By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Nikola Jokic headlined Wednesday’s NBA action with his latest triple-double, pushing the Denver Nuggets to a 125-118 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center. The 30-year-old Serbian center had 28 points behind 10/18 field goals, along with 12 assists and 11 rebounds in 34:26.
“We found a way. We had a good run to finish the half. And in the second half, I think we controlled the game. I think we were a better team in the second half,” Jokic said during a postgame media session, describing overcoming a slow start and an early 13-point deficit in New Orleans.
After 16 minutes coming off the bench, his Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas had 14 points and seven rebounds. However, Croatian Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain) was on the hosts’ injury list.
Nikola Vucevic wins it
A buzzer-beater from Nikola Vucevic raised the Chicago Bulls on the Portland Trail Blazers122-121, at the Moda Center. Powered by game-winning three-pointers, the 35-year-old Montenegrin center finished with 27 points and Matas Buzelis scored 11 points, but Frenchman Noa Essengue remained on the bench. The Israeli Deni Avdija, with a triple-double of 32 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds, was not enough for the Jackets. The other starters, Belgian Toumani Camara and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko had 14 and five points, but Frenchman Rayan Rupert did not enter the field.
Fueling a fifth straight victory for the Houston Rockets In the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Turkey’s Alperen Sengun had a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds, with his team beating the Cleveland Cavaliers114-104, in the Rocket Arena. He added seven assists, a block and a steal in 38 minutes. Logging nearly 14 minutes, Switzerland’s Clint Capela added four points, five rebounds, a block and a steal.
Mitchell, Gobert, Fontecchio
THE Oklahoma City Thunder beat the Kings of Sacramento113-99, at the Paycom Center, with Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell finishing with 14 points and Germany’s Isaiah Hartenstein combining for four points with 12 rebounds, but France’s Ousmane Dieng remained on the bench and Serbia’s Nikola Topic (testicular cancer treatment) was absent. Germany’s Dennis Schroder scored 22 points, a team high. Kingsand Frenchman Maxime Raynaud scored seven points, but Croatian Dario Saric did not play and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee soreness) was sidelined.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo scored 12 points and Frenchman Rudy Gobert combined for nine points with 15 rebounds. Minnesota Timberwolves overcome the Wizards of Washington120-109, at Target Center, but the French Joan Beringer did not play. Switzerland’s Kyshawn George scored a team-high 23 points for the visitors, France’s Bilal Coulibaly 13 and Serbia’s Tristan Vukcevic seven, but France’s Alex Sarr (left big toe pain) sat out.
Swede Pelle Larsson and Italian Simone Fontecchio scored ten points each Miami Heat overcome the numerical disadvantage Warriors of the Golden State110-96, center Kaseya. On the other hand, the Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hip conflict) was not available, the Russian Vladislav Goldin on the bench and the Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis on a mission in the G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. On the bad side, Dutchman Quinten Post scored 19 points.
At the American Airlines Center, the New York Knicks anticipated the Dallas Mavericks113-111. Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele had four points, but Frenchman Mohamed Diawara did not score, Frenchman Pacome Dadiet and German Ariel Hukporti did not play, and Briton OG Anunoby (left hamstring strain) was on the inactive list, which also included fellow Briton Tosan Evbuomwan.
Austrian Jakob Poeltl reached 19 points, helping the Toronto Raptors beat the Philadelphia 76ers121-112, in the Xfinity Mobile Arena. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili scored seven points for the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic. For the SixersTurkey’s Adem Bona (sprained right ankle) was unavailable.
Frenchman Moussa Diabaté collected eight points, 12 rebounds and three assists for the Charlotte Frelons in a defeat, 127-118, against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. His French compatriot Tidjane Salaun remained on assignment with the Greensboro Swarm.
Wednesday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Houston Rockets 104-114
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Frelons 127-118
Miami Heat – Warriors of the Golden State 110-96
Philadelphia 76ers – Toronto Raptors 112-121
Minnesota Timberwolves – Wizards of Washington 120-109
New Orleans Pelicans – Denver Nuggets 118-125
Oklahoma City Thunder – Kings of Sacramento 113-99
Dallas Mavericks – New York Knicks 111-113
Portland Trail Blazers – Chicago Bulls 121-122
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 13-2
2. Toronto Raptors 10-5
3. New York Knicks 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-6
5. Miami Heat 9-6
6. Atlanta Falcons 9-6
7. Philadelphia 76ers 8-6
8. The Chicago Bulls 8-6
9. Boston Celtics 8-7
10. Magic of Orlando 8-7
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-7
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-11
13. Brooklyn fillets 2-12
14. Indiana Pacers 2-13
15. Wizards of Washington 1-13
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-1
2. Denver Nuggets 11-3
3. Houston Rockets 10-3
4. Los Angeles Lakers 11-4
5. San Antonio Spurs 10-4
6. Minnesota Wolves 10-5
7. Phoenix Suns 9-6
8. Golden State Warriors 9-8
9. Portland Trail Blazers 6-9
10. Utah Jazz 5-9
11. Los Angeles Clippers 4-10
12. Memphis Grizzlies 4-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 4-12
14. Kings of Sacramento 3-12
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-13
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
