By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Securing an important win at the Kia Center, the Orlando Magic bolstered their momentum late in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season by defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120 on Wednesday. German starter Franz Wagner overcame a brief left knee injury exit to provide 17 points, while Georgian reserve Goga Bitadze dominated the interior with a 14-point, 15-rebound double-double. Additional European support came from Germany’s Tristan da Silva and Moritz Wagner, who contributed 12 and four points respectively, as France’s Noah Penda went scoreless. The visitors featured a 12-point effort from Italian starter Donte DiVincenzo and nine points from French reserve Joan Beringer, though they lacked the presence of French star Rudy Gobert, who was sidelined for rest.
The Oklahoma City Thunder officially secured homecourt advantage throughout the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with a 128-110 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers at the Intuit Dome. German starter Isaiah Hartenstein tallied ten points, while Belgian Ajay Mitchell added seven from the bench, though Serbia’s Nikola Topic did not check in. For the Clips, French reserve Nicolas Batum managed three points as Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic was excluded from the rotation and Switzerland’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser remained out for the season.
In Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Pistons overwhelmed the Milwaukee Bucks 137-111 as Cade Cunningham returned to action with a double-double, shortly following the waiving of their previously lone European option, Sweden’s Bobi Klintman. While Greek icon Giannis Antetokounmpo remained out, his brothers Alex and Thanasis Antetokounmpo both logged five-minute stints, with the former squeezing in five points, while French starter Ousmane Dieng finished with 17 points.
Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers earned a 122-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks in Rocket Arena, led in part by five points from German veteran Dennis Schroder. While France’s Olivier Sarr and the Netherlands’ Tristan Enaruna did not see the floor for the Cavs, the Hawks notably handed French Zaccharie Risacher his first career DNP-CD.
Finally, despite a career-high 23 points from Greek sharpshooter John Poulakidas off the bench, the Dallas Mavericks fell 112-107 to the Phoenix Suns at the Mortgage Matchup Center.
Wednesday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Atlanta Hawks 122-116
Orlando Magic – Minnesota Timberwolves 132-120
Detroit Pistons – Milwaukee Bucks 137-111
Denver Nuggets – Memphis Grizzlies 136-119
San Antonio Spurs – Portland Trail Blazers 112-101
Los Angeles Clippers – Oklahoma City Thunder 110-128
Phoenix Suns – Dallas Mavericks 112-107
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. x-Detroit Pistons 58-22
2. x-Boston Celtics 54-25
3. x-New York Knicks 51-28
4. x-Cleveland Cavaliers 51-29
5. Atlanta Hawks 45-35
6. Toronto Raptors 44-35
7. Orlando Magic 44-36
8. Philadelphia 76ers 43-36
9. Charlotte Hornets 43-37
10. y-Miami Heat 41-38
11. o-Milwaukee Bucks 31-49
12. o-Chicago Bulls 30-49
13. o-Brooklyn Nets 20-59
14. o-Indiana Pacers 18-61
15. o-Washington Wizards 17-62
Western Conference
1. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 64-16
2. x-San Antonio Spurs 61-19
3. x-Denver Nuggets 52-28
4. x-Los Angeles Lakers 50-29
5. x-Houston Rockets 50-29
6. x-Minnesota Timberwolves 47-33
7. y-Phoenix Suns 44-36
8. y-Los Angeles Clippers 41-39
9. y-Portland Trail Blazers 40-40
10. y-Golden State Warriors 37-42
11. o-New Orleans Pelicans 26-54
12. o-Memphis Grizzlies 25-55
13. o-Dallas Mavericks 25-55
14. o-Sacramento Kings 21-59
15. o-Utah Jazz 21-59
-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