By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Among European prospects across the NBA Preseason 2026 schedule on Wednesday, Spanish center Aday Mara shined at Paycom Center.
Starting for the Oklahoma City Thunder, the 21-year-old rookie registered a game-high 22 points, shooting a perfect 10/10 on two-point field goals, while also grabbing six rebounds and blocking a shot. However, the Milwaukee Bucks prevailed, 128–126.
Belgian guard Ajay Mitchell added three points and five assists. German forward Christoph Tilly contributed a steal. The hosts played without German big Isaiah Hartenstein and Serbian guard Nikola Topic.
For the victorious Bucks, French Ousmane Dieng did a bit of everything. He recorded eight points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Lithuania’s Kasparas Jakucionis also excelled, putting up 10 points and four rebounds. Italian Nate Ament scored three points before leaving with a left ankle sprain. Serbian Bogoljub Markovic played brief minutes and scored two points.
Avdija standard leads Blazers
In their preseason opener, the Portland Trail Blazers defeated the Golden State Warriors 123–118 at Moda Center. Israeli forward Deni Avdija paved the way with 23 points on an efficient 9/13 shooting performance, including three triples.
Starting alongside Avdija, Belgian wing Toumani Camara went for five points. Off the bench, Poland’s Jeremy Sochan reached ten points over nine minutes, Czech Vit Krejci chipped in three points, but French Sidy Cissoko did not score.
For the Warriors, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis remains out indefinitely. In contrast, Dutch Malevy Leons tallied five points, five rebounds, one steal, and one block in a starting role.
German duo drives Magic
The Orlando Magic held off the Memphis Grizzlies 122–118 at FedExForum. French prospect Noah Penda did not play due to injury. However, the German contingent carried the team to victory. Tristan da Silva recorded a game-high 19 points, knocking down four shots from beyond the arc, and starter Franz Wagner dished out seven assists to go with his six points.
“The way that he plays and the skill set that he has allows him to be a threat at all times and to attack the paint at all times. Whether that’s from long-range, from the mid-range, or from short distance, he’s always a guy that the defense kind of has to collapse to. Franz is somebody that’s really patient in that paint and makes the right decisions in there. It really makes everybody else’s life way easier,” mentioned 25-year-old da Silva in his postgame press conference.
Montenegrin center Nikola Vucevic was perfect from deep, hitting all three of his attempts for nine points. Georgia’s Goga Bitadze added seven points in the paint.
For Memphis, coached by Finland’s Tuomas Iisalo, Dutch center Quinten Post recorded five points and four assists. “That was a very, very good preseason game for us, and no illusions. That’s the type of physicality we’ll go against on a nightly basis in the NBA. And then, for the fourth quarter, extremely proud of those guys. We often half-jokingly say that you just have to play like that. We don’t ask for anything else than that you play like your life depends on it. And these guys truly played like this,” explained 44-year-old Iisalo.
Battles in Ames and Chicago
With Tyrese Haliburton returning to action after 16 months, the Indiana Pacers beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 123–112 at Hilton Coliseum. Croatian center Ivica Zubac started, logging six points and three rebounds.
For the Wolves, French starting center Rudy Gobert had seven points and nine rebounds. French reserve Joan Beringer fought hard on the glass, grabbing eight rebounds off the bench. Italian guard Donte DiVincenzo remained sidelined.
In United Center, the Chicago Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns 124–117. Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis was among the top performers, netting 14 points, grabbing three rebounds, and forcing two steals. French reserve Noa Essengue had two points and two assists.
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