By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
End eight-game streak San Antonio Spurs during the 2025-26 NBA regular season and overcoming an explosive return of Victor Wembanyama to Mitch Johnson’s starting lineup, the Utah Jazz held on for a 127-114 victory at Frost Bank Center on Saturday. Finland’s Lauri Markkanen scored a team-high 29 points on 11/16 baskets, including five triples, along with five rebounds, three steals, a block and an assist in 34:18. Starting companions for head coach Will RobustBosnian Jusuf Nurkic and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk went from 16 points, seven rebounds and six assists in 26:13 to three points, one assist and one rebound in 14:04. On the losing side, the French superstar clocked 27:42, finishing with 32 points, seven rebounds, five blocks and three assists, with Polish reserve Jeremy Sochan limited to one assist in 5:41.
British OG Anunoby made key plays, from two free throws to a subsequent steal, en route to a total of 15 points, ten rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block for the New York Knicks in a victory, 128-125, against the Atlanta Falcons at State Farm Arena. His fellow starter, Frenchman Mohamed Diawara, scored five points, five rebounds, two blocks and two assists, but Frenchmen Pacome Dadiet and Guerschon Yabusele did not play, as did German Ariel Hukporti, with Britain’s Tosan Evbuomwan absent from the lineup. On the downside, Czech reserve Vit Krejci recorded nine points and French starter Zaccharie Risacher combined for four points with four rebounds, but Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) and Spaniard Eli Ndiaye (left shoulder surgery) remained out, with Serbian Nikola Djurisic remaining on assignment with the G League’s College Park Skyhawks.
Returning from a left hamstring strain, Cam Thomas scored 30 points, lifting the Brooklyn fillets on the Minnesota Timberwolves123-107, in Target Center. Israeli Danny Wolf scored 11 points, three rebounds and an assist off the bench for the team coached by Spaniard Jordi Fernandez, with Russian starter Egor Demin with seven points, three assists, two rebounds and a steal, and French reserve Nolan Traore with four points, four assists, a steal and a rebound. Israeli Ben Saraf was with the Long Island Nets. Leaving for the WolvesItalian Donte DiVincenzo had 11 points, six assists, five rebounds and two steals, and Frenchman Rudy Gobert had six points, eight rebounds, two steals and one block, but Frenchman Joan Beringer was limited to two unsuccessful minutes.
In their second positive performance since returning from injury, Serbian reserve Nikola Jovic had 19 points, seven assists, seven rebounds and two steals, and Swedish starter Pelle Larsson added 16 points, seven assists, four rebounds and a block for the Miami Heat in a victory, 142-116, against the Indiana Pacers at the Kaseya Center. Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis had four points, three steals, three rebounds and two assists. Italian Simone Fontecchio, another European reserve, collected two points, two rebounds and an assist. Russian Vladislav Goldin was assigned to the Sioux Falls Skyforce.
French starter Maxime Raynaud had 19 points, six rebounds, two blocks, two assists and a steal, and German Dennis Schroder had ten points, five assists, three steals and two rebounds coming off the bench. Kings of Sacramento beat the Dallas Mavericks113-107, at the Golden Center 1. On the other hand, the Croatian Dario Saric did not play and the Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (partial tear of the meniscus of the left knee) remained on the sidelines.
Without Turkey’s Alperen Sengun (left calf tightness), Kevin Durant scored 30 points, leading the standings. Houston Rockets to a 117-100 victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Toyota Center. Switzerland’s Clint Capela lasted 18:03, totaling four points, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.
Saturday results
Kings of Sacramento – Dallas Mavericks 113-107
Magic of Orlando – Denver Nuggets 127-126
New Orleans Pelicans – Phoenix Suns 114-123
Atlanta Falcons – New York Knicks 125-128
Miami Heat – Indiana Pacers 142-116
Chicago Bulls – Milwaukee Bucks 103-112
Houston Rockets – Cleveland Cavaliers 117-100
Minnesota Timberwolves – Brooklyn Nets 107-123
San Antonio Spurs – Utah Jazz 114-127
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 24/7
2. New York Knicks 22-9
3. Boston Celtics 19-11
4. Magic of Orlando 18-14
5. Toronto Raptors 18-14
6. Philadelphia 76ers 16-13
7. Miami Heat 17-15
8. Cleveland Cavaliers 17-16
9. Chicago Bulls 15-16
10. Atlanta Falcons 15-18
11. Milwaukee Bucks 13-19
12. Charlotte Frelons 11-20
13. Brooklyn Tenderloins 10-19
14. Wizards of Washington 6-23
15. Indiana Pacers 6-26
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 26-5
2. San Antonio Spurs 23-8
3. Denver Nuggets 22-9
4. Houston Rockets 19-10
5. Los Angeles Lakers 19-10
6. Minnesota Wolves 20-12
7. Phoenix Suns 18-13
8. Warriors of the Golden State 16-15
9. Memphis Grizzlies 15-16
10. Portland Trail Blazers 12-19
11. Utah Jazz 12-19
12. Dallas Mavericks 12-21
13. Los Angeles Clippers 9-21
14. Sacramento Kings 8-23
15. New Orleans Pelicans 8-25
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
