By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Responsible for the last seven points of the Phoenix Suns, including a deciding three-pointer with 0.9 seconds left, Royce O’Neale lifted the Phoenix Suns over the Los Angeles Lakers, 113-110. “We just got to keep bringing the mindset of trying to win every game,” noted Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic in a postgame press conference, after registering 41 points, eight assists, eight rebounds, and two steals in 39 minutes. With JJ Redick’s side falling to a third straight loss in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, German teammate Maxi Kleber logged one second.
Belgian starter Toumani Camara tallied 16 points with the Portland Trail Blazers punching in a 121-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls at United Center, supported by Czech guard Vit Krejci’s 14 points and three points from France’s Sidy Cissoko, while Israel’s Deni Avdija (low back injury management) was stuck to the injury report. In his side’s 11th consecutive loss, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis recorded a team-high 20 points, with fellow starter, French Guerschon Yabusele at six points, but France’s Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remained out.
The Houston Rockets mounted a 113-108 comeback win against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center, led by a 40-point performance from Kevin Durant. Turkish starting center Alperen Sengun contributed 16 points, and Swiss backup Clint Capela added four. For the hosts, German starter Tristan da Silva scored eight points, and fellow German Moritz Wagner added six. France’s Noah Penda and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze did not see game action, and Germany’s Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) was sidelined.
At the Intuit Dome, the Minnesota Timberwolves escaped the Los Angeles Clippers 94-88. Italian Donte DiVincenzo provided 18 points, starting alongside French Rudy Gobert, who dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and three blocks despite being held to three points. For the Clippers, Serbian veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic returned to the rotation with eight points, Swiss prospect Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored ten, and Nicolas Batum went scoreless in a starting role.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 124-117 in Xfinity Mobile Arena, with Turkiye’s Adem Bona contributing four points for the Sixers. Swedish starter Pelle Larsson got nine points for the visitors, with Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis and Italian Simone Fontecchio at three points each. However, Russian Vladislav Goldin did not play, and Serbian Nikola Jovic (lower back injury management) remained out.
Overcoming a right hip contusion and returning to the starting lineup of the Atlanta Hawks, France’s Zaccharie Risacher chipped in eight points in a 126-96 rout of the Washington Wizards in State Farm Arena. Cleared from a left hip impingement, Serbia’s Tristan Vukcevic tallied 11 points starting alongside France’s Bilal Coulibaly, who scored ten points, though French Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) remained unavailable.
The Charlotte Hornets dominated the Indiana Pacers 133-109 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, fueled by a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double from French starter Moussa Diabate. French Tidjane Salaun and British Tosan Evbuomwan have been assigned to the G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. On the opposite end, Croatian Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain) has yet to be cleared for his Pacers debut.
Another French starter on Thursday, Maxime Raynaud, who packed 22 points, was among the top contributors for the Sacramento Kings in a 130-121 victory against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Coming off the bench for head coach Doug Christie, Fellow countryman Killian Hayes put in five points and six assists, with Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) out.
Despite 14 points from Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, the Utah Jazz fell 129-118 to the New Orleans Pelicans, with Finland’s Lauri Markkanen (right ankle sprain / right hip impingement) expected to miss several games, and Bosnia Herzegovina’s Jusuf Nurkic (nose injury recovery) shut down. Besides a 42-point display by Saddiq Bey for the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic reached eight points.
Thursday results
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Hornets 109-133
Philadelphia 76ers – Miami Heat 124-117
Atlanta Hawks – Washington Wizards 126-96
Brooklyn Nets – San Antonio Spurs 110-126
Orlando Magic – Houston Rockets 108-113
Chicago Bulls – Portland Trail Blazers 112-121
Dallas Mavericks – Sacramento Kings 121-130
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers 113-110
Utah Jazz – New Orleans Pelicans 118-129
Los Angeles Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves 88-94
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 43-14
2. Boston Celtics 38-20
3. New York Knicks 37-22
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 37-23
5. Toronto Raptors 34-25
6. Philadelphia 76ers 33-26
7. Orlando Magic 31-27
8. Miami Heat 31-29
9. Atlanta Hawks 30-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 29-31
11. Milwaukee Bucks 26-31
12. Chicago Bulls 24-36
13. Washington Wizards 16-42
14. Brooklyn Nets 15-43
15. Indiana Pacers 15-45
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 43-16
3. Houston Rockets 37-21
4. Denver Nuggets 37-22
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 37-23
6. Los Angeles Lakers 34-24
7. Phoenix Suns 34-26
8. Golden State Warriors 31-28
9. Portland Trail Blazers 29-31
10. Los Angeles Clippers 27-31
11. Memphis Grizzlies 21-36
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-37
13. Utah Jazz 18-41
14. New Orleans Pelicans 18-42
15. Sacramento Kings 14-47
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins