Thrilling Showdowns: Sarr Shines as Wizards Edge Jazz, While Clippers and Cavaliers Continue Winning Streaks

In a clash featuring the lowest-ranked teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences, the Washington Wizards triumphed over the Utah Jazz with a score of 125-122 at Capital One Arena on Wednesday.

Alex Sarr, showcasing one of his standout performances since being chosen as the second overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, made a significant impact with 21 points on 5-of-10 shooting. The 19-year-old French center also recorded five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals in 29 minutes of play.

French teammate Bilal Coulibaly contributed with 11 points, five rebounds, three blocks, and two steals across 34 minutes. From the bench, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic added eight points, seven rebounds, two blocks, and one steal during his nearly 18 minutes on the court.

On the visitors’ side, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk provided 11 points, six assists, and one rebound, while Finnish player Lauri Markkanen was inactive due to lower back injury management.

In a separate matchup, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the Detroit Pistons, 123-115, at Intuit Dome, led by an impressive 50-point performance from James Harden. Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic supported the effort with 23 points, three rebounds, three assists, one block, and one steal, while Croatian Ivica Zubac contributed a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds in addition to three assists. French player Nicolas Batum added five points, three rebounds, two blocks, and one steal. On the losing side, German Dennis Schroder accounted for 21 points, seven assists, and six rebounds, while Italian Simone Fontecchio had two points, two rebounds, and one assist. Swedish Bobi Klintman did not see action.

At FedExForum, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Oklahoma City Thunder to a 120-103 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, scoring 41 points. German Isaiah Hartenstein, overcoming a nasal fracture, posted a double-double with 10 points and 15 rebounds, plus three steals, two assists, and one block. French winger Ousmane Dieng chipped in five points and one rebound. Injured players included Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery) and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery), along with Spanish Santi Aldama (right calf soreness) from the Grizzlies.

The Minnesota Timberwolves secured a comfortable 125-110 win against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center, with French star Rudy Gobert missing his ninth consecutive game due to lower back injury management, and Dutch Jesse Edwards and Bosnian Luka Garza sidelined as well. For the Hornets, French player Moussa Diabate recorded six points, four rebounds, one block, and one steal; Tidjane Salaun added four points, seven rebounds, and three assists, while Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic scored two points and grabbed five rebounds.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Cavaliers extended their winning streak to 12 consecutive games, becoming the first team to secure a spot in the 2025 NBA Playoffs by defeating the Miami Heat, 112-107, at Rocket Arena. Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hand fracture) was unavailable for the Heat, and Swedish Pelle Larsson contributed three points and one assist in the loss.

Game Results:
– Boston Celtics defeated Portland Trail Blazers 128-118
– Charlotte Hornets lost to Minnesota Timberwolves 110-125
– Cleveland Cavaliers prevailed over Miami Heat 112-107
– Washington Wizards bested Utah Jazz 125-122
– Memphis Grizzlies fell to Oklahoma City Thunder 103-120
– Denver Nuggets triumphed over Sacramento Kings 116-110
– Milwaukee Bucks beat Dallas Mavericks 137-107
– Los Angeles Clippers overcame Detroit Pistons 123-115

Standings:
1. Cleveland Cavaliers 52-10
2. Boston Celtics 44-18
3. New York Knicks 40-21
4. Milwaukee Bucks 36-25
5. Indiana Pacers 35-25
6. Detroit Pistons 35-28
7. Miami Heat 29-32
8. Orlando Magic 29-34
9. Atlanta Hawks 28-34
10. Chicago Bulls 24-38
11. Philadelphia 76ers 21-40
12. Brooklyn Nets 21-40
13. Toronto Raptors 20-42
14. Charlotte Hornets 14-47
15. Washington Wizards 12-49

1. Oklahoma City Thunder 51-11
2. Los Angeles Lakers 39-21
3. Denver Nuggets 40-22
4. Memphis Grizzlies 38-24
5. Houston Rockets 37-25
6. Golden State Warriors 34-28
7. Minnesota Timberwolves 35-29
8. Los Angeles Clippers 33-29
9. Sacramento Kings 32-29
10. Dallas Mavericks 32-31
11. Phoenix Suns 29-33
12. Portland Trail Blazers 28-35
13. San Antonio Spurs 26-34
14. New Orleans Pelicans 17-45
15. Utah Jazz 15-47

Note: The top six teams from each conference secure a playoff spot, while teams ranked seventh to tenth move on to the Play-Ins.