By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a standout performance at Capital One Arena, Tristan Vukcevic tallied 21 points off the bench for the Washington Wizards, shooting an efficient 7-of-8 from the field and 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Despite his efforts, the Wizards fell to the Detroit Pistons, 117-95. Reflecting on his play following a recent contract extension, the Serbian forward noted that the newfound stability has allowed him to play with more composure. “It has shown on the court,” he stated during the postgame press conference. “It definitely helped me a lot.” His French teammate Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis) was cleared to play, contributing two points as a starter, while fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly (right retrocalcaneal bursitis) was ruled out for Thursday’s game. The Pistons secured the win despite the absence of leader Cade Cunningham, while Sweden’s Bobi Klintman remained on assignment in the G League.
At the Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Hornets celebrated the jersey retirement of Dell Curry with a 130-111 victory over the Orlando Magic. French starter Moussa Diabate recorded three points, though countryman Tidjane Salaun (left calf strain) remained out for an eighth straight game in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, and British Tosan Evbuomwan was with the Greensboro Swarm. The visitors featured several European contributors, including Germany’s Tristan da Silva and Georgia’s Goga Bitadze, who each scored four points as starters. Off the bench, French prospect Noah Penda and Germany’s Moritz Wagner added eight and five points, respectively, while German star Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management) was unavailable.
The Cleveland Cavaliers edged out the Chicago Bulls, 115-110, at the United Center. Following a 36-point performance by James Harden, Germany’s Dennis Schroder provided nine points off the bench, but Dutch Tristan Enaruna did not play, and French Olivier Sarr was sent to the Cleveland Charge. For the Bulls, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis impressed with 13 points as a starter, while French reserve Guerschon Yabusele notched a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds, with French import Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) out.
In the Smoothie King Center, the New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 105-99, despite a resurgent performance from Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic. Scoring in double digits for the first time since mid-December, the 33-year-old guard finished with 16 points in 27 minutes. However, France’s Nicolas Batum was out of the rotation, and Switzerland’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament tear) remained sidelined. On the winning side, Croatian reserve Karlo Matkovic chipped in three points.
Finally, at the Golden 1 Center, the Philadelphia 76ers cruised to a 138-118 win over the Sacramento Kings. Although France’s Maxime Raynaud posted a dominant 30-point night for the hosts, he was overshadowed by V.J. Edgecombe’s 38-point explosion. Turkish starter Adem Bona pushed the Sixers with eight points and ten rebounds. For the Kings, French guard Killian Hayes produced eight points off the bench, with Lithuanian star Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) unavailable.
Thursday results
Charlotte Hornets – Orlando Magic 130-111
Washington Wizards – Detroit Pistons 95-117
Miami Heat – Los Angeles Lakers 126-134
Chicago Bulls – Cleveland Cavaliers 110-115
New Orleans Pelicans – Los Angeles Clippers 105-99
San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns 101-100
Utah Jazz – Milwaukee Bucks 128-96
Sacramento Kings – Philadelphia 76ers 118-139
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 50-19
2. Boston Celtics 46-23
3. New York Knicks 45-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 43-27
5. Toronto Raptors 39-29
6. Atlanta Hawks 38-31
7. Orlando Magic 38-31
8. Miami Heat 38-32
9. Philadelphia 76ers 38-32
10. Charlotte Hornets 36-34
11. Milwaukee Bucks 28-41
12. Chicago Bulls 28-42
13. o-Brooklyn Nets 17-52
14. o-Washington Wizards 16-53
15. o-Indiana Pacers 15-55
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 55-15
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 52-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 45-25
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 43-27
5. Houston Rockets 41-27
6. Denver Nuggets 42-28
7. Phoenix Suns 39-31
8. Los Angeles Clippers 34-36
9. Portland Trail Blazers 34-36
10. Golden State Warriors 33-36
11. Memphis Grizzlies 24-44
12. New Orleans Pelicans 25-46
13. Dallas Mavericks 23-47
14. o-Utah Jazz 21-49
15. o-Sacramento Kings 18-53
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins
x-clinched playoff berth
o-eliminated