By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a dominant 131-99 victory for the Charlotte Hornets at United Center, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis stood out for the Chicago Bulls, recording a career-high 32 points. Among other European talent in Tuesday’s matchup, France’s Guerschon Yabusele scored 11 points for Chicago, while French teammate Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remained out. On the winning side, France’s Moussa Diabate returned from a four-game league suspension to score nine points. However, French Tidjane Salaun and British Tosan Evbuomwan were on G League assignment with the affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm.
“We’re trying to find a couple of good looks, because our offense wasn’t jelling in the beginning, but our defense kept us in the game,” noted Portuguese starter Neemias Queta in a postgame interview, after posting a 14-point, 13-rebound double-double as the Boston Celtics stifled the Phoenix Suns 97-81 in Mortgage Matchup Center. Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic added eight points, while Bosnia’s Luka Garza and Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez added three and two points, respectively. Ukrainian Max Shulga and British Amari Williams were assigned to the Maine Celtics.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, France’s Rudy Gobert posted a 10-point, 19-rebound double-double, and fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, registered 19 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves took down the Portland Trail Blazers, 119-115, in Moda Center, but French Joan Beringer stayed on the bench. Without Israeli Deni Avdija (low back injury management), the hosts featured Belgian starter Toumani Camara at 11 points, while Czech Vit Krejci and French Sidy Cissoko ended up with eight and three points, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Toronto Raptors 116-107 at Scotiabank Arena despite Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain / left ankle sprain) remaining among several unavailable players. German starting center Isaiah Hartenstein tallied 11 points, and Serbian guard Nikola Topic added three. On the Raptors’ side, coached by Serbia’s Darko Rajakovic, Georgia’s Sandro Mamukelashvili had three points while Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain injury management) sat out.
The Cleveland Cavaliers secured a 109-94 win over the New York Knicks at Rocket Arena. Germany’s Dennis Schroder produced three points, with Dutch Tristan Enaruna at the Cleveland Charge. The visitors saw five-point efforts from both British starter OG Anunoby and France’s Mohamed Diawara. Poland’s Jeremy Sochan and Germany’s Ariel Hukporti went scoreless, and French Pacome Dadiet was with the Westchester Knicks.
In Barclays Center, the Dallas Mavericks topped the Brooklyn Nets 123-114. Under Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez, the hosts received 11 points from a couple of European starters, France’s Nolan Traore and Russian Egor Demin, with eight and three, respectively. Israel’s Danny Wolf chipped in four points, while fellow Israeli Ben Saraf remained with the Long Island Nets.
Without Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (general illness), the Golden State Warriors fell 113-109 to the New Orleans Pelicans in Smoothie King Center. Croatia’s Karlo Matkovic contributed 10 points for the Pels, while the Netherlands’ Quinten Post got six for Golden State, with fellow Dutch import Malevy Leons staying on the bench.
The Atlanta Hawks beat the Washington Wizards 119-98, supported by nine points from Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher. For the visitors at State Farm Arena, Serbia’s Tristan Vukcevic (right hand contusion) returned to score five points alongside fellow starter, French Bilal Coulibaly’s eight, though France’s Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) remained sidelined.
Finally, the Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 135-114 win over the Indiana Pacers with Turkiye’s Adem Bona contributing six points. The hosts at Gainbridge Fieldhouse missed Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) once more.
Tuesday results
Indiana Pacers – Philadelphia 76ers 114-135
Atlanta Hawks – Washington Wizards 119-98
Brooklyn Nets – Dallas Mavericks 114-123
Toronto Raptors – Oklahoma City Thunder 107-116
Cleveland Cavaliers – New York Knicks 109-94
Chicago Bulls – Charlotte Hornets 99-131
Milwaukee Bucks – Miami Heat 128-117
New Orleans Pelicans – Golden State Warriors 113-109
Phoenix Suns – Boston Celtics 81-97
Portland Trail Blazers – Minnesota Timberwolves 121-124
Los Angeles Lakers – Orlando Magic 109-110
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 42-14
2. Boston Celtics 38-19
3. New York Knicks 37-22
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 37-22
5. Toronto Raptors 34-24
6. Philadelphia 76ers 32-26
7. Orlando Magic 31-26
8. Miami Heat 31-28
9. Atlanta Hawks 29-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 28-31
11. Milwaukee Bucks 25-31
12. Chicago Bulls 24-35
13. Washington Wizards 16-41
14. Brooklyn Nets 15-42
15. Indiana Pacers 15-44
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-14
2. San Antonio Spurs 41-16
3. Houston Rockets 35-21
4. Denver Nuggets 36-22
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 36-23
6. Los Angeles Lakers 34-23
7. Phoenix Suns 33-26
8. Golden State Warriors 30-28
9. Portland Trail Blazers 28-31
10. Los Angeles Clippers 27-30
11. Memphis Grizzlies 21-35
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-36
13. Utah Jazz 18-40
14. New Orleans Pelicans 17-42
15. Sacramento Kings 13-46
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins