By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Deni Avdija took over in the second half at Golden 1 Center, lifting the Portland Trail Blazers to a 128–120 win over the Sacramento Kings. The Israeli forward ended up with 26 points, while Belgian fellow starter Toumani Camara threw in 19 more and French reserve Sidy Cissoko added 15. Czech Vit Krejci also saw action but did not score.
On the wrong end, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis delivered a masterclass despite the loss. He posted a 27-point, 19-rebound, 10-assist triple-double. It was the first one of the 2026–27 NBA Regular Season. Israeli Emanuel Sharp finished with five points, while Alex Karaban, who is of Ukrainian and Belarusian heritage, did not play.
Earlier, British starter OG Anunoby registered 20 points, ten rebounds, and eight assists, but his New York Knicks ultimately fell to the Boston Celtics 107–103 at TD Garden. His French teammates, Pacome Dadiet and Mohamed Diawara, remained on the bench throughout the contest.
For the C’s, Portuguese reserve Neemias Queta stepped up with 14 points, while Bosnian Luka Garza chipped in eight, but Spanish Hugo Gonzalez went scoreless, and British Amari Williams was inactive.
Gobert scores 14, Markkanen at 16
At the Kia Center, the Minnesota Timberwolves strolled past the Orlando Magic 115–93. Among seven double-digit scorers, French starter Rudy Gobert put in 14 points, while fellow countryman Joan Beringer tallied nine points. On the losing side, German starter Franz Wagner tallied 18 points, while German reserve Tristan da Silva reached 14 points, Georgian Goga Bitadze got four points, and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic did not score.
Meanwhile, a thriller unfolded at the Delta Center as the Utah Jazz edged out the New Orleans Pelicans 120–119. Finnish star Lauri Markkanen made a crucial 16-point contribution, while Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk threw in three more points. For the Pels, Croatian Karlo Matkovic got seven points.
Overcoming Cooper Flagg’s early exit due to injury, the Dallas Mavericks topped the Indiana Pacers 121–105 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. French Zaccharie Risacher threw in 11 points off the bench. British Tobi Lawal and Spanish Sergio de Larrea were both limited to brief, scoreless showings. For the hosts, Croatian Ivica Zubac battled inside to combine nine points with 11 rebounds.
Rajakovic gets second win
Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic guided the Toronto Raptors to a 112–102 victory versus the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena, with Austrian starter Jakob Poeltl at six points. For the Wizards, French teammates Bilal Coulibaly and Alex Sarr both started, contributing 11 and seven points, respectively.
“It’s just two games. It doesn’t say much. In order to analyze any kind of numbers, you got to play some 15, 20 games in a season, you got to see different opponents, different teams, play home games, road games, before you can make any conclusions,” 47-year-old Rajakovic said after the game, replying to a question about effective Raptors defense leading to a 2–0 start.
Over at the Spectrum Center, the Atlanta Hawks routed the Charlotte Hornets 128–81. Starting for the hosts, French Moussa Diabate and German Dennis Schroder settled at five and four points, respectively. Off the bench, French Tidjane Salaun reached 11 points, German Hannes Steinbach had six points, and German Christian Anderson Jr. sustained an ankle injury after recording two points.
“There’s not much to say except that we got to be better. Especially in a home game. We’re trying to set the tone. I think that’s the most important part,” recapped the 24-year-old Diabate in his postgame press conference.
Iisalo stuns Warriors
In the earliest matchup of Friday’s 12-game schedule, the Chicago Bulls held off the Milwaukee Bucks 132–125 at Fiserv Forum. Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis contributed seven points, with French reserve Noa Essengue adding four points. Off the bench for the hosts, Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis had seven points, and French Ousmane Dieng went for four points. Italian Nate Ament and Serbian Bogoljub Markovic did not play.
Finally, at Chase Center, the Memphis Grizzlies used a spectacular 17–0 run to storm back late in the fourth quarter and prevail 111–108 over the Golden State Warriors. Ty Jerome netted 28 points for the team coached by Finnish tactician Tuomas Iisalo, with Dutch reserve Quinten Post scoring two points. On the wrong end of the comeback, fellow Dutchman Malevy Leons stayed on the bench.
Friday games
Milwaukee Bucks – Chicago Bulls 125-132
Charlotte Hornets – Atlanta Hawks 81-128
Orlando Magic – Minnesota Timberwolves 93-115
Washington Wizards – Toronto Raptors 102-112
Boston Celtics – New York Knicks 107-103
Indiana Pacers – Dallas Mavericks 105-121
Miami Heat – Detroit Pistons 111-128
Utah Jazz – New Orleans Pelicans 120-119
San Antonio Spurs – Houston Rockets 110-114
Sacramento Kings – Portland Trail Blazers 120-128
Los Angeles Lakers – Los Angeles Clippers 125-117
Golden State Warriors – Memphis Grizzlies 108-111
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Atlanta Hawks 2-0
2. Detroit Pistons 2-0
3. Philadelphia 76ers 2-0
4. Toronto Raptors 2-0
5. Washington Wizards 1-1
6. Boston Celtics 1-1
7. Chicago Bulls 1-1
8. Charlotte Hornets 1-1
9. Indiana Pacers 1-1
10. Brooklyn Nets 0-1
11. Cleveland Cavaliers 0-1
12. Orlando Magic 0-2
13. Miami Heat 0-2
14. New York Knicks 0-2
15. Milwaukee Bucks 0-2
Western Conference
1. Los Angeles Lakers 2-0
2. Oklahoma City Thunder 2-0
3. Houston Rockets 2-0
4. Portland Trail Blazers 2-0
5. Memphis Grizzlies 2-0
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 2-0
7. Los Angeles Clippers 1-1
8. Utah Jazz 1-1
9. Dallas Mavericks 1-1
10. Denver Nuggets 0-1
11. Phoenix Suns 0-1
12. New Orleans Pelicans 0-2
13. San Antonio Spurs 0-2
14. Golden State Warriors 0-2
15. Sacramento Kings 0-2
-Top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-7th through 10th place teams in each conference qualify for the Play-In tournament
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