By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Matas Buzelis, who was initially listed as probable due to a sprained right ankle, scored a career-high 41 points to lead the group. Chicago Bulls to a 130-124 overtime victory against the Warriors of the Golden State at the Chase Center. The 21-year-old Lithuanian combo forward shot 16/28 from the field, scoring a crucial three-pointer late in overtime. His French teammates went from Guerschon Yabusele, two-point holder, to Noa Essengue (left shoulder operation) who remained on the sidelines. For the team coached by Steve Kerr, Latvia’s Kristaps Porzingis finished with 17 points, but Dutchman Malevy Leons remained scoreless and fellow Dutchman Quinten Post (bilateral foot soreness) was ruled out for Tuesday’s game.
At Golden 1 Center, French starter Maxime Raynaud recorded a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds, including a three-point play late in the game to raise the score. Kings of Sacramento on the Indiana Pacers114-109. His compatriot Killian Hayes added eight points, while Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) remained on the injury list. This also applied to Croatian Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain), head coach Rick Carlisle’s only European player.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Pistons defeated the Brooklyn fillets 138-100 at the Barclays Center despite Israelis Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf scoring 13 and 10 points respectively. French starter Nolan Traore scored two points, while Russian Egor Demin (managing a left plantar fascia injury) remained out for the team led by Spanish head coach Jordi Fernandez. On the winning side, Swede Bobi Klintman was assigned to the G League.
THE Charlotte Frelons rallied beyond the Portland Trail Blazers 103-101 at the Moda Center, overcoming a 22-point performance from Israeli Deni Avdija. With Frenchman Tidjane Salaun (left calf sprain) unavailable and Briton Tosan Evbuomwan scratched, French holder Moussa Diabate contributed seven points. Starting alongside Avdija, Belgian Toumani Camara scored 11 points, while Czech Vit Krejci scored three, while Frenchman Sidy Cissoko did not play.
Elsewhere during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double from Turkey’s Alperen Sengun and 11 rebounds plus four points from Swiss backup Clint Capela helped the Houston Rockets beat the Toronto Raptors 113-99 at the Toyota Center. With the absence of Austrian Jakob Poeltl (illness), Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili started for Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic and collected eight points.
In a 139-129 victory for the Philadelphia 76ers on the Memphis Grizzlies at Xfinity Mobile Arena, Turkish starter Adem Bona contributed four points. For the team coached by Finnish coach Tuomas Iisalo, Frenchman Rayan Rupert scored 14 points while Spaniard Santi Aldama (managing a right knee injury) remained sidelined.
Finally, the Atlanta Falcons removed the Dallas Mavericks 124-112 at State Farm Arena, with four points from Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher. For the Mavsthe Greek John Poulakidas remained with the Texas Legends.
Tuesday results
Philadelphia 76ers – Memphis Grizzlies 139-129
Brooklyn fillets – Detroit Pistons 100-138
Miami Heat – Wizards of Washington 150-129
Atlanta Falcons -Dallas Mavericks 124-112
Houston Rockets – Toronto Raptors 113-99
Milwaukee Bucks – Phoenix Suns 114-129
San Antonio Spurs – Boston Celtics 125-116
Warriors of the Golden State – Chicago Bulls 124-130 overtime (118-118)
Portland Trail Blazers – Charlotte Frelons 101-103
Kings of Sacramento – Indiana Pacers 114-109
Los Angeles Lakers – Minnesota Timberwolves 120-106
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 46-18
2. Boston Celtics 43-22
3. New York Knicks 41-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 40-25
5. Toronto Raptors 36-28
6. Miami Heat 37-29
7. Magic of Orlando 35-28
8. Philadelphia 76ers 35-30
9. Atlanta Falcons 34-31
10. Charlotte Hornets 33-33
11. Milwaukee Bucks 27-37
12. Chicago Bulls 27-38
13. Brooklyn Tenderloins 17-48
14. Wizards of Washington 16-48
15. Indiana Pacers 15-50
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 48-17
3. Houston Rockets 40-24
4. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-25
5. Los Angeles Lakers 40-25
6. Denver Nuggets 39-26
7. Phoenix Suns 38-27
8. Los Angeles Clippers 32-32
9. Golden State Warriors 32-33
10. Portland Trail Blazers 31-35
11. Memphis Grizzlies 23-41
12. Dallas Mavericks 21-44
13. New Orleans Pelicans 21-45
14. Utah Jazz 20-45
15. Kings of Sacramento 16-50
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
