By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
In an offensive explosion at the American Airlines Center, Greek reserve John Poulakidas carried the Dallas Mavericks to a 149-128 victory over the Chicago Bulls by exploding for an NBA career-high 28 points, fueled by eight successful three-pointers in the finale of the 2025-26 Regular Season on Sunday. The offensive outburst proved necessary after Cooper Flagg exited in the opening period with an ankle injury, while the depleted Bulls operated without Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, French Noa Essengue, and countryman Guerschon Yabusele.
Bosnian starter Luka Garza powered the Boston Celtics to a 113-108 win over the Orlando Magic at TD Garden, recording an individual league-high 27 points and 12 rebounds to offset the absences of Portugal’s Neemias Queta, Montenegro’s Nikola Vucevic, and Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez. The C’s also received three points from Ukrainian Max Shulga in his first career start and two points from British reserve Amari Williams, while German starter Franz Wagner had 20 points in the losing effort.
At the Toyota Center, Swiss veteran Clint Capela dominated the paint with 23 points and 13 rebounds while notably hitting his first career three-pointer to guide the Houston Rockets to a 132-101 rout of the Memphis Grizzlies. Playing for Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, French wing Rayan Rupert provided a bright spot for the visitors with a 21-point, 12-rebound double-double, though the team remained without Spanish forward Santi Aldama and French prospect Adama Bal.
Israeli forward Deni Avdija secured eligibility for year-end awards at the Moda Center and recorded 25 points and 10 assists to lead the Portland Trail Blazers past the Sacramento Kings 122-110. Supporting his double-double, Belgian Toumani Camara scored 15 points while Czech Vit Krejci returned from a calf injury to log five minutes, comfortably beating a Kings side that saw French rookie Maxime Raynaud finish his impressive season with 21 points.
The Minnesota Timberwolves celebrated a special appearance by Kevin Garnett at Target Center with a 132-126 win over the New Orleans Pelicans, led by a career-high 24 points, 12 rebounds, and seven blocks from French big man Joan Beringer. With Rudy Gobert resting and Italian Donte DiVincenzo limited to three points, the Timberwolves held off a Pels squad that played without Croatian Karlo Matkovic due to lower back injury management.
The Charlotte Hornets defeated the New York Knicks 110-96 at Madison Square Garden, where French starter Moussa Diabate chipped in four points while British G League Finals MVP Tosan Evbuomwan remained inactive. The hosts started Germany’s Ariel Hukporti and France’s Mohamed Diawara in place of the injured British star OG Anunoby, while Poland’s Jeremy Sochan and France’s Pacome Dadiet each contributed 12 points off the bench.
Dutch Tristan Enaruna scored a personal-best 15 points at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, joining French Olivier Sarr, who added ten points to push the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 130-117 win over the Washington Wizards. With German veteran Dennis Schroder resting for the Cavs, the Wizards struggled to find rhythm as French duo Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic, remained on the sidelines.
Serbian combo guard Nikola Topic made the most of his second consecutive start for the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center, tallying 18 points and 14 assists, though the short-handed hosts eventually fell 135-103 to the Phoenix Suns. The defending champions played without German center Isaiah Hartenstein and Belgian guard Ajay Mitchell, and several more key players.
The Los Angeles Clippers secured a 115-110 win over the Golden State Warriors in Intuit Dome, featuring 17 points from Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic and nine points from French veteran Nicolas Batum. Although Swiss center Yanic Konan Niederhauser remained out, the Clippers overcame 12 points from Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis and eight from Dutch reserve Malevy Leons.
At the Kaseya Center, Lithuania’s Kasparas Jakucionis scored eight points, and Russia’s Vladislav Goldin added three to help the Miami Heat cruise to a 143-117 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, despite missing Sweden’s Pelle Larsson, Italy’s Simone Fontecchio, and Serbia’s Nikola Jovic. On the wrong end, French starter Zaccharie Risacher had 11 points.
Finally, the Detroit Pistons handed the Indiana Pacers a 133-121 season-ending loss at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the hosts continued to play without Croatian center Ivica Zubac.