NBA News NBA News, Match Reports and Updates
The Orlando Magic secured the seventh position in the final standings of the Eastern Conference after a 96-76 win against the undermanned Boston Celtics at the Kia Center on Wednesday night.
Franz Wagner from Germany led the charge for his team with a personal best of 23 points, going 9-for-17 from the field, while also contributing eight rebounds, two steals, and two assists. Coming off the bench for the squad managed by Jamahl Mosley, Georgian player Goga Bitadze recorded six points, seven rebounds, and two assists, and fellow German Tristan da Silva added five points, three rebounds, and an assist. Moritz Wagner, also from Germany, will miss the rest of the 2024-25 season due to left knee surgery.
On the losing side, Latvian star Kristaps Porzingis was among several absentees for head coach Joe Mazzulla due to illness. Portuguese player Neemias Queta managed to score 11 points while grabbing seven rebounds, providing two assists, and blocking two shots.
Meanwhile, Rayan Rupert of France achieved a new personal record in the NBA with 19 points, along with four rebounds, two steals, and two assists, but the Portland Trail Blazers ultimately fell to the Utah Jazz in overtime, 133-126. Belgian starter Toumani Camara contributed 16 points, six rebounds, two steals, two assists, and one block at the Delta Center. However, Israeli Deni Avdija (right thumb sprain) and French Sidy Cissoko did not participate. For the Jazz, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk added seven points, four rebounds, two assists, and one steal, while Finnish player Lauri Markkanen was out due to left knee injury management.
Returning from a left knee contusion, Serbian Tristan Vukcevic notched a personal best in the NBA with 24 points and six rebounds, but the Washington Wizards lost 122-103 to the Philadelphia 76ers at Capital One Arena. Starting center Alex Sarr from France recorded 12 points, four rebounds, three assists, and a block. Fellow French player Bilal Coulibaly (right hamstring strain) remained on the injured list, along with Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hand fracture) of the Heat. Turkish player Adem Bona led the winning team with 17 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks.
In another interesting matchup, Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic returned from right calf soreness to score 20 points, grab 11 rebounds, dish out eight assists, steal twice, and block once, helping the Chicago Bulls claim a 119-111 victory over the Miami Heat at the United Center. Lithuanian Matas Buzelis added 17 points, four rebounds, and a block. A right ankle sprain from pregame warm-ups sidelined Swedish Pelle Larsson, joining Serbian Nikola Jovic on the Heat’s injury list.
Overcoming the absence of Austrian Jakob Poeltl (right hand MCP joint), Serbian coach Darko Rajakovic led the Toronto Raptors to a dominant 126-96 victory over the Charlotte Hornets at Scotiabank Arena. French player Moussa Diabate sat out due to illness, while Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic tallied a season-high 26 points alongside nine rebounds and four assists. Starting for the Raptors, French Tidjane Salaun contributed nine points and six rebounds.
Limited European presence characterized the Golden State Warriors vs. San Antonio Spurs game, where Dutch Quinten Post (illness) was unavailable and Polish Jeremy Sochan (low back inflammation) joined French Victor Wembanyama (right shoulder deep vein thrombosis) on the Spurs’ injury list. However, Georgian Sandro Mamukelashvili stepped in for the Spurs, contributing 11 points, eight rebounds, one block, and one assist in a 114-111 victory.
**Game Scores:**
– Orlando Magic 96 – 76 Boston Celtics
– Washington Wizards 103 – 122 Philadelphia 76ers
– Toronto Raptors 126 – 96 Charlotte Hornets
– Dallas Mavericks 97 – 112 Los Angeles Lakers
– Chicago Bulls 119 – 111 Miami Heat
– Utah Jazz 133 – 126 Portland Trail Blazers (OT)
– Golden State Warriors 111 – 114 San Antonio Spurs
– Phoenix Suns 112 – 125 Oklahoma City Thunder
– Sacramento Kings 116 – 124 Denver Nuggets
– Los Angeles Clippers 134 – 117 Houston Rockets
**Eastern Conference Standings:**
1. Cleveland Cavaliers – 63-16
2. Boston Celtics – 59-21
3. New York Knicks – 50-29
4. Indiana Pacers – 48-31
5. Milwaukee Bucks – 45-34
6. Detroit Pistons – 43-36
7. Orlando Magic – 40-40
8. Atlanta Hawks – 37-42
9. Chicago Bulls – 37-43
10. Miami Heat – 36-44
11. Toronto Raptors – 30-50
12. Brooklyn Nets – 26-53
13. Philadelphia 76ers – 24-56
14. Charlotte Hornets – 19-61
15. Washington Wizards – 17-63
**Western Conference Standings:**
1. Oklahoma City Thunder – 66-14
2. Houston Rockets – 52-28
3. Los Angeles Lakers – 49-31
4. Denver Nuggets – 48-32
5. Los Angeles Clippers – 48-32
6. Memphis Grizzlies – 47-33
7. Golden State Warriors – 47-33
8. Minnesota Timberwolves – 46-34
9. Sacramento Kings – 39-41
10. Dallas Mavericks – 38-42
11. Phoenix Suns – 35-45
12. Portland Trail Blazers – 35-45
13. San Antonio Spurs – 33-47
14. New Orleans Pelicans – 21-58
15. Utah Jazz – 17-63
**Note:** The top six teams from each conference secure automatic playoff spots, while those ranked seventh through tenth advance to the Play-In Tournament.
