Phoenix, Miami and Memphis win

GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS-PHOENIX SUNS 103-107
Phoenix also wins at Golden State and forces the Warriors to give up second place and suffer third place in Dallas. In the 107-103 of the vice-champions in charge of Kerr’s formation, the 38 points of a super Jordan Poole stand out: however, compared to the 22 points scored by Paul and Bridges, with Ayton at 16 both for points and for rebounds and Chris Paul who puts on the scoresheet 15 with 6/9 from the field. Fourth consecutive knockout for the Warriors, ninth consecutive success for the Suns.

BOSTON CELTICS-MIAMI HEAT 98-106
The big match in the East is won by Miami: 106-98 at home in Boston in a match decided in the last 12 minutes, seen 27-15 in favor of the Heat in the fourth period. The Celtics try to cling as always to the pair made up of Brown (28 points with 10 rebounds) to Tatum (23), who together make more than half of the team points. Miami, on the other hand, smiles thanks to Jimmy Butler’s 25 points and Kyle Lowry’s 23, as well as Adebayo’s doubles (17 with 12 rebounds) and Herro (12 with 10 rebounds). Miami is confirmed first in the East but potentially accessible from Milwaukee, Boston slips to fourth place with 47-30.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS-MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES 111-112
The victory of Memphis in San Antonio for 112-111, together with the defeat of Golden State against Phoenix, is officially worth the second place in the West for the Grizzlies, who prevail at the Spurs thanks to a first half of 65-52 on the formation by Popovich, who tries to get back into the match pushed by 33 points with 13 rebounds by Dejounte Murray, who shoots 12/20 from the field and 6/9 from the arc. Memphis, however, can count on five players in double figures: the best is Jones with 25 points, followed by Dillon Brooks at 21 with Bane and Melton at 16 and Clarke at 10. The defeat to Memphis currently excludes San Antonio from the play- in the West in favor of the Lakers.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS-DALLAS MAVERICKS 112-120
Important victory for Dallas: the 120-112 over Cleveland is worth the engagement in third place in the West, with the same record (48-29) of Golden State. An evening in which Luka Doncic still shines, who scores 35 points with 13 assists and goes to a rebound from the double figures, with 14/26 from the field. Numbers that help the Mavs to establish themselves in Ohio in a match in which the +17 (39-22) of the third quarter acts as a watershed. Cavs knocked out despite LeVert’s 32 points: the playoffs are now two games away, with Toronto and Chicago at 44-32 against Cleveland’s 42-34.

INDIANA PACERS-DENVER NUGGETS 118-125
Like Doncic, Jokic also touches the triple double and scores 37 points with 13 rebounds and 9 assists, never shooting from the bow and still finding a sensational 15/19 shooting in Denver’s 125-118 at the Pacers’ home. The Nuggets start strong and after the first quarter they are already on +28 (43-15), putting the race downhill. Hyland (20) contributes to his success with 20 points, the same as Hield who, however, fails to keep his Pacers attached to the match, always third-last after the fifth consecutive defeat.

TORONTO RAPTORS-MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES 125-102
Toronto dominates at home against Minnesota and extends further on Cleveland, strengthening the position in the playoff perspective. The 125-102 trimmed to the Timberwolves matures mainly between the second (42-30) and the third quarter (35-22): a gap of 25 points which almost completely coincides with the final +23. The Raptors can count on 29 points from Trent and 22 from Anunoby, while the best in the ranks of Minnesota is Edwards, but his 24 points are not enough; Minnesota loses again and moves away from the playoffs.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER-ATLANTA HAWKS 118-136
Even without Danilo Gallinari, Atlanta beats Oklahoma and hits the third success in a row, getting closer and closer to the play-in: the advantage over the Knicks is four and a half games when there are five. The 136-118 matures thanks to a super Trae Young, who scores 41 points with 13/24 from the field and 11/12 to the free: numbers that allow the Hawks to mortgage the match already in the middle of the race given the sensational first half from 85 points for the guests, while Okc clings needlessly to Waters’ 25 points. The Thunder remain penultimate with 22-54 records.

PORTLAND TRAIL BLAZERS-NEW ORLEANS PELICANS 107-117
Away victory for the Pelicans, who impose themselves 117-107 in Portland and are confirmed in the play-in area, extending over San Antonio. Match that is decided in the second half after the +3 (54-51) in favor of the Blazers at the long interval. 66-53 the result of the second half for New Orleans, pushed by McCollum’s 25 points and 19 by an imprecise Ingram shooting (4/12), but incisive from the line (11/13). Useless, however, the 21 of Eubanks for Portland, the ninth knockout in the last ten games and now virtually out of the race for the play-in.

HOUSTON ROCKETS-SACRAMENTO KINGS 118-121
Sacramento wins the direct match in the queue to the West and beats Houston 121-118, taking twelfth place against Portland and remaining, at least mathematically, in the running for the play-in. The Kings impose themselves thanks to three players at 24 points: Jones, Lyles and Davion Mitchell. Green’s 32 points and Porter’s triple double of 30 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists, on the other hand, did not save Houston, always last with 20-57 records. Sacramento, on the other hand, hopes in the missteps of Spurs and Lakers to still cling to the challenge of finishing in tenth place.

NEW YORK KNICKS-CHARLOTTE HORNETS 114-125
Charlotte imposes itself 125-114 at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks and formalizes her participation in the play-in: six games ahead of New York with five remaining time. The hosts, on the other hand, are virtually out: the official would come to Atlanta’s first success in the next six games. The Hornets are smiling thanks to Bridges’ 31 points, while Fournier’s 30 and Barrett’s 25 are not enough in New York, which returns to lose after four consecutive victories and is one step away from seasonal failure.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS-ORLANDO MAGIC 127-110
Washington imposes 127-110 on Orlando, but it is a victory that certainly does not bring the Wizards close to the play-in, now unattainable. The success matures in the second half given the +2 of the hosts (58-56) at the long interval. A recovery from 69-54 with 35 points overall by Porzingis and 25 by Caldwell-Pope: useless 28 by Wagner, perfect from the arc and to the free throws (3/3) with 11/20 from the field. Washington is 33-43 on a record, while Orlando is last at 20-57.