Portuguese forward Neemias Queta delivered a standout performance for the Boston Celtics, scoring a career-high 27 points and grabbing 17 rebounds in a dominant 114-98 home win against the Philadelphia 76ers. Alongside his scoring and rebounding, Queta added three blocks and two assists, showcasing his all-around game on Sunday. This impressive display was fueled by growing familiarity with his teammates and a clearer understanding of the game’s flow, as he explained after the match.
“Just the amount of repetitions I’ve been having with these guys every day, kind of understanding what they like, what they don’t like, the game is slowing down for me too,”
said Queta in a postgame interview.
Supporting Boston’s victory off the bench was Montenegro‘s Nikola Vucevic, who contributed an 11-point, 12-rebound double-double, and Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez, who added two points. However, Britain’s Amari Williams, Bosnia’s Luka Garza, and Ukraine’s Max Shulga did not play. On the opposing side, Turkiye’s Adem Bona scored five points for the 76ers.
Other Noteworthy Player Performances Across the League
Lithuanian Matas Buzelis helped the Chicago Bulls end an 11-game losing streak with a 120-97 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks, scoring 20 points. French player Guerschon Yabusele also supported the Bulls with 12 points. The Bucks faced challenges with the absence of Greek star Giannis Antetokounmpo due to a calf strain, and his brother Thanasis sidelined with illness. Meanwhile, France’s Ousmane Dieng contributed seven points during the game.
Germany’s Dennis Schroder played a key role off the bench for the Cleveland Cavaliers, adding 12 points in a close 106-102 win against the Brooklyn Nets. French player Nolan Traore scored 17 points for the Cavaliers, coached by Spaniard Jordi Fernandez. Israeli reserves Danny Wolf and Ben Saraf scored 23 and 4 points respectively, while Russia’s Egor Demin was sidelined with a plantar fascia injury. Dutch player Tristan Enaruna did not appear in the game.
Despite 19 points from Germany’s Tristan da Silva and nine from compatriot Moritz Wagner, the Orlando Magic lost 106-92 to the Detroit Pistons. The Magic were without key German star Franz Wagner due to a high ankle sprain and did not play France’s Noah Penda or Georgia’s Goga Bitadze. Swedish player Bobi Klintman remained with Detroit’s G League affiliate.
Isaiah Hartenstein of Germany added seven points as the Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Dallas Mavericks 100-87. The Thunder moved Serbian player Nikola Topic to the Oklahoma City Blue and sidelined Belgium’s Ajay Mitchell due to an abdominal strain and ankle sprain. The Mavericks’ recent Greek addition John Poulakidas was also assigned to the G League.
The Atlanta Hawks dominated the Portland Trail Blazers with a 135-101 win, supported by France’s Zaccharie Risacher, who scored five points. The Trail Blazers, missing Israel’s Deni Avdija, benefited from 14 points by Czech Vit Krejci and nine by Belgian starter Toumani Camara. France’s Sidy Cissoko played through illness to add six points.
For the Memphis Grizzlies, French player Rayan Rupert scored 16 points in a 125-106 victory over the Indiana Pacers. Both teams faced absences, including Spain’s Santi Aldama for Memphis and Croatian center Ivica Zubac for the Pacers.
The Los Angeles Clippers beat the New Orleans Pelicans 137-111, with nine points coming from France’s Nicolas Batum and seven from Swiss player Yanic Konan Niederhauser. Serbia’s Bogdan Bogdanovic remained on the bench, while Croatia’s Karlo Matkovic added five points for the Pelicans.
Summary of Sunday’s NBA Matchups
Sunday’s games produced several decisive outcomes: the New York Knicks outlasted the San Antonio Spurs 114-89, and the Cleveland Cavaliers edged the Brooklyn Nets 106-102. The Chicago Bulls ended their losing streak against the Milwaukee Bucks 120-97, while the Minnesota Timberwolves narrowly defeated the Denver Nuggets 117-108. The Atlanta Hawks dominated the Portland Trail Blazers 135-101, and the Boston Celtics secured their notable victory over the Philadelphia 76ers 114-98. Elsewhere, the Detroit Pistons overcame the Orlando Magic 106-92, the Oklahoma City Thunder took down the Dallas Mavericks 100-87, the Los Angeles Clippers defeated the New Orleans Pelicans 137-117, and the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings 128-104.
Current NBA Standings and Playoff Implications
In the Eastern Conference, the Detroit Pistons lead with a 45-14 record, followed by the Boston Celtics at 40-20 and the New York Knicks at 39-22. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors round out the top five, while the Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, and Orlando Magic fill key playoff contention spots. Teams ranked seventh through tenth, including the Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets, face the Play-In tournament as they vie for postseason spots.
The Western Conference is led by the Oklahoma City Thunder (47-15) and the San Antonio Spurs (43-17). The Houston Rockets, Minnesota Timberwolves, Denver Nuggets, and Los Angeles Lakers occupy the top six positions, earning direct playoff berths. Following them, the Phoenix Suns, Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, and Portland Trail Blazers are positioned for the Play-Ins. Lower-ranked teams such as the Memphis Grizzlies, Dallas Mavericks, and New Orleans Pelicans continue their playoff pushes amid a tight race.
The NBA’s playoff structure advances the top six teams from each conference directly, while those from seventh to tenth enter the Play-In tournament, creating a tense and uncertain postseason race across the league.
