By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Overcoming a second consecutive triple-double for Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic, the San Antonio Spurs wins, 126-109, over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Scoring seven points in the fourth quarter as the visitors pulled away, Frenchman Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points in a double-double that also included 13 rebounds, along with five blocks, three assists and a steal. Initially listed as doubtful due to illness, Poland’s Jeremy Sochan logged three unsuccessful minutes. For the hosts, Nurkic, 31, had 17 points, 14 assists, 11 rebounds, a block and a steal, and his fellow starter, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, reached nine points plus a rebound and an assist, but Finnish Lauri Markkanen (reconditioning returning to competition) remained on the injury report.
As a back problem resurfaces, after recently missing three games during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, Israeli Deni Avdija has left the club for precautionary reasons. Portland Trail Blazers en route to a 127-110 victory over the Miami Heat. The 25-year-old combo forward had already recorded 20 points, seven rebounds and four assists in 17:47. Fellow starter Belgian Toumani Camara finished with 16 points, nine rebounds and six assists, with French reserves Sidy Cissoko and Rayan Rupert going from six points and three rebounds to two steals and one rebound.
For the losing team at the Moda Center, Italian Simone Fontecchio scored 17 points behind 7/11 baskets, including three triples, coming off the bench. The 30-year-old combo forward added four rebounds, three assists and a steal. Swede Pelle Larsson had six points, six assists and three rebounds, and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis combined three points with three assists as a starter for the team coached by Erik Spoelstra, with Serbian Nikola Jovic with five points, five rebounds and three assists. On the other hand, the Russian Vladislav Goldin remained with the Sioux Falls Skyforce subsidiary.
Serbian Nikola Jokic (left knee bruise) missed for the 13th time in a row Denver Nuggets but Lithuania’s Jonas Valanciunas (right calf strain) returned as the starting center under head coach David Adelman, totaling 16 points, nine rebounds and two assists in 21:57 in a victory, 107-97, over the Wizards of Washington in the Capital One Arena. Starting for the hosts, Frenchman Alex Sarr scored 15 points, eight rebounds, four assists, a block and a steal, with Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly (lower back sprain) and Serbian Tristan Vukcevic (left hamstring strain) remaining on the sidelines.
After a recent 16-game absence due to a sprain, Germany’s Franz Wagner (left ankle soreness) sat out Thursday with left ankle soreness. Magic of Orlando dominated by the Charlotte Frelons124-97, at the Kia Center. His brother Moritz recorded 14 points and Frenchman Noah Penda reached 13, but German starter Tristan da Silva was limited to three points and Georgian Goga Bitadze did not score. On the winning side, Frenchman Tidjane Salaun reached 13 points and five rebounds, while French holder Moussa Diabaté had ten points.
Among the four European starters at the Target Center, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis and Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic scored 12 and 10 points respectively for the match. Chicago Bulls in a victory, 120-115, against the shaken Minnesota Timberwolveswith Frenchwoman Noa Essengue (left shoulder operation) absent. For the WolvesFrenchman Rudy Gobert had a double-double of ten points and 11 rebounds and Italian Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 points, but French reserve Joan Beringer was limited to one rebound.
Turkey’s Alperen Sengun was content with 13 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, three steals and two blocks. Houston Rockets fell into the hands of Philadelphia 76ers128-122, in overtime. Swiss backup Clint Capela had two points, seven rebounds and a block in Xfinity Mobile Arena. For the SixersTurkey’s Adem Bona recorded a point, three rebounds and an assist.
With the exit of Jonathan Kuminga in the first half due to left knee pain, the Warriors of the Golden State lost, 123-115, against Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center, despite Stephen Curry’s 38 points. Dutchman Quinten Post had two points, but fellow Dutchman Malevy Leon remained in his G League assignment with Santa Cruz. Warriors.
Thursday results
Magic of Orlando – Charlotte Frelons 97-124
Philadelphia 76ers – Houston Rockets 128-122 overtime (115-115)
Wizards of Washington – Denver Nuggets 97-107
Dallas Mavericks – Golden State Warriors 123-115
Minnesota Timberwolves – Chicago Bulls 115-120
Utah Jazz – San Antonio Spurs 109-126
Portland Trail Blazers – Miami Heat 127-110
Los Angeles Clippers – Los Angeles Lakers 112-104
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 32-10
2. Boston Celtics 27-16
3. New York Knicks 26-18
4. Toronto Raptors 27-19
5. Philadelphia 76ers 24-19
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 25-20
7. Magic of Orlando 23-20
8. Miami Heat 23-22
9. Chicago Bulls 22-22
10. Atlanta Falcons 21-25
11. Milwaukee Bucks 18-25
12. Charlotte Hornets 17-28
13. Brooklyn fillets 12-30
14. Wizards of Washington 10-33
15. Indiana Pacers 10-35
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-8
2. San Antonio Spurs 31-14
3. Denver Nuggets 30-15
4. Houston Rockets 26-16
5. Phoenix Suns 27-17
6. Los Angeles Lakers 26-17
7. Minnesota Wolves 27-18
8. Golden State Warriors 25-21
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-22
10. Los Angeles Clippers 20-24
11. Memphis Grizzlies 18-24
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-26
13. Utah Jazz 15-30
14. Kings of Sacramento 12-33
15. New Orleans Pelicans 10-36
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
