By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Alperen Sengun scored 12 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter as the Houston Rockets recovered and pulled away for a 108-99 victory against the Memphis Grizzlies in Toyota Center. Over 33:42, the 23-year-old Turkish center made 15/17 from the field, besides registering nine rebounds, six assists, and one steal. Swiss backup, Clint Capela logged 6:37 and pulled down three rebounds. Returning as a starter for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama (right knee injury management) tallied 17 points, seven rebounds, and two assists in 27:25.
After a loss to the Golden State Warriors in Target Center on Sunday, the Minnesota Timberwolves bounced back with a win, 108-83, on Monday. French Rudy Gobert produced a 15-point, 17-rebound double-double to go with two blocks, two assists, and one steal. Fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, tallied 15 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three blocks, and one steal, and French reserve Joan Beringer added six points and four rebounds. Starting for Steve Kerr’s side, Dutch Quinten Post reached 13 points, and Dutch reserve Malevy Leons ended up with six points.
Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics defeated the Portland Trail Blazers, 102-94, in TD Garden. Playing through an illness for a second straight game, Portuguese starter Neemias Queta contributed four points, six assists, four rebounds, and one block over 22:07. Lasting nearly 26 minutes, British Amari Williams reached nine points, seven rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal, and Spanish Hugo Gonzalez added two points plus two assists. In contrast, Bosnian Luka Garza (illness) sat out, alongside Ukrainian Max Shulga.
At the top of a back-to-back for the Blazers, Israeli Deni Avdija (lower back strain) missed a second straight team outing in the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season, but he is expected to play against his former team, the Washington Wizards, in Capital One Arena on Tuesday. Starting for the team coached by Tiago Splitter in Boston, Belgian Toumani Camara netted 18 points and French Sidy Cissoko got four points, with French reserve Rayan Rupert at four points as well.
With Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (left Achilles tendinitis) sidelined for at least one more week, and French Zaccharie Risacher (left knee bone contusion) now considered day-to-day, the Atlanta Hawks beat the Indiana Pacers, 132-116, in State Farm Arena. Czech Vit Krejci did not score in a six-minute showing, and Serbian Nikola Djurisic remained on his G League assignment with the College Park Skyhawks.
Donovan Mitchell recorded 45 points, pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 114-98 victory versus the Orlando Magic in Rocket Arena. The visitors were missing German Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain injury management), but fellow German options, Moritz Wagner and Tristan da Silva, scored five points each, French Noah Penda settled with two points, and Georgian Goga Bitadze stayed on the bench.
Making 6/7 from the field, French starter Moussa Diabate put in 12 points for the Charlotte Hornets in a blowout win, 130-93, over the Philadelphia 76ers in Spectrum Center. French teammate Tidjane Salaun threw in seven more points. For the Sixers, Turkish Adem Bona got two points.
Monday results
Atlanta Hawks – Indiana Pacers 132-116
Charlotte Hornets – Philadelphia 76ers 130-93
Cleveland Cavaliers – Orlando Magic 114-98
Boston Celtics – Portland Trail Blazers 102-94
Chicago Bulls – Los Angeles Lakers 118-129
Houston Rockets – Memphis Grizzlies 108-99
Minnesota Timberwolves – Golden State Warriors 108-83
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 33-11
2. Boston Cetlics 29-17
3. Toronto Raptors 29-19
4. New York Knicks 27-18
5. Cleveland Cavaliers 28-20
6. Philadelphia 76ers 24-21
7. Miami Heat 25-22
8. Orlando Magic 23-22
9. Chicago Bulls 23-23
10. Atlanta Hawks 23-25
11. Milwaukee Bucks 18-26
12. Charlotte Hornets 19-28
13. Brooklyn Nets 12-32
14. Indiana Pacers 11-36
15. Washington Wizards 10-34
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 37-10
2. San Antonio Spurs 31-15
3. Denver Nuggets 31-15
4. Houston Rockets 28-16
5. Los Angeles Lakers 28-17
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 28-19
7. Phoenix Suns 27-19
8. Golden State Warriors 26-22
9. Portland Trail Blazers 23-24
10. Los Angeles Clippers 21-24
11. Dallas Mavericks 19-27
12. Memphis Grizzlies 18-26
13. Utah Jazz 15-31
14. Sacramento Kings 12-35
15. New Orleans Pelicans 12-36
-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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