By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Resuming action in the 2025–26 NBA Regular Season after the All-Star break, the San Antonio Spurs extended their streak to seven games with a convincing 121–94 win against the Phoenix Suns at Austin’s Moody Center on Thursday. French superstar Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, four assists, and one steal in 25 minutes. On the losing side, with Dillon Brooks serving a one-game suspension for his 16th technical foul, Devin Booker played only nine minutes before being ruled out with right hip soreness.
In his Golden State Warriors debut, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis put up 12 points, though his former team, the Boston Celtics, prevailed 121–110 at Chase Center, with Stephen Curry remaining sidelined. Portuguese starter Neemias Queta chipped in nine points for the C’s, alongside Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic’s nine points, Spanish Hugo Gonzalez’s seven points, and Bosnian Luka Garza’s three points. British Amari Williams did not play, and Ukrainian Max Shulga did not suit up, while Dutch teammates Quinten Post and Malevy Leons remained out of Steve Kerr’s rotation.
A 42-point masterpiece by Cade Cunningham lifted the Detroit Pistons over the New York Knicks, 126–111, at Madison Square Garden. British winger OG Anunoby returned for the hosts with eight points and four blocks, while Poland’s Jeremy Sochan recorded two points in his debut. French Mohamed Diawara went scoreless, and German Ariel Hukporti remained on the bench. Meanwhile, French Pacome Dadiet and Swedish Bobi Klintman were on assignment with the Westchester Knicks and the Motor City Cruise, respectively.
Despite missing Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), the Orlando Magic deepened the Sacramento Kings‘ woes with a 131–94 victory at Golden 1 Center. Fellow German imports Tristan da Silva and Moritz Wagner scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, with France’s Noah Penda without a point and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze out of the rotation. With Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) sidelined, Frenchman Maxime Raynaud started for the Kings, posting a 17-point, 14-rebound double-double.
Germany’s Dennis Schroder put in 12 points, and Dutch Tristan Enaruna had two points, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers route the Brooklyn Nets, 112–84, at Rocket Arena. For Jordi Fernandez’s Nets, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore tallied ten and eight points, respectively, as starters for the Spanish boss, while Danny Wolf added 11 off the bench. Fellow Israeli Ben Saraf was on a G League assignment with the Long Island Nets.
Serbian play-caller Darko Rajakovic guided the Toronto Raptors to a 110–101 victory over the Chicago Bulls at United Center. Georgia’s Sandro Mamukelashvili with seven points and Austria’s Jakob Poeltl with two points contributed to the win. For Chicago, French Guerschon Yabusele had eight points and Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis four, while Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remained out.
Turkish starter Alperen Sengun finished with 13 points, and Swiss backup Clint Capela went scoreless as the Houston Rockets edged out the Charlotte Hornets, 105–101, in Spectrum Center. For the hosts, French Tidjane Salaun registered nine points, while French Moussa Diabate (league suspension) and British Tosan Evbuomwan were inactive.
Serbian Tristan Vukcevic and French Bilal Coulibaly each produced 12 points as starters, pushing the Washington Wizards past the Indiana Pacers, 112–105, at Capital One Arena. However, French Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) remained sidelined, similar to Croatian Ivica Zubac for Rick Carlisle’s side.
Finally, French starter Zaccharie Risacher scored ten points in an Atlanta Hawks 117–107 win over the Philadelphia 76ers at Xfinity Mobile Arena. For the Sixers, Adem Bona provided a spark off the bench with nine points, seven rebounds, and four blocks.
Thursday results
Charlotte Hornets – Houston Rockets 101-105
Cleveland Cavaliers – Brooklyn Nets 112-84
Philadelphia 76ers – Atlanta Hawks 107-117
Washington Wizards – Indiana Pacers 112-105
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 111-126
Chicago Bulls – Toronto Raptors 101-110
San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns 121-94
Golden State Warriors – Boston Celtics 110-121
Sacramento Kings – Orlando Magic 94-131
Los Angeles Clippers – Denver Nuggets 115-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 41-13
2. Boston Celtics 36-19
3. New York Knicks 35-21
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-21
5. Toronto Raptors 33-23
6. Philadelphia 76ers 30-25
7. Orlando Magic 29-25
8. Miami Heat 29-27
9. Atlanta Hawks 27-30
10. Charlotte Hornets 26-30
11. Milwaukee Bucks 23-30
12. Chicago Bulls 24-32
13. Brooklyn Nets 15-39
14. Washington Wizards 15-39
15. Indiana Pacers 15-41
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 42-14
2. San Antonio Spurs 39-16
3. Houston Rockets 34-20
4. Denver Nuggets 35-21
5. Los Angeles Lakers 33-21
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 34-22
7. Phoenix Suns 32-24
8. Golden State Warriors 29-27
9. Los Angeles Clippers 27-28
10. Portland Trail Blazers 27-29
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-33
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-35
13. Utah Jazz 18-38
14. New Orleans Pelicans 15-41
15. Sacramento Kings 12-45
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins