By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Lasting 34:49, Alperen Sengun posted a 14-point, 14-rebound double-double to go with seven assists for the Houston Rockets in a win, 111-107, against the Dallas Mavericks in Toyota Center. After his side mishandled a 13-point advantage, the 23-year-old Turkish center forced the ninth and final lead change with a layup with 28.6 seconds left. Swiss backup Clint Capela went for six points, four rebounds, one steal, and one assist over 12:42. With Saturday’s win, Ime Udoka’s side jumped to 30-17 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
At the top of a back-to-back series in Kaseya Center and a four-game road trip, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic was rested, joining French Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) on the inactive list, but Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis netted 21 points alongside eight rebounds, four assists, and one block over 33:04, helping the Chicago Bulls defeat the Miami Heat, 125-118. Improving to 24-25, the team coached by Billy Donovan snapped a three-game losing streak amid a battle for the best possible seed in the Eastern Conference.
European starters for Erik Spoelstra ranged from Swedish Pelle Larsson recording a new NBA-high of 22 points plus seven rebounds, five steals, and four assists in 32:51, to Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis at six points, five assists, three rebounds, and one steal over 27:04. Off the bench, Italian Simone Fontecchio got eight points and two rebounds in 17:58, and Serbian Nikola Jovic reached two points, two rebounds, one block, one steal, and one assist in 15:00, but Russian Vladislav Goldin was out of the lineup.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo contributed 11 points, five assists, one steal, and one rebound over 17:38, and fellow starter, French Rudy Gobert, added nine points, 16 rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in 30:48, as the Minnesota Timberwolves cruised past the Memphis Grizzlies, 131-114. Logging 5:14 in FedExForum, French Joan Beringer squeezed in two points. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) sat out.
Earlier in Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets beat the San Antonio Spurs, 111-106, holding French superstar Victor Wembanyama to 16 points, eight rebounds, one steal, and one assist over 30:36. The opposite French starting center, Moussa Diabate posted a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double plus six assists and two blocks, with fellow French option Tidjane Salaun out of the rotation. For the Spurs, Polish Jeremy Sochan (left quad soreness) was inactive.
Back after nearly one month on the sidelines, French Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion) started for seven points, three rebounds, and one steal in 21:39 with the Atlanta Hawks falling, 129-124, to the Indiana Pacers in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Czech Vit Krejci (left ankle sprain) was ruled out, joining Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and College Park Skyhawks assignee, Serbian Nikola Djurisic, on the list of unavailable players.
Responding to a 25-game suspension for Paul George, Joel Embiid poured in 40 points, powering the Philadelphia 76ers to a 124-114 victory versus the New Orleans Pelicans in Xfinity Mobile Arena. Turkish backup Adem Bona registered three points, six rebounds, and two blocks in 12:45. Lasting 15:38 for the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic had two points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals, and one assist.
Saturday results
Charlotte Hornets – San Antonio Spurs 111-106
Indiana Pacers – Atlanta Hawks 129-124
Philadelphia 76ers – New Orleans Pelicans 124-114
Miami Heat – Chicago Bulls 118-125
Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves 114-131
Houston Rockets – Dallas Mavericks 111-107
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 35-12
2. Boston Celtics 30-18
3. New York Knicks 30-18
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 29-21
5. Toronto Raptors 29-21
6. Philadelphia 76ers 27-21
7. Orlando Magic 25-22
8. Miami Heat 26-24
9. Chicago Bulls 24-25
10. Atlanta Hawks 24-27
11. Charlotte Hornets 22-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 18-28
13. Brooklyn Nets 13-34
14. Indiana Pacers 13-36
15. Washington Wizards 12-35
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 38-11
2. Denver Nuggets 33-16
3. San Antonio Spurs 32-16
4. Houston Rockets 30-17
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 31-19
6. Los Angeles Lakers 29-18
7. Phoenix Suns 30-19
8. Golden State Warriors 27-23
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-26
10. Los Angeles Clippers 22-25
11. Dallas Mavericks 19-30
12. Memphis Grizzlies 18-29
13. Utah Jazz 15-34
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-38
15. Sacramento Kings 12-38
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins