By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
After producing an 18-point cushion, the Minnesota Timberwolves failed in the second half en route to a 119-115 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans at the Target Center on Friday.
“Mistakes are part of the game, but the effort for me, for a team that wants to play for a championship, is unacceptable,” noted Frenchman Rudy Gobert in a post-match interview, referring to the players’ lack of responsibility. The 33-year-old center had a double-double of 12 points and 16 rebounds to go along with three steals, two blocks and two steals in 33:03. His fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, finished with six points, three rebounds, two assists and a steal in 25:49. Recording 5:10, French reserve Joan Beringer scored two points and a rebound. The only European on the PelicansCroatian Karlo Matkovic contributed two rebounds and an assist in 7:23.
Without the Israeli Deni Avdija (lower back sprain), the Portland Trail Blazers wins, 135-115, over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Moda Center. Belgian starter Toumani Camara had 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal in 29:33. Coming off the bench, Frenchman Rayan Rupert added 12 points behind four triples, a rebound and a steal in 11:34, Czech newcomer Vit Krejci had 11 points, two blocks and an assist in 23:09, and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko had nine points, two steals, two assists, a block and a rebound in 24:51. For the team coached by the Finn Tuomas Iisalo, the Spaniard Santi Aldama (management of right knee injuries) was absent.
Elsewhere during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, the Los Angeles Clippers barely held on to beat the Kings of Sacramento114-111. During 15:50 of the victory at the Intuit Dome, Frenchman Nicolas Batum scored three points, three rebounds and two assists, with Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser scoring two points in 5:47 before leaving due to illness, and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic remaining on the bench. Starting in place of Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (lower back pain) for the team coached by Doug Christie, Frenchman Maxime Raynaud accumulated 12 points, five rebounds, two steals and an assist in 26:06.
End eight-game streak New York KnicksTHE Detroit Pistons earned a 118-80 victory at Little Caesars Arena. Swede Bobi Klintman and Croatian Dario Saric were both inactive. Britain’s OG Anunoby (right toe soreness) was unavailable for the visitors, but France’s Mohamed Diawara entered the starting lineup for four points, two rebounds and a block in 20:39. Logging 22:00, Germany’s Ariel Hukporti had six points, seven rebounds and an assist, and France’s Pacome Dadiet had five points, a steal and a rebound in 7:17.
Friday results
Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 98-96
Detroit Pistons – New York Knicks 118-80
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 105-99
Minnesota Timberwolves – New Orleans Pelicans 115-119
Portland Trail Blazers – Memphis Grizzlies 135-115
Kings of Sacramento – Los Angeles Clippers 111-114
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 38-13
2. Boston Celtics 34-18
3. New York Knicks 33-19
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 31-21
5. Toronto Raptors 31-22
6. Philadelphia 76ers 29-22
7. Magic of Orlando 26-24
8. Miami Heat 27-26
9. Atlanta Falcons 26-27
10. Charlotte Frelons 24-28
11. Chicago Bulls 24-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 21-29
13. Wizards of Washington 14-36
14. Brooklyn fillets 13-37
15. Indiana Pacers 13-39
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 40-12
2. San Antonio Spurs 35-16
3. Denver Nuggets 33-19
4. Houston Rockets 31-19
5. Los Angeles Lakers 31-19
6. Minnesota Wolves 32-21
7. Phoenix Suns 31-21
8. Warriors of the Golden State 28-24
9. Los Angeles Clippers 24-27
10. Portland Trail Blazers 24-28
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-30
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-32
13. Utah Jazz 16-36
14. New Orleans Pelicans 14-40
15. Sacramento Kings 12-41
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
