By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
Returning to action in the 2025-2026 NBA regular season after the All-Star break, the San Antonio Spurs extended its streak to seven games with a convincing 121-94 victory over the Phoenix Suns at the Moody Center in Austin on Thursday. French superstar Victor Wembanyama finished with 17 points, 11 rebounds, five blocks, four assists and a steal in 25 minutes. On the losing side, with Dillon Brooks serving a one-game suspension for his 16th technical foul, Devin Booker played just nine minutes before being ruled out with right hip soreness.
In his debut with the Golden State WarriorsLatvian Kristaps Porzingis scored 12 points, even though his former team, Boston Celticswon 121-110 at Chase Center, with Stephen Curry remaining on the sidelines. Portuguese starter Neemias Queta scored nine points for the Cs, alongside Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic’s nine points, Spaniard Hugo Gonzalez’s seven points and Bosnian Luka Garza’s three points. Britain’s Amari Williams did not play and Ukraine’s Max Shulga did not suit up, while Dutch teammates Quinten Post and Malevy Leon remained out of Steve Kerr’s rotation.
A 42-point masterpiece from Cade Cunningham raised the Detroit Pistons on the New York Knicks126-111, at Madison Square Garden. British winger OG Anunoby delivered to guests with eight points and four blocks, while Poland’s Jeremy Sochan recorded two points in his debut. Frenchman Mohamed Diawara remained scoreless and German Ariel Hukporti remained on the bench. Meanwhile, Frenchman Pacome Dadiet and Swede Bobi Klintman were on mission with the Westchester Knicks and the Motor City Cruise, respectively.
Despite Franz Wagner absent (management of left high ankle sprains)THE Magic of Orlando deepened the Kings of Sacramento” Woes with a 131-94 victory at Golden 1 Center. German compatriots Tristan da Silva and Moritz Wagner scored 12 and 11 points, respectively, Frenchman Noah Penda without a point and Georgian Goga Bitadze out of the rotation. With Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (left knee meniscus repair) absentthe Frenchman Maxime Raynaud left for the Kingsposting a double-double of 17 points and 14 rebounds.
German Dennis Schroder scored 12 points and Dutchman Tristan Enaruna two points, helping the Cleveland Cavaliers convey the Brooklyn fillets112-84, at Rocket Arena. For Jordi Fernández NetsEgor Demin and Nolan Traore collected ten and eight points respectively as starters for the Spanish boss, while Danny Wolf added 11 off the bench. Fellow Israeli Ben Saraf was on assignment in the G League with the Long Island Nets.
Serbian playmaker Darko Rajakovic guided the match Toronto Raptors to a 110-101 victory over the Chicago Bulls at the United Center. Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili with seven points and Austrian Jakob Poeltl with two points contributed to the victory. For Chicago, Frenchman Guerschon Yabusele had eight points and Lithuanian starter Matas Buzelis four, while Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) remained absent.
Turkish starter Alperen Sengun finished with 13 points and Swiss backup Clint Capela was scoreless. Houston Rockets anticipated the Charlotte Frelons105-101, in Spectrum Center. Among the hosts, Frenchman Tidjane Salaun scored nine points, while Frenchman Moussa Diabaté (suspension from the championship) and Briton Tosan Evbuomwan were inactive.
Serbian Tristan Vukcevic and Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly each produced 12 points as starters, pushing the Wizards of Washington past the Indiana Pacers112-105, at Capital One Arena. However, Frenchman Alex Sarr (right hamstring sprain) remained on the sidelines, similar to Croatian Ivica Zubac for Rick Carlisle’s team.
Finally, French holder Zaccharie Risacher scored ten points in a Atlanta Falcons 117-107 victory against Philadelphia 76ers at the Xfinity Mobile Arena. For the SixersAdem Bona provided a spark off the bench with nine points, seven rebounds and four blocks.
Thursday results
Charlotte Frelons – Houston Rockets 101-105
Cleveland Cavaliers – Brooklyn Nets 112-84
Philadelphia 76ers – Atlanta Falcons 107-117
Wizards of Washington – Indiana Pacers 112-105
New York Knicks – Detroit Pistons 111-126
Chicago Bulls – Toronto Raptors 101-110
San Antonio Spurs – Phoenix Suns 121-94
Warriors of the Golden State – Boston Celtics 110-121
Kings of Sacramento – Magic of Orlando 94-131
Los Angeles Clippers – Denver Nuggets 115-114
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 41-13
2. Boston Celtics 36-19
3. New York Knicks 35-21
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 35-21
5. Toronto Raptors 33-23
6. Philadelphia 76ers 30-25
7. Magic of Orlando 29-25
8. Miami Heat 29-27
9. Atlanta Falcons 27-30
10. Charlotte Hornets 26-30
11. Milwaukee Bucks 23-30
12. Chicago Bulls 24-32
13. Brooklyn Tenderloins 15-39
14. Wizards of Washington 15-39
15. Indiana Pacers 15-41
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 42-14
2. San Antonio Spurs 39-16
3. Houston Rockets 34-20
4. Denver Nuggets 35-21
5. Los Angeles Lakers 33-21
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 34-22
7. Phoenix Suns 32-24
8. Warriors of the Golden State 29-27
9. Los Angeles Clippers 27-28
10. Portland Trail Blazers 27-29
11. Memphis Grizzlies 20-33
12. Dallas Mavericks 19-35
13. Utah Jazz 18-38
14. New Orleans Pelicans 15-41
15. Kings of Sacramento 12-45
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
