By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After producing an 18-point cushion, the Minnesota Timberwolves faltered in the second half en route to a 119-115 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans in Target Center on Friday.
“Mistakes are part of the game, but the effort to me, for a team that wants to play for a championship, it’s unacceptable,” noted French Rudy Gobert in a postgame interview, referring to the lack of accountability across the players. The 33-year-old center posted a 12-point, 16-rebound double-double to go with three steals, two blocks, and two steals in 33:03. Fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, ended up with six points, three rebounds, two assists, and one steal over 25:49. Logging 5:10, French reserve Joan Beringer squeezed in two points and one rebound. The lone European on the Pelicans, Croatian Karlo Matkovic, contributed two rebounds and one assist in 7:23.
Without Israeli Deni Avdija (lower back strain), the Portland Trail Blazers prevailed, 135-115, over the Memphis Grizzlies in Moda Center. Belgian starter Toumani Camara chipped in 15 points, four rebounds, three assists, one steal over 29:33. Off the bench, French Rayan Rupert added 12 points behind four triples, one rebound, and one steal in 11:34, Czech newcomer Vit Krejci put in 11 points, two blocks, and one assist in 23:09, and French Sidy Cissoko went for nine points, two steals, two assists, one block, and one rebound in 24:51. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) sat out.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, the Los Angeles Clippers narrowly held on to beat the Sacramento Kings, 114-111. Lasting 15:50 in the Intuit Dome win, French Nicolas Batum threw in three points, three rebounds, and two assists, with Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser scoring two points over 5:47 before exiting due to an illness, and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic staying on the bench. Starting instead of Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (lower back soreness) for the team coached by Doug Christie, French Maxime Raynaud piled up 12 points, five rebounds, two steals, and one assist in 26:06.
Snapping an eight-game streak of the New York Knicks, the Detroit Pistons cruised to a 118-80 victory in Little Caesars Arena. Both Swedish Bobi Klintman and Croatian Dario Saric were inactive. British OG Anunoby (right toe soreness) was unavailable for the visitors, but French Mohamed Diawara entered the starting lineup for four points, two rebounds, and one block over 20:39. Logging 22:00, German Ariel Hukporti settled at six points, seven rebounds, and one assist, and French Pacome Dadiet had five points, one steal, and one rebound in 7:17.
Friday results
Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 98-96
Detroit Pistons – New York Knicks 118-80
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 105-99
Minnesota Timberwolves – New Orleans Pelicans 115-119
Portland Trail Blazers – Memphis Grizzlies 135-115
Sacramento Kings – Los Angeles Clippers 111-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 38-13
2. Boston Celtics 34-18
3. New York Knicks 33-19
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 31-21
5. Toronto Raptors 31-22
6. Philadelphia 76ers 29-22
7. Orlando Magic 26-24
8. Miami Heat 27-26
9. Atlanta Hawks 26-27
10. Charlotte Hornets 24-28
11. Chicago Bulls 24-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 21-29
13. Washington Wizards 14-36
14. Brooklyn Nets 13-37
15. Indiana Pacers 13-39
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 40-12
2. San Antonio Spurs 35-16
3. Denver Nuggets 33-19
4. Houston Rockets 31-19
5. Los Angeles Lakers 31-19
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 32-21
7. Phoenix Suns 31-21
8. Golden State Warriors 28-24
9. Los Angeles Clippers 24-27
10. Portland Trail Blazers 24-28
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-30
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-32
13. Utah Jazz 16-36
14. New Orleans Pelicans 14-40
15. Sacramento Kings 12-41
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins