By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
In 34:49, Alperen Sengun had a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds to go along with seven assists. Houston Rockets in a victory, 111-107, against the Dallas Mavericks at the Toyota Center. After his team mishandled a 13-point advantage, the 23-year-old Turkish center forced the ninth and final lead change with a layup with 28.6 seconds remaining. Swiss replacement Clint Capela had six points, four rebounds, a steal and an assist in 12:42. With Saturday’s win, Ime Udoka’s team improved to 30-17 in the 2025-26 NBA regular season.
Atop a back-to-back at Kaseya Center and a four-game road trip, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic was rested, joining Frenchman Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) on the inactive list, but Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis scored 21 points along with eight rebounds, four assists and a block in 33:04, helping the Chicago Bulls defeat the Miami Heat125-118. Improved to 24-25. The Billy Donovan-coached team ended a three-game losing streak amid a battle for the highest possible seed in the Eastern Conference.
Erik Spoelstra’s European starters ranged from Swede Pelle Larsson recording a new NBA record of 22 points plus seven rebounds, five steals and four assists in 32:51, to Lithuania’s Kasparas Jakucionis with six points, five assists, three rebounds and a steal in 27:04. On the bench, Italian Simone Fontecchio had eight points and two rebounds in 17:58, and Serbian Nikola Jovic had two points, two rebounds, a block, a steal and an assist in 15:00, but Russian Vladislav Goldin was absent from the lineup.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo contributed 11 points, five assists, a steal and a rebound in 17:38, while fellow starter, Frenchman Rudy Gobert, added nine points, 16 rebounds, two blocks and two steals in 30:48. Minnesota Timberwolves passed in front of the Memphis Grizzlies131-114. Recording 5:14 on FedExForum, France’s Joan Beringer scored two points. For the team coached by the Finn Tuomas Iisalo, the Spaniard Santi Aldama (management of right knee injuries) was absent.
Earlier in Spectrum Center, the Charlotte Frelons beat the San Antonio Spurs111-106, holding French superstar Victor Wembanyama to 16 points, eight rebounds, a steal and an assist in 30:36. The other French starting center, Moussa Diabaté, had a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds plus six assists and two blocks, with fellow Frenchman Tidjane Salaun left out of the rotation. For the SpursPolish Jeremy Sochan (left quad pain) was inactive.
Back after nearly a month of absence, Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher (left knee contusion) started with seven points, three rebounds and a steal in 21:39 with the Atlanta Falcons falling, 129-124, at Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Czech Vit Krejci (left ankle sprain) has been ruled out, joining Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) and Serbian College Park Skyhawks backup Nikola Djurisic on the list of unavailable players.
Reply to a 25-game suspension for Paul GeorgeJoel Embiid scored 40 points, propelling the Philadelphia 76ers to a 124-114 victory against the New Orleans Pelicans in the Xfinity mobile arena. Turkish replacement Adem Bona recorded three points, six rebounds and two blocks in 12:45. During 15:38 for the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic had two points, five rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist.
Saturday results
Charlotte Frelons –San Antonio Spurs 111-106
Indiana Pacers – Atlanta Falcons 129-124
Philadelphia 76ers – New Orleans Pelicans 124-114
Miami Heat – Chicago Bulls 118-125
Memphis Grizzlies – Minnesota Timberwolves 114-131
Houston Rockets – Dallas Mavericks 111-107
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 35-12
2. Boston Celtics 30-18
3. New York Knicks 30-18
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 29-21
5. Toronto Raptors 29-21
6. Philadelphia 76ers 27-21
7. Magic of Orlando 25-22
8. Miami Heat 26-24
9. Chicago Bulls 24-25
10. Atlanta Falcons 24-27
11. Charlotte Hornets 22-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 18-28
13. Brooklyn fillets 13-34
14. Indiana Pacers 13-36
15. Wizards of Washington 12-35
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 38-11
2. Denver Nuggets 33-16
3. San Antonio Spurs 32-16
4. Houston Rockets 30-17
5. Minnesota Wolves 31-19
6. Los Angeles Lakers 29-18
7. Phoenix Suns 30-19
8. Warriors of the Golden State 27-23
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-26
10. Los Angeles Clippers 22-25
11. Dallas Mavericks 19-30
12. Memphis Grizzlies 18-29
13. Utah Jazz 15-34
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-38
15. Kings of Sacramento 12-38
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
