By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Responsible for the last seven points of the Phoenix Sunsincluding a decisive three-pointer with 0.9 seconds remaining, Royce O’Neale raised the score Phoenix Suns on the Los Angeles Lakers113-110. “We just have to continue to have the mindset of trying to win every game,” Slovenian superstar Luka Doncic noted in a postgame press conference, after recording 41 points, eight assists, eight rebounds and two steals in 39 minutes. As JJ Redick’s team fell to a third straight loss in the 2025-26 NBA regular season, his German teammate Maxi Kleber recorded a second.
Belgian starter Toumani Camara scored 16 points with the Portland Trail Blazers winning a 121-112 victory over the Chicago Bulls at United Center, buoyed by Czech goalkeeper Vit Krejci’s 14 points and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko’s three points, while Israeli Deni Avdija (lower back injury management) was stuck on the injury report. In his team’s 11th straight loss, Lithuania’s Matas Buzelis recorded a team-high 20 points, while fellow starter Guerschon Yabusele of France scored six points, but Frenchman Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) sat out.
THE Houston Rockets earned a 113-108 victory over the Magic of Orlando at the Kia Center, led by a 40-point performance from Kevin Durant. Turkish starting center Alperen Sengun contributed 16 points and Swiss backup Clint Capela added four. For the hosts, German starter Tristan da Silva scored eight points and his compatriot Moritz Wagner added six. Frenchman Noah Penda and Georgian Goga Bitadze did not attend the match, and German Franz Wagner (managing a sprained high left ankle) remained absent.
At the Intuit Dome, the Minnesota Timberwolves escaped from Los Angeles Clippers 94-88. Italian Donte DiVincenzo provided 18 points, starting alongside Frenchman Rudy Gobert, who dominated the glass with 13 rebounds and three blocks despite being limited to three points. For the ClippersSerbian veteran Bogdan Bogdanovic returned to the rotation with eight points, Swiss prospect Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored ten and Nicolas Batum remained scoreless in a starting role.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Miami Heat 124-117 in the Xfinity Mobile Arena, with Adem Bona of Türkiye contributing four points for the Sixers. Swedish starter Pelle Larsson had nine points for the visitors, while Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis and Italian Simone Fontecchio each had three points. However, Russian Vladislav Goldin did not play and Serbian Nikola Jovic (lower back injury management) remained out.
Overcoming a right hip bruise and returning to the starting lineup Atlanta FalconsFrenchman Zaccharie Risacher scored eight points in a 126-96 defeat Wizards of Washington at State Farm Arena. Freed from left hip impingement, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic had 11 points starting alongside Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly, who scored ten points, although Frenchman Alex Sarr (right hamstring strain) remained unavailable.
THE Charlotte Frelons dominated the Indiana Pacers 133-109 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, fueled by a 14-point, 11-rebound double-double from French starter Moussa Diabaté. Frenchman Tidjane Salaun and British Tosan Evbuomwan were assigned to the G League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm. On the other hand, Croatian Ivica Zubac (sprained left ankle) has not yet been cleared for his Pacers beginning.
Another French starter on Thursday, Maxime Raynaud, who had 22 points, was among the top contributors in the Kings of Sacramento in a 130-121 victory against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Coming off the bench for head coach Doug Christie, compatriot Killian Hayes had five points and six assists, with Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) absent.
Despite the 14 points from the Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, the Utah Jazz fell 129-118 against the New Orleans PelicansFinnish Lauri Markkanen (right ankle sprain/right hip impingement) expected to miss several matches, and Jusuf Nurkic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (recovering from nose injury) arrested. In addition to Saddiq Bey’s 42 points for the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic reached eight points.
Thursday results
Indiana Pacers – Charlotte Frelons 109-133
Philadelphia 76ers – Miami Heat 124-117
Atlanta Falcons – Wizards of Washington 126-96
Brooklyn fillets – San Antonio Spurs 110-126
Magic of Orlando – Houston Rockets 108-113
Chicago Bulls – Portland Trail Blazers 112-121
Dallas Mavericks – Kings of Sacramento 121-130
Phoenix Suns – Los Angeles Lakers 113-110
Utah Jazz – New Orleans Pelicans 118-129
Los Angeles Clippers – Minnesota Timberwolves 88-94
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 43-14
2. Boston Celtics 38-20
3. New York Knicks 37-22
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 37-23
5. Toronto Raptors 34-25
6. Philadelphia 76ers 33-26
7. Magic of Orlando 31-27
8. Miami Heat 31-29
9. Atlanta Falcons 30-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 29-31
11. Milwaukee Bucks 26-31
12. Chicago Bulls 24-36
13. Wizards of Washington 16-42
14. Brooklyn fillets 15-43
15. Indiana Pacers 15-45
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 45-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 43-16
3. Houston Rockets 37-21
4. Denver Nuggets 37-22
5. Minnesota Wolves 37-23
6. Los Angeles Lakers 34-24
7. Phoenix Suns 34-26
8. Warriors of the Golden State 31-28
9. Portland Trail Blazers 29-31
10. Los Angeles Clippers 27-31
11. Memphis Grizzlies 21-36
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-37
13. Utah Jazz 18-41
14. New Orleans Pelicans 18-42
15. Kings of Sacramento 14-47
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
