By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
In their only match over a quiet eight-day period, the Denver Nuggets dominated en route to a 136-105 victory over the Kings of Sacramento at the Golden 1 Center.
Serbian Nikola Jokic only needed 29:03 to score 36 points with 14/16 placements, including 12/14 two-pointers. Grabbing 12 rebounds fashioned a double-double, but his eight assists fell short of another triple-double. The 30-year-old center also had two interceptions, adding to the one-way traffic in Sacramento on Thursday.
“We were very professional. We played the right way from the start. We didn’t have, I’m going to say, stupid mistakes, stupid tries, turnovers,” Jokic said in a post-match interview, describing his team’s performance.
Lithuanian teammate Jonas Valanciunas had 15 points behind him at 7/7 from the field, along with six rebounds and two assists in 18:57 off the bench. “Well, we score a lot of points. That’s what makes us good offensive players,” pointed out the 33-year-old center. “We move the ball. We play for each other. We try to get the teammate open, look for him. If you play a specific offense for the shooter, the big or the wing, we really make an effort to watch, to set screens. We like to play together.”
For the hosts, missing both Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (partial left knee meniscus tear) and Germany’s Dennis Schroder (right hip flexor sprain), French starter Maxime Raynaud had 15 points, nine rebounds, a steal and an assist in 36:36. On the other hand, the Croatian Dario Saric remained on the bench.
“It’s pretty frustrating. Obviously you’re here to win, and you’re here to compete. So, I wish I could have helped the team and gotten better results as a team,” » mentioned Raynaud, 22, summing up the lost effort.
“It’s amazing. The way he sees the court, the way he’s smart, how to foul, how to attack the basket, and all that. So he’s really unique in that sense,” he said about facing the Joker.
Sengun scores a double-double
Elsewhere during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Turkey’s Alperen Sengun recorded a double-double of 22 points and 15 rebounds plus five assists and four steals, but Amen Thompson’s three-point play on Sengun’s miss saved the day by breaking the tie with 17.2 seconds left in the fourth quarter and sending the Houston Rockets to a 115-113 victory against the Los Angeles Clippers at the Toyota Center. “I always know where he is, and we communicate a lot during the game too,” he said.said the 23-year-old forward/center about his relationship with the 22-year-old Thompson.
Swiss reserve Clint Capela added four points to the team coached by Ime Udoka. Croatian Ivica Zubac scored a record 33 points in 13/14 at two points, but settled on the wrong side, alongside Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and his ten points, and Frenchman Nicolas Batum with six points. Switzerland’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser did not play.
Second victory in nine outings without Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (sprained right calf) this season, the Milwaukee Bucks removed the Boston Celtics116-101, in the Fiserv forum. The Freak’s brother, Alex, remained on G League assignment with the Wisconsin Herd, but Thanasis logged two unsuccessful minutes. For the visitors, Portuguese holder Neemias Queta collected nine points and ten rebounds, Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez with six points, Bosnian Luka Garza on the bench, Ukrainian Max Shulga with Maine. Celticsand Great Britain’s Amari Williams (fractured hairline of right hand) on the injured list.
Ensuring a fourth victory of the season, the New Orleans Pelicans mastered the Portland Trail Blazers143-120, at the Smoothie King Center. Croatian Karlo Matkovic was limited to just over a minute with two points. On the losing side, Frenchman Sidy Cissoko had a personal best in the NBA, with 20 points in 32 minutes, while the starters, Israeli Deni Avdija and Belgian Toumani Camara, finished at 16 and 15 points respectively, and French reserve Rayan Rupert reached 14 points.
Thursday results
Houston Rockets – Los Angeles Clippers 115-113
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 116-101
New Orleans Pelicans – Portland Trail Blazers 143-120
Kings of Sacramento – Denver Nuggets 105-136
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 19-5
2. New York Knicks 17-7
3. Boston Celtics 15-10
4. Magic of Orlando 15-10
5. Toronto Raptors 15-11
6. Philadelphia 76ers 13-10
7. Miami Heat 14-11
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 14-11
9. Atlanta Falcons 14-11
10. Milwaukee Bucks 11-15
11. Chicago Bulls 9-14
12. Charlotte Frelons 7-17
13. Brooklyn fillets 6-17
14. Indiana Pacers 6-18
15. Wizards of Washington 3-19
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-1
2. Denver Nuggets 18-6
3. Houston Rockets 16-6
4. San Antonio Spurs 17-7
5. Los Angeles Lakers 17-7
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 15-9
7. Phoenix Suns 14-11
8. Warriors of the Golden State 13-12
9. Memphis Grizzlies 11-13
10. Portland Trail Blazers 9-16
11. Dallas Mavericks 9-16
12. Utah Jazz 8-15
13. Sacramento Kings 6-19
14. Los Angeles Clippers 6-19
15. New Orleans Pelicans 4-22
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
