By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Scoring ten points in a back-and-forth fourth quarter, Lauri Markkanen ended up with a game-high 33 to lift the Utah Jazz over the Dallas Mavericks, 116-114, in Delta Center. The 28-year-old Finnish forward lasted 39:44, registering seven rebounds, four assists, and two blocks, in addition to sinking 14/26 field goals, including two three-pointers. The remaining European options for head coach Will Hardy, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (left first MTP sprain) was ruled out for Thursday’s game, and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was removed from the rotation.
Snapping a 13-game losing streak in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season to finally deliver a 1,000th career win for head coach Rick Carlisle, the Indiana Pacers edged out the Charlotte Hornets, 114-112, in Spectrum Center. Playing through a left ankle sprain, French Tidjane Salaun produced four points, two rebounds, and one assist in 13:16, and fellow French import, starting for Charles Lee’s side, Moussa Diabate finished with ten points, five rebounds, one block, and one assist over 35:41.
More French action in Target Center with the French starter of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Rudy Gobert, posting an 11-point, 13-rebound double-double plus three assists and two steals, helping in a win, 131-122, over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, finished with 22 points, including six triples, four assists, one steal, and one rebound, but French Joan Beringer did not play. En route to 25 points, Anthony Edwards reached 10,000 in his career.
Thursday results
Charlotte Hornets – Indiana Pacers 112-114
Chicago Bulls – Miami Heat PPD
Minnesota Timberwolves – Cleveland Cavaliers 131-122
Utah Jazz – Dallas Mavericks 116-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 28-9
2. New York Knicks 24-13
3. Boston Celtics 23-13
4. Toronto Raptors 23-15
5. Philadelphia 76ers 20-15
6. Orlando Magic 21-17
7. Miami Heat 20-17
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 21-18
9. Atlanta Hawks 18-21
10. Chicago Bulls 17-20
11. Milwaukee Bucks 16-21
12. Charlotte Hornets 13-25
13. Brooklyn Nets 11-23
14. Washington Wizards 10-26
15. Indiana Pacers 7-31
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 31-7
2. San Antonio Spurs 26-11
3. Denver Nuggets 25-12
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 25-13
5. Los Angeles Lakers 23-12
6. Houston Rockets 22-12
7. Phoenix Suns 22-15
8. Golden State Warriors 20-18
9. Portland Trail Blazers 18-20
10. Memphis Grizzlies 16-21
11. Dallas Mavericks 14-24
12. Los Angeles Clippers 13-23
13. Utah Jazz 13-24
14. Sacramento Kings 8-29
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-31
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins