By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Israeli Deni Avdija and Belgian Toumani Camara combined for 49 points to lead the Portland Trail Blazers to a 118-106 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans at the Moda Center. Starting for interim head coach Tiago Splitter, 25-year-old Avdija netted 26 points while 25-year-old Camara added 23, supported by Jrue Holiday’s 27 points, as French reserve Sidy Cissoko chipped in two points. However, Czechia’s Vit Krejci missed his tenth straight game in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season with a left calf contusion. For the Pels, Croatian Karlo Matkovic was ruled out for Thursday’s game due to low back spasms.
At the Chase Center, Dennis Schroder tallied 12 points and six assists to help the Cleveland Cavaliers defeat the Golden State Warriors 118-111 and clinch a berth in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google. The German reserve also drew a Flagrant 1 foul for a leap and kick to LJ Cryer, and a technical foul seven seconds later, while Dutch teammate Tristan Enaruna and France’s Olivier Sarr were inactive. For the hosts, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 16 points, but Dutch Malevy Leons and Turkish Omer Yurtseven did not play, and Dutch Quinten Post remained on the injury list.
Despite French superstar Victor Wembanyama sitting out for right ankle injury management, the San Antonio Spurs cruised past the Los Angeles Clippers 118-99 at the Intuit Dome. European action was limited to the home side’s French veteran Nicolas Batum, who recorded two rebounds and one assist in six minutes of play. Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic remained out of the rotation, while Switzerland’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser stayed sidelined following a season-ending right Lisfranc ligament tear.
Finally, French starter Moussa Diabate grabbed ten rebounds and scored four points as the Charlotte Hornets beat the Phoenix Suns 127-107 at Spectrum Center. This result officially secured a postseason spot for the Houston Rockets. Diabate’s teammates, French Tidjane Salaun and British Tosan Evbuomwan, were on G League assignment with the Greensboro Swarm.
Thursday results
Charlotte Hornets – Phoenix Suns 127-107
Detroit Pistons – Minnesota Timberwolves 113-108
Oklahoma City Thunder – Los Angeles Lakers 139-96
Golden State Warriors – Cleveland Cavaliers 111-118
Portland Trail Blazers – New Orleans Pelicans 118-106
Los Angeles Clippers – San Antonio Spurs 99-118
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. y-Detroit Pistons 56-21
2. x-Boston Celtics 51-25
3. x-New York Knicks 49-28
4. x-Cleveland Cavaliers 48-29
5. Atlanta Hawks 44-33
6. Toronto Raptors 42-34
7. Philadelphia 76ers 42-34
8. Charlotte Hornets 41-36
9. Orlando Magic 40-36
10. Miami Heat 40-37
11. o-Milwaukee Bucks 30-46
12. o-Chicago Bulls 29-47
13. o-Indiana Pacers 18-58
14. o-Brooklyn Nets 18-58
15. o-Washington Wizards 17-59
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 61-16
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 59-18
3. x-Los Angeles Lakers 50-27
4. x-Denver Nuggets 49-28
5. x-Houston Rockets 47-29
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 46-30
7. Phoenix Suns 42-35
8. y-Los Angeles Clippers 39-38
9. y-Portland Trail Blazers 40-38
10. y-Golden State Warriors 36-41
11. o-Memphis Grizzlies 25-51
12. o-New Orleans Pelicans 25-52
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 24-52
14. o-Utah Jazz 21-56
15. o-Sacramento Kings 20-57
-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
y-clinched play-in berth
o-eliminated