By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Italian reserve Simone Fontecchio made six three-pointers and improved his personal best for the 2025-26 NBA regular season to 23 points, but the Miami Heat fell into the hands of Magic of Orlando133-124, at the Kaseya Center on Wednesday.
“I was trying to be aggressive as usual. The ball was coming in and the guys found me open,” noted the 30-year-old striker during a post-match media session. For Erik Spoelstra’s team, Swede Pelle Larsson and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis had between eight and four points as starters, and Serbian Nikola Jovic had two points coming off the bench, but Russian Vladislav Goldin remained with the G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce. Despite the absence of German Franz Wagner (managing a sprained high left ankle) for a fourth consecutive outing, the Magic ended a four-game losing streak. German Tristan da Silva had 12 points, Frenchman Noah Penda and German Moritz Wagner three points each, but Georgian Goga Bitadze was held in check for a second consecutive match.
Facing the Toronto Raptorshis former team headlined by an NBA championship, Britain’s OG Anunoby scored 26 points, along with six steals, five assists, three rebounds and two blocks, helping the New York Knicks win, 119-92, at Scotiabank Arena. Coming off the bench for head coach Mike Brown, Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele had four points, German Ariel Hukporti reached two points and Frenchman Mohamed Diawara did not score, but Frenchman Pacome Dadiet was assigned to Westchester. Knicks. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili scored nine points and Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back sprain) remained absent.
Without the Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher (contusion of the left knee) and the Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis), the Atlanta Falcons beat the Boston Celtics117-106, in TD Garden. Czech Vit Krejci contributed five points, but Serbian Nikola Djurisic maintained his mission with the College Park Skyhawks affiliate. With Portugal’s Neemias Queta (illness) sidelined by the hosts, Britain’s Amari Williams started and scored two points in 15 minutes, with Bosnian Luka Garza returning from illness with 11 points and Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez finishing with ten points. On the other hand, the Ukrainian Max Shulga remained inactive.
Meanwhile, the Warriors of the Golden State made 23/54 from beyond the arc in a 140-124 win over the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Behind two triples, Dutchman Quinten Post reached ten points, but fellow Dutchman Malevy Leon did not get on the board. The return of Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic (illness) was one of head coach Will’s three European starters. Robustand scored 11 points, with Finland’s Lauri Markkanen with 18 points and Ukraine’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk with two points.
With French starter Moussa Diabaté with 18 points and 19 rebounds, the Charlotte Frelons removed the Memphis Grizzlies112-97, in FedExForum. “To be honest, nothing has really changed” said the tall 24-year-old, downplaying his huge double-double. “Just keep going. Just be relentless.” The other French option for point guard Charles Lee, Tidjane Salaun, did not enter the rotation. For the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spaniard Santi Aldama (right knee pain) was eliminated late.
Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic scored 25 points and Lithuanian Matas Buzelis finished with 20 points, but the Chicago Bulls lost, 113-110, against Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse after a layup and game-ending block by Aaron Nesmith. In addition to the aforementioned starters, Frenchwoman Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) has been ruled out for the rest of the season since the beginning of December.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo had eight points, five steals, five rebounds and an assist, and his fellow starter, Frenchman Rudy Gobert, had six points, six rebounds, two blocks, two steals and an assist. Minnesota Timberwolves overcome the Dallas Mavericks118-105, at the American Airlines Center. French reserve Joan Beringer added nine points, four rebounds, a block and an assist.
Wednesday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Los Angeles Lakers 129-99
Indiana Pacers – Chicago Bulls 113-110
Boston Celtics – Atlanta Falcons 106-117
Toronto Raptors -New York Knicks 92-119
Miami Heat – Magic of Orlando 124-133
Memphis Grizzlies – Charlotte Frelons 97-112
Dallas Mavericks – Minnesota Timberwolves 105-118
Utah Jazz – Warriors of the Golden State 124-140
Houston Rockets – San Antonio Spurs 99-111
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 34-11
2. Boston Celtics 29-18
3. New York Knicks 29-18
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 29-20
5. Toronto Raptors 29-20
6. Philadelphia 76ers 25-21
7. Magic of Orlando 24-22
8. Miami Heat 25-23
9. Atlanta Falcons 24-25
10. Chicago Bulls 23-24
11. Charlotte Hornets 20-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 18-27
13. Brooklyn fillets 12-33
14. Indiana Pacers 12-36
15. Wizards of Washington 11-34
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 38-10
2. San Antonio Spurs 32-15
3. Denver Nuggets 31-16
4. Houston Rockets 28-17
5. Los Angeles Lakers 28-18
6. Minnesota Wolves 29-19
7. Phoenix Suns 28-19
8. Golden State Warriors 27-22
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-25
10. Los Angeles Clippers 22-24
11. Dallas Mavericks 19-28
12. Memphis Grizzlies 18-27
13. Utah Jazz 15-33
14. Kings of Sacramento 12-36
15. New Orleans Pelicans 12-37
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
