By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Leading from start to finish at the Frost Bank Center, the San Antonio Spurs mastered the Oklahoma City Thunder116-106. Recording 28:21 on Wednesday, Frenchman Victor Wembanyama had a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds to go with two blocks and two assists, but Polish teammate Jeremy Sochan (left quad strain) missed a fourth straight game of the 2025-26 NBA regular season. With Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) ruled out at the upcoming All-Star break and expected to miss the annual All-Star Game, the Thunder Also missing were Germany’s Isaiah Hartenstein (corneal abrasion in right eye), Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell (abdominal strain) and Serbia’s Nikola Topic (surgical testicle recovery) in San Antonio. Despite a 40-12 defeat, the reigning champions still lead the race for home field advantage throughout the 2026 Playoffs, with six matches remaining. Spurssecond in the Western Conference, and 1.5 games in the Detroit Pistonsleaders of the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Mitch Johnson-coached team created a two-game split with the third seed. Denver Nuggets in the West table.
While Turkey’s Alperen Sengun suffered two technical fouls following strong complaints to the referees in the fourth quarter, following a similar expulsion from head coach Ime Udoka in the third quarter, the Boston Celtics withdrew to defeat the Houston Rockets114-93, at the Toyota Center. Bosnian starter Luka Garza had 19 points, six rebounds, two steals and two assists in 33:47, and Portuguese starter Neemias Queta added a double-double of ten points and 19 rebounds to go with five blocks, two assists and two steals in 38:55. Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez had two points and three rebounds in 15:19, while Ukrainian Max Shulga scored 1:41 without getting on the board, but Britain’s Amari Williams was assigned to Maine of the G League. CelticsAnd Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic has not yet officially finalized his transfer to the C’s. On the bad side, Sengun, 23, finished with 13 points, nine rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 31:02, and Swiss backup Clint Capela had four points, five rebounds and a block in 14:53.
When digging out of an 18-point hole, the Minnesota Timberwolves anticipated the Toronto Raptors128-126, at the Scotiabank Arena. With Anthony Edwards at 30 points, fellow Italian Donte DiVincenzo had 15 points, six rebounds and five assists in 31:00, and Frenchman Rudy Gobert had a double-double of 10 points and 12 rebounds plus two assists, a block and a steal in 32:54. On the other hand, the French Joan Beringer did not play. For the team coached by Serbian Darko Rajakovic, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili produced 14 points, four rebounds, two assists and a block in 31’34”, but Austrian Jakob Poeltl (lower back sprain) remained on the sidelines.
In Intuit Dome, the Cleveland Cavaliers shook the Los Angeles Clippers124-91. In his debut, Germany’s Dennis Schroder contributed 11 points, six assists, three steals and two rebounds in 19:13, and Dutchman Tristan Enaruna had two points, three rebounds and an assist in 6:58. For the hosts, Switzerland’s Yanic Konan Niederhauser reached ten points, eight rebounds and two blocks in 24:55, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic had two points, an assist and a rebound in 11:56, but Frenchman Nicolas Batum was silent for 5:48 and Croatian Ivica Zubac (personal reasons) remained inactive.
Returning from dealing with a right knee injury and straight into Finnish head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s starting lineup, Spaniard Santi Aldama had 12 points, six rebounds, two blocks and a steal in 24:08, with the Memphis Grizzlies predominant, 129-125, on the Kings of Sacramento at the Golden Center 1. Returning from lower back soreness, Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis combined to start with a double-double of 24 points and 15 rebounds plus three assists and a steal in 24:04 for the visitors, with French substitute Maxime Raynaud playing 20:47 for six points and five rebounds.
Overcoming a 44-point effort from Trey Murphy III at Fiserv Forum and the latest absence of Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain), the Milwaukee Bucks survived the New Orleans Pelicans141-137, in overtime. The Freak Brothers went from Thanasis remaining on the bench to Alex remaining on assignment with the affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. For the visitors, Croatian Karlo Matkovic scored 15:17 for seven points, three rebounds and an assist.
Wednesday results
New York Knicks – Denver Nuggets 134-127 2OT (119-119, 108-108)
Toronto Raptors – Minnesota Timberwolves 126-128
Houston Rockets – Boston Celtics 93-114
Milwaukee Bucks – New Orleans Pelicans 141-137 overtime (128-128)
San Antonio Spurs – Oklahoma City Thunder 116-106
Kings of Sacramento – Memphis Grizzlies 125-129
Los Angeles Clippers – Cleveland Cavaliers 91-124
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 37-12
2. Boston Celtics 33-18
3. New York Knicks 33-18
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 31-21
5. Philadelphia 76ers 29-21
6. Toronto Raptors 30-22
7. Miami Heat 27-25
8. Magic of Orlando 25-24
9. Atlanta Falcons 25-27
10. Chicago Bulls 24-27
11. Charlotte Frelons 23-28
12. Milwaukee Bucks 20-29
13. Brooklyn fillets 13-36
14. Wizards of Washington 13-36
15. Indiana Pacers 13-38
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 40-12
2. San Antonio Spurs 34-16
3. Denver Nuggets 33-19
4. Houston Rockets 31-18
5. Minnesota Wolves 32-20
6. Los Angeles Lakers 30-19
7. Phoenix Suns 31-20
8. Warriors of the Golden State 27-24
9. Los Angeles Clippers 23-27
10. Portland Trail Blazers 23-28
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-29
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-31
13. Utah Jazz 16-35
14. New Orleans Pelicans 13-40
15. Kings of Sacramento 12-40
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
