By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In a disappointing showing at Target Center on Saturday, the Minnesota Timberwolves fell 109-87 to the Detroit Pistons despite Italian Donte DiVincenzo connecting on five three-pointers for a game-high 22 points. Fellow European starter, France’s Rudy Gobert recorded a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double in the loss, while French reserve Joan Beringer added four points for the Wolves, who dropped to a 45-29 record in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. “I think we didn’t have much of a rhythm,” mentioned 33-year-old Gobert in a postgame press conference, reflecting on the defeat. For the leaders of the Eastern Conference, Sweden’s Bobi Klintman was unavailable while on assignment with their G League affiliate, the Motor City Cruise.
At FedExForum, the Memphis Grizzlies edged the Chicago Bulls 125-124, overcoming a game-high 29 points from Lithuanian Matas Buzelis. French starter Rayan Rupert scored 14 points for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, who also saw French guard Adama Bal provide three points and three assists in his NBA debut after inking a ten-day contract. The Grizzlies remained without Spain’s Santi Aldama, while the Bulls missed French duo Guerschon Yabusele and Noa Essengue.
The Atlanta Hawks secured a 123-113 victory over the Sacramento Kings at State Farm Arena, even as French starter Maxime Raynaud paired 18 points with ten rebounds for the visitors. France’s Zaccharie Risacher tallied 13 points off the bench for the winning side, while compatriot Killian Hayes overcame left finger soreness to contribute ten points for a Kings squad missing Lithuania’s Domantas Sabonis due to season-ending knee surgery.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers earned a 118-114 win over the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center as Turkish reserve Adem Bona contributed two points in limited action. French starter Moussa Diabate notched a ten-point, 11-rebound double-double for the hosts, though France’s Tidjane Salaun and Great Britain’s Tosan Evbuomwan remained unavailable.
Finally, the Phoenix Suns dominated the Utah Jazz 134-109 at Mortgage Matchup Center, spoiled only by a late 14-point surge from Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk. Finland’s Lauri Markkanen and Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Jusuf Nurkic stayed on the visitors’ injury report.
Saturday results
Milwaukee Bucks – San Antonio Spurs 95-127
Minnesota Timberwolves – Detroit Pistons 87-109
Charlotte Hornets – Philadelphia 76ers 114-118
Atlanta Hawks – Sacramento Kings 123-113
Memphis Grizzlies – Chicago Bulls 125-124
Phoenix Suns – Utah Jazz 134-109
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Detroit Pistons 54-20
2. Boston Celtics 49-24
3. New York Knicks 48-26
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 46-28
5. Toronto Raptors 41-32
6. Atlanta Hawks 42-33
7. Philadelphia 76ers 41-33
8. Orlando Magic 39-34
9. Miami Heat 39-35
10. Charlotte Hornets 39-35
11. o-Milwaukee Bucks 29-44
12. o-Chicago Bulls 29-45
13. o-Washington Wizards 17-56
14. o-Brooklyn Nets 17-57
15. o-Indiana Pacers 16-58
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 58-16
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 56-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 48-26
4. Denver Nuggets 47-28
5. Minnesota Timberwolves 45-29
6. Houston Rockets 44-29
7. Phoenix Suns 41-33
8. Los Angeles Clippers 38-36
9. Portland Trail Blazers 37-38
10. Golden State Warriors 36-38
11. o-Memphis Grizzlies 25-49
12. o-New Orleans Pelicans 25-50
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 24-50
14. o-Utah Jazz 21-54
15. o-Sacramento Kings 19-56
-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