NBA results and standings: Rudy Gobert spoils Stephen Curry’s return
· EurohoopsWithout Anthony Edwards and Stephen Curry back for the Golden State Warriors, the Minnesota Timberwolves secure a win in Chase Center
By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After 27 lead changes and mishandling a late 12-point peak, and despite missing injured Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves got the job done with a 127-120 victory versus the Golden State Warriors in Chase Center. Making 11/13 two-pointers, French Rudy Gobert stood out with a 24-point, 14-rebound double-double. Fellow starter, Italian Donte DiVincenzo, threw in 21 more points, including a clutch three-pointer with 28 seconds on the clock. In contrast, French Joan Beringer was reduced to the G League action with the Iowa Wolves. Returning from injury, Stephen Curry logged a game-high 39 points for the Warriors, with Dutch starter Quinten Post at 16 points and recent Dutch signing Malevy Leons inactive.
The Chicago Bulls rallied from a 13-point deficit to beat the Charlotte Hornets, 129-126, and snap a seven-game losing streak. Montenegrin Nikola Vucevic and Lithuanian Matas Buzelis both started but were benched down the stretch after tallying 13 and ten points, respectively. French teammate Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery) has been sidelined for the remainder of the 2025-26 NBA Regular Season. Back from right knee soreness, French Moussa Diabate had two points, with fellow French import Tidjane Salaun reaching five points.
After ruling out Latvian Kristaps Porzingis (illness) for Friday’s game, the Atlanta Hawks fell in Little Caesars Arena to the Detroit Pistons, 142-115. French Zaccharie Risacher and Czech Vit Krejci registered ten and eight points, with Serbian Nikola Djurisic and Spanish Eli Ndiaye with the affiliate College Park Skyhawks. The Pistons assigned Swedish Bobi Klintman to the Motor City Cruise.
Finnish Lauri Markkanen went for 26 points, helping the Utah Jazz prevail, 130-126, over the Memphis Grizzlies in FedExForum. More European starters in Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic posting a 13-point, 17-rebound double-double plus seven assists, and Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at six points. Starting for the team coached by Finnish Tuomas Iisalo, Spanish Santi Aldama recorded a team-high 22 points.
Israeli Danny Wolf ended up with 17 points for the Brooklyn Nets in a loss, 119-111, to the Dallas Mavericks in American Airlines Center. Russian starter Egor Demin got three points, but French Nolan Traore did not score for the team coached by Spanish Jordi Fernandez. Israeli Ben Saraf was on assignment with the Long Island Nets.
In Capital One Arena, Donovan Mitchell tallied 24 of this 48 points in the fourth quarter, pushing the Cleveland Cavaliers to a comeback win, 130-126, over the Washington Wizards. Without French teammates, Bilal Coulibaly (right oblique strain) and Alex Sarr (right adductor strain), Serbian Tristan Vukcevic produced 14 points for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Turkish Adem Bona did not play as the Philadelphia 76ers topped the Indiana Pacers, 115-105, in Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Friday results
Charlotte Hornets – Chicago Bulls 126-129
Detroit Pistons – Atlanta Hawks 142-115
Philadelphia 76ers – Indiana Pacers 115-105
Washington Wizards – Cleveland Cavaliers 126-130
Memphis Grizzlies – Utah Jazz 126-130
Dallas Mavericks – Brooklyn Nets 119-111
Golden State Warriors – Minnesota Timberwolves 120-127
Standings
Eastern Conference
1. Detroit Pistons 20-5
2. New York Knicks 17-7
3. Boston Celtics 15-10
4. Orlando Magic 15-10
5. Philadelphia 76ers 14-10
6. Cleveland Cavaliers 15-11
7. Toronto Raptors 15-11
8. Miami Heat 14-11
9. Atlanta Hawks 14-12
10. Milwaukee Bucks 11-15
11. Chicago Bulls 10-14
12. Charlotte Hornets 7-18
13. Brooklyn Nets 6-18
14. Indiana Pacers 6-19
15. Washington Wizards 3-20
Western Conference
1. Oklahoma City Thunder 24-1
2. Denver Nuggets 18-6
3. Houston Rockets 16-6
4. San Antonio Spurs 17-7
5. Los Angeles Lakers 17-7
6. Minnesota Timberwolves 16-9
7. Phoenix Suns 14-11
8. Golden State Warriors 13-13
9. Memphis Grizzlies 11-14
10. Dallas Mavericks 10-16
11. Utah Jazz 9-15
12. Portland Trail Blazers 9-16
13. Los Angeles Clippers 6-19
14. Sacramento Kings 6-19
15. New Orleans Pelicans 4-22
-Top 6 teams from each conference advance directly to the Playoffs
-Teams seventh through tenth from each conference advance to the Play-Ins