By Johnny Askounis/ [email protected]
At the head of Atlanta Falcons135-126, at Frost Bank Center, earned a third straight victory without Victor Wembanyama (left calf strain) for the San Antonio Spurs THURSDAY.
Despite the absence of the French superstar and other key players, the team coached by Mitch Johnson jumped to 11-4 in the 2025-26 NBA regular season. Polish reserve Jeremy Sochan contributed eight points, five rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal. Returning to the game as starters for the visitors, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis and Frenchman Zaccharie Risacher recorded 16 points and two points respectively. Coming off the bench, Czech Vit Krejci finished with five points. On the other hand, the Serbian Nikola Djurisic and the Spaniard Eli Ndiaye were not in the running.
Equaling his personal best in the championship with 29 points, the Spaniard Santi Aldama distinguished himself with a resounding victory, 137-96, for the Memphis Grizzlies on the Kings of Sacramento in FedExForum. A job holder for Finnish head coach Tuomas Iisalo, the 24-year-old forward/center scored 11/18 field goals. The losing team included Frenchman Maxime Raynaud 12 points behind at 6/8 in the field and Germany’s Dennis Schroder three points behind at 0/8 in the field. Croatian Dario Saric did not play and Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis (partial tear of left knee meniscus) was ruled out.
At the Kia Center, the Magic of Orlando shook the Los Angeles Clippers129-101. German starters Franz Wagner and Tristan da Silva collected 20 and 17 points respectively, while Georgian Goga Bitadze scored ten additional points coming off the bench. On the other hand, Frenchman Noah Penda was inactive, alongside German Moritz Wagner (recovering from a left knee injury). On the bad side, Croatian Ivica Zubac had a double-double of 14 points and 19 rebounds, Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic and Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser scored six points each and Frenchman Nicolas Batum scored three points.
Meanwhile, Tyrese Maxey set his career high at 54 points, pushing the Philadelphia 76ers to an overtime victory, 123-114, against the Milwaukee Bucks in the Fiserv forum. Turkey’s Adem Bona (sprained right ankle) was there Sixers injury list, similar to Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo (left adductor strain) on the opposite side. The Freak Brothers went from Thanasis staying on the bench and Alex staying out of the lineup.
Thursday results
Magic of Orlando – Los Angeles Clippers 129-101
Memphis Grizzlies – Kings of Sacramento 137-96
Milwaukee Bucks – Philadelphia 76ers 114-123 overtime (106-106)
San Antonio Spurs – Atlanta Falcons 135-126
Ranking
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 13-2
2. Toronto Raptors 10-5
3. New York Knicks 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 10-6
5. Miami Heat 9-6
6. Philadelphia 76ers 9-6
7. Chicago Bulls 8-6
8. Magic of Orlando 9-7
9. Atlanta Falcons 9-7
10. Boston Celtics 8-7
11. Milwaukee Bucks 8-8
12. Charlotte Frelons 4-11
13. Brooklyn fillets 2-12
14. Indiana Pacers 2-13
15. Wizards of Washington 1-13
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 15-1
2. Denver Nuggets 11-3
3. Houston Rockets 10-3
4. San Antonio Spurs 11-4
5. Los Angeles Lakers 11-4
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 10-5
7. Phoenix Suns 9-6
8. Warriors of the Golden State 9-8
9. Portland Trail Blazers 6-9
10. Utah Jazz 5-9
11. Memphis Grizzlies 5-11
12. Los Angeles Clippers 4-11
13. Dallas Mavericks 4-12
14. Kings of Sacramento 3-13
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-13
-The top 6 teams in each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth in each conference advance to the Play-Ins
