By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
A few weeks after setting his personal best at 51 points, Lauri Markkanen poured in 40 on Thursday, but the Utah Jazz lost, 132-122, to the Atlanta Hawks in Delta Center.
The 28-year-old Finnish forward connected 15/25 from the field, including six triples, and added seven rebounds, two assists, and one steal. More European starters for head coach Will Hardy, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic combined a 10-point, 10-rebound double-double with eight assists, five steals, and one block, but Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk was limited to three assists and one rebound after missing all of his four shots.
On the winning side, Latvian Kristaps Porzingis was rested, but Jalen Johnson took over with 31 points, 18 rebounds, 14 assists, and seven steals. Czech reserve Vit Krejci chipped in 20 points, three steals, three assists, and one rebound, and French starter Zaccharie Risacher added 11 points, three rebounds, and two assists. Serbian Nikola Djurisic (right elbow sprain) remained out, alongside Spanish Eli Ndiaye.
In Rocket Arena, the Toronto Raptors took down the Cleveland Cavaliers, 126-113, and improved to 7-5 in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. Austrian starter Jakob Poeltl carried 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and two steals, and Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili overcame neck stiffness with 13 points, five rebounds, and one assist off the bench for Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic.
“He’s doing so much for us. He’s just like that calming force for us on the offensive end. Once the ball gets to him, it looks like our whole team settles and we know what we need to do and how we need to play,” Rajakovic praised Poeltl in a postgame press conference.
Meanwhile, the Phoenix Suns blew out the Indiana Pacers, 133-98, in Mortgage Matchup Center.
Thursday results
Cleveland Cavaliers – Toronto Raptors 113-126
Phoenix Suns – Indiana Pacers 133-98
Utah Jazz – Atlanta Hawks 122-132
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 10-2
2. New York Knicks 7-4
3. Philadelphia 76ers 7-4
4. Cleveland Cavaliers 8-5
5. Atlanta Hawks 8-5
6. Miami Heat 7-5
7. Toronto Raptors 7-5
8. Milwaukee Bucks 7-5
9. Chicago Bulls 6-5
10. Orlando Magic 6-6
11. Boston Celtics 6-7
12. Charlotte Hornets 4-7
13. Brooklyn Nets 1-10
14. Indiana Pacers 1-11
15. Washington Wizards 1-11
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 12-1
2. Denver Nuggets 9-2
3. San Antonio Spurs 8-3
4. Houston Rockets 7-3
5. Los Angeles Lakers 8-4
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 7-4
7. Phoenix Suns 8-5
8. Portland Trail Blazers 6-5
9. Golden State Warriors 7-6
10. Utah Jazz 4-8
11. Memphis Grizzlies 4-9
12. Los Angeles Clippers 3-8
13. Dallas Mavericks 3-9
14. Sacramento Kings 3-9
15. New Orleans Pelicans 2-9
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins
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