Mavericks, 125-122, in Moda Center. Paving the way, Israeli Deni Avdija tallied a 27-point, 11-assist double-double plus nine rebounds. Also starting for head coach Tiago Splitter, Belgian Toumani Camara and French Sidy Cissoko threw in nine and six points, respectively, with French reserve Rayan Rupert at nine points.
French Bilal Coulibaly scored 13 points for the Washington Wizards in a loss, 115-101, to the Phoenix Suns in Capital One Arena. Fellow French starter, Alex Sarr, was held to two points, and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic did not play.
Monday results
Charlotte Hornets – Milwaukee Bucks 113-123
Washington Wizards – Phoenix Suns 101-115
Brooklyn Nets – Golden State Warriors 107-120
Miami Heat – Denver Nuggets 147-123
Toronto Raptors – Orlando Magic 107-106
Chicago Bulls – Minnesota Timberwolves 101-136
Houston Rockets – Indiana Pacers 126-119
New Orleans Pelicans – New York Knicks 125-130
Oklahoma City Thunder – Atlanta Hawks 140-129
San Antonio Spurs – Cleveland Cavaliers 101-113
Portland Trail Blazers – Dallas Mavericks 125-122
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 24-8
2. New York Knicks 23-9
3. Boston Celtics 19-12
4. Toronto Raptors 20-14
5. Miami Heat 18-15
6. Orlando Magic 18-15
7. Philadelphia 76ers 16-15
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 18-16
9. Chicago Bulls 15-17
10. Atlanta Hawks 15-19
11. Milwaukee Bucks 14-19
12. Charlotte Hornets 11-21
13. Brooklyn Nets 10-20
14. Washington Wizards 7-24
15. Indiana Pacers 6-27
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 28-5
2. San Antonio Spurs 23-9
3. Denver Nuggets 22-10
4. Houston Rockets 20-10
5. Los Angeles Lakers 20-10
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 21-12
7. Phoenix Suns 19-13
8. Golden State Warriors 17-16
9. Memphis Grizzlies 15-17
10. Portland Trail Blazers 14-19
11. Utah Jazz 12-19
12. Dallas Mavericks 12-22
13. Los Angeles Clippers 10-21
14. Sacramento Kings 8-24
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-26
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins