By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Tucking in 22 three-pointers and pulling away in the second half, the Denver Nuggets beat the Phoenix Suns, 130-112, in Mortgage Matchup Center to record a seventh straight road win in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season.
Serbian Nikola Jokic was initially listed as questionable to play on Saturday due to a left wrist sprain, but lasted 31:24 and fell one rebound short of his 11th season triple-double. Without missing a shot from the field, behind 7/7 two-pointers and 2/2 three-pointers, he recorded a 26-point, 10-assist double-double. Coming off the bench for David Adelman’s side, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas chipped in nine points, three assists, three rebounds, and one block over 15:14.
Italian Donte DiVincenzo tallied 15 points and French Rudy Gobert added 12 points for the Minnesota Timberwolves in a 119-115 win over the Boston Celtics at Target Center, but French Joan Beringer stayed on the bench. Returning from a left ankle sprain, Portuguese Neemias Queta posted a 19-point, 18-rebound double-double for the C’s. Also, Bosnian Luka Garza was held to three points in five minutes, Spanish Hugo Gonzalez and British Amari Williams did not play, and Ukrainian Max Shulga was with the G League affiliate, Maine Celtics.
A nine-game winning streak for Serbian head coach Darko Rajakovic ended in an overtime loss, 118-111, for the Toronto Raptors against the Charlotte Hornets in Spectrum Center. With Tidjane Salaun remaining on assignment at the Greensboro Swarm, fellow French import Moussa Diabate put in seven points for the hosts. For the visitors, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili ended up with 13 points, and Austrian Jakob Poeltl got eight points, 11 rebounds, and nine assists.
In Kaseya Center, the Detroit Pistons held on for a 138-135 victory versus the Miami Heat. Off the bench for Erik Spoelstra’s side, Swedish Pelle Larsson and Serbian Nikola Jovic reached seven and two points, respectively, but Italian Simone Fontecchio did not get on the court, while Russian Vladislav Goldin and Lithuanian Kasparas Jakucionis featured with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. Swedish Bobi Klintman (left ankle sprain) remained sidelined for the Pistons.
After bouncing back from right patellofemoral syndrome at the top of a back-to-back, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic tallied 16 points, but the Chicago Bulls lost, 103-101, to the Indiana Pacers with Pascal Siakam beating the buzzer in Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Fellow Bulls starter, Lithuanian Matas Buzelis, paired eight points with 11 rebounds. French Noa Essengue (left shoulder contusion) was sidelined due to an injury in G League action.
Croatian Ivica Zubac registered a 19-point, 11-rebound double-double for the Los Angeles Clippers in a loss, 114-110, to the Dallas Mavericks in Intuit Dome. French Nicolas Batum did not score across 28 minutes, with Swiss Yanic Konan Niederhauser staying on the bench and Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic (left hip contusion) on the injury list.
Without injured Stephen Curry, the Golden State Warriors took down the New Orleans Pelicans, 104-96, in Chase Center, with Dutch starter Quinten Post at eight points. Croatian Karlo Matkovic (right calf strain) remained on the Pelicans’ injury list.
Saturday results
Minnesota Timberwolves – Boston Celtics 119-115
Charlotte Hornets – Toronto Raptors 118-111 OT (104-104)
Indiana Pacers – Chicago Bulls 103-101
Miami Heat – Detroit Pistons 135-138
Milwaukee Bucks – Brooklyn Nets 116-99
Golden State Warriors – New Orleans Pelicans 104-96
Phoenix Suns – Denver Nuggets 112-130
Los Angeles Clippers – Dallas Mavericks 110-114
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 16-4
2. Toronto Raptors 14-6
3. New York Knicks 12-6
4. Miami Heat 13-7
5. Orlando Magic 12-8
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 12-8
7. Atlanta Hawks 12-8
8. Philadelphia 76ers 10-8
9. Boston Celtics 10-9
10. Chicago Bulls 9-10
11. Milwaukee Bucks 9-12
12. Charlotte Hornets 6-14
13. Indiana Pacers 4-16
14. Brooklyn Nets 3-16
15. Washington Wizards 2-16
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 19-1
2. Los Angeles Lakers 14-4
3. Houston Rockets 12-4
4. Denver Nuggets 14-5
5. San Antonio Spurs 13-5
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 11-8
7. Phoenix Suns 12-9
8. Golden State Warriors 11-10
9. Portland Trail Blazers 8-11
10. Memphis Grizzlies 8-12
11. Utah Jazz 6-12
12. Dallas Mavericks 6-15
13. Los Angeles Clippers 5-15
14. Sacramento Kings 5-15
15. New Orleans Pelicans 3-17
-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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