By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Closing a four-game road trip with a third win, the Minnesota Timberwolves dominated the Washington Wizards, 141-115, on Sunday. French Rudy Gobert tallied an 18-point, 14-rebound double-double plus four blocks in Capital One Arena, with fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, held to five points on 2/10 field goals. In contrast, French Joan Beringer was assigned to the G League affiliate, Iowa Wolves. French starters for the hosts, Alex Sarr and Bilal Coulibaly, had seven and six points, respectively, while Serbian reserve Tristan Vukcevic scored eight points despite dealing with an illness.
After falling to the Wolves on Saturday, the Miami Heat completed a back-to-back in Kaseya Center, pulling away after the break to defeat the New Orleans Pelicans, 125-106. “Just coming in with the right mindset. I think that’s it. Coaches are preparing us good enough, and it’s allowing us to just give everything we have. With the help of my teammates, it’s very easy to play,” explained Serbian Nikola Jovic in a postgame interview, following a contribution of 19 points, six rebounds, three steals, three assists, and two blocks.
Another European reserve for Erik Spoelstra, Swedish Pelle Larsson, added 16 points and overcame a left middle finger injury in the second half, after missing the two previous outings due to a right ankle sprain. Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis threw in three points, but Italian Simone Fontecchio did not score, and Russian Vladislav Goldin remained at the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Making his first start in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with the Pels, Croatian Karlo Matkovic logged four points.
Without Serbian Nikola Jokic (left knee bone bruise) and Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain), the Denver Nuggets fell, 127-115, to the Brooklyn Nets in Barclays Center. For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Russian starter Egor Demin netted 13 points, French Nolan Traore and Israeli Danny Wolf logged five and two points off the bench, and Israeli Ben Saraf was with the Long Island Nets.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder blew an 18-point advantage with the Phoenix Suns securing a win, 108-105, behind Devin Booker’s buzzer-beating three-pointer in Mortgage Matchup Center. German Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain), French Ousmane Dieng (right calf strain), and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular cancer recovery) remained out, but Belgian Ajay Mitchell finished with 13 points.
Missing brothers Franz (left high ankle sprain) and Moritz Wagner (left knee injury recovery), the Orlando Magic took down the Indiana Pacers, 135-127, in Kia Center. Fellow German import Tristan da Silva put in ten points as a starter, with Georgian Goga Bitadze settling at two points and French Noah Penda on the bench.
With Swedish Bobi Klintman staying with the Motor City Cruise, the Detroit Pistons prevailed, 114-110, over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Rocket Arena.
Sunday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Detroit Pistons 110-114
Orlando Magic – Indiana Pacers 135-127
Brooklyn Nets – Denver Nuggets 127-115
Miami Heat – New Orleans Pelicans 125-106
Washington Wizards – Minnesota Timberwolves 115-141
Phoenix Suns – Oklahoma City Thunder 108-105
Sacramento Kings – Milwaukee Bucks 98-115
Los Angeles Lakers – Memphis Grizzlies 120-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 26-9
2. New York Knicks 23-12
3. Boston Celtics 22-12
4. Toronto Raptors 21-15
5. Philadelphia 76ers 19-14
6. Miami Heat 20-16
7. Orlando Magic 20-16
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 20-17
9. Chicago Bulls 17-18
10. Atlanta Hawks 17-20
11. Milwaukee Bucks 16-20
12. Charlotte Hornets 12-23
13. Brooklyn Nets 11-22
14. Washington Wizards 9-25
15. Indiana Pacers 6-30
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 30-6
2. San Antonio Spurs 25-10
3. Denver Nuggets 23-12
4. Los Angeles Lakers 22-11
5. Houston Rockets 21-11
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 23-13
7. Phoenix Suns 21-14
8. Golden State Warriors 19-17
9. Portland Trail Blazers 16-20
10. Memphis Grizzlies 15-20
11. Dallas Mavericks 13-23
12. Los Angeles Clippers 12-22
13. Utah Jazz 12-22
14. Sacramento Kings 8-28
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-29
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins