By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a clash at TD Garden, the Boston Celtics snapped the Oklahoma City Thunder’s 12-game winning streak in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with a 119-109 comeback victory over the defending champions. Portuguese starter Neemias Queta fueled the rally with 13 points, supported by bench contributions from Bosnian Luka Garza and Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez at seven and three points, respectively. British Amari Williams and Ukrainian Max Shulga did not play, while Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic (right ring finger fracture) remained sidelined. On the opposite side of Wednesday’s game, German starter Isaiah Hartenstein posted six points and Belgian reserve Ajay Mitchell added eight, though Serbian Nikola Topic was unavailable due to his G League assignment.
At Chase Center, the Golden State Warriors edged the Brooklyn Nets 109-106, with Latvian starter Kristaps Porzingis contributing 17 points. Turkish center Omer Yurtseven added one point off the bench, fresh off a second ten-day contract, while Dutch duo Quinten Post (right foot injury management) and Malevy Leons (illness) sat out. For the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez, Israeli Ben Saraf scored 14 in a start, but Russian Egor Demin (left plantar fascia injury management), Frenchman Nolan Traore (rest), and Israeli Danny Wolf (left ankle sprain) were unavailable.
The Miami Heat halted a five-game slide at Rocket Arena, securing a 120-103 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Swedish reserve Pelle Larsson scored 14 points, and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis added two, while Italy’s Simone Fontecchio and Serbia’s Nikola Jovic did not see action. For the Cavs, German Dennis Schroder tallied four points and six assists, but Dutchman Tristan Enaruna stayed on the bench, and Frenchman Olivier Sarr was with the Cleveland Charge.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers dominated the Chicago Bulls 157-137 at Xfinity Mobile Arena, including a strong defensive effort from Turkish reserve Adem Bona, who recorded four points, eight rebounds, and two blocks. Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis paced the Bulls with 18 points, while Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele (left ankle sprain) returned to score 11 points. However, the visitors remained without French rookie Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery), who is out for the season.
At the Delta Center, the Washington Wizards emphatically ended a 16-game losing skid by defeating the Utah Jazz 133-110. Despite missing Frenchman Alex Sarr (left big toe capsulitis) and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic (low back tightness), French starter Bilal Coulibaly (right retrocalcaneal bursitis) was cleared and logged 11 points. The hosts played without Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, Finnish star Lauri Markkanen (right hip impingement), and Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (nose injury recovery).
The Los Angeles Clippers handed the Toronto Raptors a 119-94 loss at Intuit Dome. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Austrian starter Jakob Poeltl (lower back strain injury management) scored ten points, and Georgian reserve Sandro Mamukelashvili added 13. French veteran Nicolas Batum scored nine for the hosts, while Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic did not play, and Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser (right Lisfranc ligament tear) remained out.
In a narrow escape at Little Caesars Arena, the Atlanta Hawks blew a 21-point lead before ultimately outlasting the Detroit Pistons 130-129 in overtime. French reserve Zaccharie Risacher contributed two points and three rebounds in the win. On the wrong side, Swedish Bobi Klintman remained on the bench throughout the contest.
Wednesday results
Detroit Pistons – Atlanta Hawks 129-130 OT (121-121)
Indiana Pacers – Los Angeles Lakers 130-137
Philadelphia 76ers – Chicago Bulls 157-137
Boston Celtics – Oklahoma City Thunder 119-109
Cleveland Cavaliers – Miami Heat 103-120
Memphis Grizzlies – San Antonio Spurs 98-123
Utah Jazz – Washington Wizards 110-133
Minnesota Timberwolves – Houston Rockets 110-108 OT (95-95)
Denver Nuggets – Dallas Mavericks 142-135
Golden State Warriors – Brooklyn Nets 109-106
Portland Trail Blazers – Milwaukee Bucks 130-99
Los Angeles Clippers – Toronto Raptors 119-94
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Detroit Pistons 52-20
2. Boston Celtics 48-24
3. New York Knicks 48-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 45-28
5. Atlanta Hawks 41-32
6. Toronto Raptors 40-32
7. Philadelphia 76ers 40-33
8. Miami Heat 39-34
9. Charlotte Hornets 38-34
10. Orlando Magic 38-34
11. Chicago Bulls 29-43
12. Milwaukee Bucks 29-43
13. o-Washington Wizards 17-55
14. o-Brooklyn Nets 17-56
15. o-Indiana Pacers 16-57
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 57-16
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 55-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 47-26
4. Denver Nuggets 46-28
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 45-28
6. Houston Rockets 43-29
7. Phoenix Suns 40-33
8. Los Angeles Clippers 37-36
9. Portland Trail Blazers 37-37
10. Golden State Warriors 35-38
11. o-New Orleans Pelicans 25-48
12. o-Memphis Grizzlies 24-48
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 23-50
14. o-Utah Jazz 21-52
15. o-Sacramento Kings 19-54
-Top six teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference enter the Play-Ins
x-clinched playoff berth
o-eliminated