Hukporti gala during Knicks bankruptcyDennis Schröder has to pick up the next slap
Things continue to go downhill for Dennis Schröder and the Sacramento Kings, but the other Germans also have little reason to celebrate in the NBA. Ariel Hukporti sets a career high, but loses with the Knicks as did the Orlando Magic. Isaiah Hartenstein remains a spectator.
National basketball team captain Dennis Schröder suffered his fourth defeat in a row with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. At the Phoenix Suns, the world and European champion team lost 102:129, Schröder contributed twelve points, one rebound and two assists from the bench. The Kings remain second to last in the Western Conference with just 8 wins and 27 losses.
Ariel Hukporti set a career high in his New York Knicks’ 99-111 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. As a starter, the German center had 16 rebounds in 28 minutes of playing time; his old best was 7 (July 2025). The 23-year-old contributed four strong blocks, eight points and four assists, including two alley-oop dunks in the first quarter.
Giannis Antetokounmpo was also able to celebrate a record. With his successful dunk 4.7 seconds before the end, the two-time MVP not only sealed the 122:121 victory of his Milwaukee Bucks against the Charlotte Hornets, but also moved past NBA icons Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Oscar Robertson in this statistic with his 158th main round game with at least 30 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. “This is an incredible achievement,” said Antetokounmpo after the wild final phase with five lead changes in the last 45 seconds.
Hartenstein is not used
Without German center Isaiah Hartenstein (calf strain), champions Oklahoma City Thunder swept the Golden State Warriors, who had to do without injured superstar Stephen Curry (ankle), 131:94 in the first game of the new year. The best thrower in the fourth win in a row was MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander with 30 points, OKC comfortably leads the league with 30:5 victories.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic suffered a defeat. At the Chicago Bulls, Orlando lost 114:121 without the brothers Franz and Moritz Wagner, who were still injured, and thus slipped out of the direct playoff places in the East. European champion Tristan da Silva had seven points, three rebounds and one assist.
Würzburg’s Maximilian Kleber was not used in his Los Angeles Lakers’ 128:121 defeat of the Memphis Grizzlies. Likewise the French superstar Victor Wembanyama at the San Antonio Spurs, who was rested with a minor knee injury in the 123:113 defeat at the Indiana Pacers.
