By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Alperen Sengun scored 12 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets recovered and pulled away for a 108-99 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies at the Toyota Center. In 33:42, the 23-year-old Turkish center shot 15/17 from the field, in addition to recording nine rebounds, six assists and an interception. Swiss replacement Clint Capela logged 6:37 and had three rebounds. Returning as a starter in the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spaniard Santi Aldama (managing a right knee injury) collected 17 points, seven rebounds and two assists in 27:25.
After a loss to the Golden State Warriors at Target Center on SundayTHE Minnesota Timberwolves bounced back with a victory, 108-83, on Monday. Frenchman Rudy Gobert had a double-double of 15 points and 17 rebounds, accompanied by two blocks, two assists and a steal. Fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, had 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three blocks and a steal, and French reserve Joan Beringer added six points and four rebounds. Starting on Steve Kerr’s side, Dutchman Quinten Post reached 13 points and Dutch reserve Malevy Leons finished with six points.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers102-94, in TD Garden. Playing through an illness for a second straight game, Portuguese starter Neemias Queta contributed four points, six assists, four rebounds and a block in 22:07. In almost 26 minutes, Britain’s Amari Williams reached nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks, an assist and a steal, and Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez added two points and two assists. On the other hand, the Bosnian Luka Garza (illness) was absent, alongside the Ukrainian Max Shulga.
At the top of a back to back for the JacketsIsraeli Deni Avdija (lower back sprain) missed a second straight team outing during the 2025-26 NBA regular season, but is expected to play against his former team, the Wizards of Washingtonat Capital One Arena on Tuesday. Starting the team coached by Tiago Splitter in Boston, Belgian Toumani Camara scored 18 points and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko got four, while French reserve Rayan Rupert also scored four points.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) out for at least another week, and Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion) now considered daily, the Atlanta Falcons beat the Indiana Pacers132-116, at State Farm Arena. The Czech Vit Krejci did not score in six minutes and the Serbian Nikola Djurisic remained on his mission in the G League with the College Park Skyhawks.
Donovan Mitchell recorded 45 points, pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-98 victory over the Magic of Orlando in the Rocket Arena. The visitors were missing German Franz Wagner (managing a sprained left ankle), but the other German options, Moritz Wagner and Tristan da Silva, scored five points each, Frenchman Noah Penda settled for two points and Georgian Goga Bitadze remained on the bench.
At 6/7 on the field, French holder Moussa Diabaté scored 12 points for the Charlotte Frelons in a resounding victory, 130-93, against the Philadelphia 76ers in Spectrum Center. His French teammate Tidjane Salaun scored seven additional points. For the Sixersthe Turk Adem Bona obtained two points.
Monday results
Atlanta Falcons – Indiana Pacers 132-116
Charlotte Frelons – Philadelphia 76ers 130-93
Cleveland Cavaliers – Magic of Orlando 114-98
Boston Celtics –Portland Trail Blazers 102-94
Chicago Bulls – Los Angeles Lakers 118-129
Houston Rockets – Memphis Grizzlies 108-99
Minnesota Timberwolves – Warriors of the Golden State 108-83
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 33-11
2. Boston Celtics 29-17
3. Toronto Raptors 29-19
4. New York Knicks 27-18
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 28-20
6. Philadelphia 76ers 24-21
7. Miami Heat 25-22
8. Magic of Orlando 23-22
9. Chicago Bulls 23-23
10. Atlanta Falcons 23-25
11. Milwaukee Bucks 18-26
12. Charlotte Hornets 19-28
13. Brooklyn fillets 12-32
14. Indiana Pacers 11-36
15. Wizards of Washington 10-34
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-10
2. San Antonio Spurs 31-15
3. Denver Nuggets 31-15
4. Houston Rockets 28-16
5. Los Angeles Lakers 28-17
6. Minnesota Wolves 28-19
7. Phoenix Suns 27-19
8. Warriors of the Golden State 26-22
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-24
10. Los Angeles Clippers 21-24
11. Dallas Mavericks 19-27
12. Memphis Grizzlies 18-26
13. Utah Jazz 15-31
14. Kings of Sacramento 12-35
15. New Orleans Pelicans 12-36
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
