By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
THE Philadelphia 76ers narrowly defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 109-103 at Xfinity Mobile Arena on Sunday. Turkish starter Adem Bona contributed two points, six rebounds and a block in 13 minutes to help the Sixers improve to a record of 37-31 for the 2025-26 NBA regular season. For the visitors, Israeli forward Deni Avdija scored an impressive 25 points, nine assists and six rebounds, while fellow starter Belgian Toumani Camara added seven points and five assists. Off the bench for JacketsCzech Vit Krejci scored nine points and Frenchman Sidy Cissoko finished with four points.
In a 116-111 victory over the Utah Jazz at Golden 1 Center, the Kings of Sacramento relied on DeMar DeRozan’s 41 points and a strong European presence. French starters Killian Hayes and Maxime Raynaud combined for 24 points and 17 rebounds, although Lithuanian big man Domantas Sabonis remained sidelined with a meniscus repair in his left knee. THE Jazz continued to deal with a limited squad as Finnish star Lauri Markkanen sat out with a right hip impingement and Bosnian center Jusuf Nurkic with a nose injury, while Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk did not see action.
Earlier at Paycom Center, the reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Minnesota Timberwolves. German starter Isaiah Hartenstein anchored the glass with 12 rebounds, while Belgian guard Ajay Mitchell had 11 points, although Serbian Nikola Topic was out for G League assignment. For the WolvesItalian Donte DiVincenzo scored 16 points and nine rebounds, and Frenchman Rudy Gobert recorded seven rebounds, while compatriot Joan Beringer remained with the Iowa Wolves.
Also, the Toronto Raptors beat the Detroit Pistons at Scotiabank Arena thanks to a dominant performance from Austrian center Jakob Poeltl, who recorded 21 points and 18 rebounds. Led by Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili added eight points, while Pistons kept Swede Bobi Klintman with his G League affiliate.
Sunday results
Oklahoma City Thunder – Minnesota Timberwolves 116-103
Cleveland Cavaliers – Dallas Mavericks 120-130
Toronto Raptors -Detroit Pistons 119-108
Milwaukee Bucks – Indiana Pacers 134-123
Philadelphia 76ers – Portland Trail Blazers 109-103
New York Knicks – Warriors of the Golden State 110-107
Kings of Sacramento –Utah Jazz 116-111
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 48-19
2. Boston Celtics 44-23
3. New York Knicks 44-25
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 41-27
5. Magic of Orlando 38-28
6. Toronto Raptors 38-29
7. Miami Heat 38-30
8. Philadelphia 76ers 37-31
9. Atlanta Falcons 36-31
10. Charlotte Frelons 34-34
11. Milwaukee Bucks 28-39
12. Chicago Bulls 27-40
13.o-Brooklyn fillets 17-50
14.o-Wizards of Washington 16-50
15.o-Indiana Pacers 15-53
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 53-15
2. San Antonio Spurs 49-18
3. Los Angeles Lakers 42-25
4. Houston Rockets 41-25
5. Denver Nuggets 41-27
6. Minnesota Wolves 41-27
7. Phoenix Suns 39-28
8. Los Angeles Clippers 34-33
9. Warriors of the Golden State 32-35
10. Portland Trail Blazers 32-36
11. Memphis Grizzlies 23-43
12. Dallas Mavericks 23-45
13. New Orleans Pelicans 22-46
14. Utah Jazz 20-48
15. o-Sacramento Kings 18-51
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
o-eliminated
