By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Matas Buzelis, who was initially listed as probable due to a right ankle sprain, scored a career-high 41 points to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 130-124 overtime victory against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center. The 21-year-old Lithuanian combo forward shot 16/28 from the field, hitting a crucial three-pointer late in the extra period. His French teammates went from fellow starter Guerschon Yabusele being held to two points to Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remaining sidelined. For the side coached by Steve Kerr, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis finished with 17 points, but Dutch Malevy Leons went scoreless, and fellow Dutch option Quinten Post (bilateral foot soreness) was ruled out for Tuesday’s game.
At Golden 1 Center, French starter Maxime Raynaud recorded an 18-point, 11-rebound double-double, including a clutch late three-point play to lift the Sacramento Kings over the Indiana Pacers, 114-109. Fellow Frenchman Killian Hayes added eight points, while Lithuania’s Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) stayed on the injury report. This also applied to Croatian Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), the lone European player for head coach Rick Carlisle.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Brooklyn Nets 138-100 at Barclays Center despite Israelis Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf scoring 13 and 10 points, respectively. French starter Nolan Traore managed two points, while Russian Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management) remained out for the team led by Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez. On the winning side, Swedish Bobi Klintman was assigned to the G League.
The Charlotte Hornets rallied past the Portland Trail Blazers 103-101 at Moda Center, overcoming a 22-point performance from Israeli Deni Avdija. With France’s Tidjane Salaun (left calf strain) unavailable and British Tosan Evbuomwan a healthy scratch, French starter Moussa Diabate contributed seven points. Starting alongside Avdija, Belgian Toumani Camara scored 11 points, while Czech Vit Krejci had three, while Frenchman Sidy Cissoko did not play.
Elsewhere in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double from Turkiye’s Alperen Sengun and 11 rebounds plus four points from Swiss backup Clint Capela helped the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 in Toyota Center. With Austrian Jakob Poeltl (illness) out, Georgia’s Sandro Mamukelashvili started for Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic and tallied eight points.
In a high-scoring 139-129 win for the Philadelphia 76ers over the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Turkish starter Adem Bona contributed four points. For the team coached by Finnish head coach Tuomas Iisalo, Frenchman Rayan Rupert produced 14 points while Spain’s Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) remained sidelined.
Finally, the Atlanta Hawks took down the Dallas Mavericks 124-112 at State Farm Arena, featuring four points from France’s Zaccharie Risacher. For the Mavs, Greek John Poulakidas remained with the Texas Legends.
Tuesday results
Philadelphia 76ers – Memphis Grizzlies 139-129
Brooklyn Nets – Detroit Pistons 100-138
Miami Heat – Washington Wizards 150-129
Atlanta Hawks – Dallas Mavericks 124-112
Houston Rockets – Toronto Raptors 113-99
Milwaukee Bucks – Phoenix Suns 114-129
San Antonio Spurs – Boston Celtics 125-116
Golden State Warriors – Chicago Bulls 124-130 OT (118-118)
Portland Trail Blazers – Charlotte Hornets 101-103
Sacramento Kings – Indiana Pacers 114-109
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 120-106
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 46-18
2. Boston Celtics 43-22
3. New York Knicks 41-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 40-25
5. Toronto Raptors 36-28
6. Miami Heat 37-29
7. Orlando Magic 35-28
8. Philadelphia 76ers 35-30
9. Atlanta Hawks 34-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 33-33
11. Milwaukee Bucks 27-37
12. Chicago Bulls 27-38
13. Brooklyn Nets 17-48
14. Washington Wizards 16-48
15. Indiana Pacers 15-50
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 48-17
3. Houston Rockets 40-24
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-25
5. Los Angeles Lakers 40-25
6. Denver Nuggets 39-26
7. Phoenix Suns 38-27
8. Los Angeles Clippers 32-32
9. Golden State Warriors 32-33
10. Portland Trail Blazers 31-35
11. Memphis Grizzlies 23-41
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-44
13. New Orleans Pelicans 21-45
14. Utah Jazz 20-45
15. Sacramento Kings 16-50
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins