By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Sidestepping a 25-point display by British OG Anunoby, the Golden State Warriors beat the New York Knicks, 126-113, in Chase Center. With Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry combining for 59 points, Dutch starter Quinten Post put in five points, but fellow Dutch import Malevy Leons stayed with the G League affiliate Santa Cruz Warriors. Beyond Anunoby connecting 10/20 from the field to go with four rebounds, one steal, and one assist, coming off the bench for the team coached by Mike Brown, French Pacome Dadiet got two points, German Ariel Hukporti had one point, and French Guerschon Yabusele and Mohamed Diawara did not score.
Without Israeli Deni Avdija (lower back soreness) for a second straight game of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Portland Trail Blazers topped the Atlanta Hawks, 117-101, in Moda Center. Remaining European starters, Belgian Toumani Camara and French Sidy Cissoko, went for 11 and six points, respectively, with French reserve Rayan Rupert throwing in 13 points. Starting for the visitors, Czech Vit Krejci had eight points, but French Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion) and Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) remained sidelined, with Serbian Nikola Djurisic on his assignment with the College Park Skyhawks.
Belgian Ajay Mitchell chipped in 17 bench points with the Oklahoma City Thunder prevailing, 111-91, over the Houston Rockets in Toyota Center. French Ousmane Dieng went scoreless in a brief showing, with German Isaiah Hartenstein (right soleus strain) and Serbian Nikola Topic (testicular surgery recovery) out. On the wrong end, Turkish Alperen Sengun posted a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double, but Swiss Clint Capela did not play.
In a series of comeback wins stretching across two continents on Thursday, the Boston Celtics went from a 19-point deficit to defeat the Miami Heat, 119-114, in Kaseya Center. Portuguese starter Neemias Queta tallied nine points, with Bosnian Luka Garza reaching 11 points and Spanish Hugo Gonzalez at two points, but Ukrainian Max Shulga and British Amari Williams did not enter the rotation.
Playing through a left middle finger injury and starting for the Heat, Swedish Pelle Larsson got seven points. Coming off the bench, Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis at 12 points. Serbian Nikola Jovic overcame right knee soreness in a three-point showing, equal to the showing of fellow reserve, Italian Simone Fontecchio. In contrast, Russian Vladislav Goldin stayed with the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
Following commissioner Adam Silver’s press conference, which largely focused on the NBA Europe project, the Orlando Magic dug their way out of a 20-point hole to defeat the Memphis Grizzlies, 118-111, in Berlin’s Uber Arena. Returning from a long spell on the sidelines due to an ankle injury, German Franz Wagner contributed 18 points.
Among European reserves, his brother, Moritz, added seven points, fellow German Tristan Da Silva had eight points, French Noah Penda produced nine points, and Georgian Goga Bitadze got five points. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama reached 18 points with his country’s and Grizzlies legend, Marc Gasol, in attendance.
Storming back from a 16-point deficit, the Detroit Pistons beat the Phoenix Suns, 108-105, in Little Caesars Arena. The only European option across both sides, Swedish Bobi Klintman, remained with the Pistons’ minor team, Motor City Cruise.
In American Airlines Center, the Dallas Mavericks overpowered the Utah Jazz, 144-122. The visitors ruled out Finnish Lauri Markkanen (illness) for a second straight game, with Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic out of the rotation.
Thursday results
Orlando Magic – Memphis Grizzlies 118-111
Detroit Pistons – Phoenix Suns 108-105
Miami Heat – Boston Celtics 114-119
Houston Rockets – Oklahoma City Thunder 91-111
San Antonio Spurs – Milwaukee Bucks 119-101
Dallas Mavericks – Utah Jazz 144-122
Portland Trail Blazers – Atlanta Hawks 117-101
Golden State Warriors – New York Knicks 126-113
Los Angeles Lakers – Charlotte Hornets 117-135
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 29-10
2. Boston Celtics 25-15
3. New York Knicks 25-16
4. Toronto Raptors 25-17
5. Philadelphia 76ers 22-17
6. Orlando Magic 23-18
7. Cleveland Cavaliers 23-19
8. Miami Heat 21-20
9. Chicago Bulls 19-21
10. Atlanta Hawks 20-23
11. Milwaukee Bucks 17-24
12. Charlotte Hornets 15-26
13. Brooklyn Nets 11-27
14. Washington Wizards 10-29
15. Indiana Pacers 9-32
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 35-7
2. Denver Nuggets 28-13
3. San Antonio Spurs 28-13
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 27-14
5. Los Angeles Lakers 24-15
6. Houston Rockets 23-15
7. Phoenix Suns 24-17
8. Golden State Warriors 23-19
9. Portland Trail Blazers 20-22
10. Los Angeles Clippers 17-23
11. Memphis Grizzlies 17-23
12. Dallas Mavericks 16-26
13. Utah Jazz 14-27
14. Sacramento Kings 11-30
15. New Orleans Pelicans 10-33
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins