By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Philadelphia 76ers narrowly defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 109-103 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday. Turkish starter Adem Bona contributed two points, six rebounds, and one block in 13 minutes to help the Sixers improve to a 37-31 record for the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. For the visitors, Israeli forward Deni Avdija delivered an impressive 25 points, nine assists, and six rebounds, while fellow starter, Belgian Toumani Camara, added seven points and five assists. Off the bench for the Blazers, Czechia’s Vit Krejci scored nine points, and France’s Sidy Cissoko finished with four points.
In a 116-111 victory over the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center, the Sacramento Kings relied on DeMar DeRozan’s 41 points and a strong European presence. French starters Killian Hayes and Maxime Raynaud combined for 24 points and 17 rebounds, though Lithuanian big man Domantas Sabonis remained sidelined due to a left knee meniscus repair. The Jazz continued to manage a thin roster as Finnish star Lauri Markkanen sat out with a right hip impingement and Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic with a nose injury, while Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not see action.
Earlier at Paycom Center, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves. German starter Isaiah Hartenstein anchored the glass with 12 rebounds, while Belgian guard Ajay Mitchell tallied 11 points, though Serbian Nikola Topic was away on G League assignment. For the Wolves, Italian Donte DiVincenzo posted 16 points and nine rebounds, and France’s Rudy Gobert recorded seven boards, while fellow Frenchman Joan Beringer remained with the Iowa Wolves.
Also, the Toronto Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons at Scotiabank Arena behind a dominant performance from Austrian center Jakob Poeltl, who logged 21 points and 18 rebounds. Under Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic, Georgia’s Sandro Mamukelashvili added eight points, while the Pistons kept Sweden’s Bobi Klintman with their G League affiliate.
Sunday results
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103
Cleveland Cavaliers – Dallas Mavericks 120-130
Toronto Raptors – Detroit Pistons 119-108
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 134-123
Philadelphia 76ers – Portland Trail Blazers 109-103
New York Knicks – Golden State Warriors 110-107
Sacramento Kings – Utah Jazz 116-111
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 48-19
2. Boston Celtics 44-23
3. New York Knicks 44-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 41-27
5. Orlando Magic 38-28
6. Toronto Raptors 38-29
7. Miami Heat 38-30
8. Philadelphia 76ers 37-31
9. Atlanta Hawks 36-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 34-34
11. Milwaukee Bucks 28-39
12. Chicago Bulls 27-40
13. o-Brooklyn Nets 17-50
14. o-Washington Wizards 16-50
15. o-Indiana Pacers 15-53
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 53-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 49-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 42-25
4. Houston Rockets 41-25
5. Denver Nuggets 41-27
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 41-27
7. Phoenix Suns 39-28
8. Los Angeles Clippers 34-33
9. Golden State Warriors 32-35
10. Portland Trail Blazers 32-36
11. Memphis Grizzlies 23-43
12. Dallas Mavericks 23-45
13. New Orleans Pelicans 22-46
14. Utah Jazz 20-48
15. o-Sacramento Kings 18-51
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins
o-eliminated