On the last day of the NBA regular season, there were still a few decisions left to be made in the Western Conference. In the end, it was the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Phoenix Suns who were particularly able to celebrate.
Leading the Oklahoma City Thunder into the playoffs for the first time since 2020: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. IMAGO/Xinhua
The young guns of the Oklahoma City Thunder secured first place in the Western Conference with a 135-86 blowout win over the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavs, who were already fifth in the West, gave up the game, rested Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and Maxi Kleber, among others, and sent a B team onto the floor.
The Thunder, on the other hand, were serious from the start and then won the second quarter 43:19 – that was the end of the game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was already the team’s best scorer with 15 points, but was only on the floor for 16 minutes before he was also rested.
Oklahoma City, which, like the Orlando Magic in the East, is in the playoffs for the first time since 2020, will face the 8-seed in the first round, which will only be played in the play-in. There the winner of the duel between ninth and tenth place – Sacramento Kings against Golden State Warriors – meets the loser of the duel between seventh and eighth.
Lakers win – and send New Orleans into the play-in
That’s what the New Orleans Pelicans have to play against the Los Angeles Lakers – a duel that could also be admired on the last game day of the regular season on Sunday evening. The Lakers, led by Anthony Davis (30 points, 11 rebounds) and LeBron James (28, 11 and 17 assists), won 124:108. A strong first half put the 17-time champion on the road to victory.
This defeat, the first after four wins in a row, has bitter consequences for the Pelicans. Since the Phoenix Suns won 125:106 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at the same time, Phoenix climbed past New Orleans in the table to 6th place – into the last safe playoff spot. The Pelicans are now in 7th place and have to go to the play-in, which takes place from April 16th to 19th.
Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets secured second place in the West with a 126:111 win against the Memphis Grizzlies. The reigning champion will face the 7 seed, the winner of the play-in duel between the Lakers and Pelicans, in the first round of the playoffs starting next weekend. The Timberwolves will face the Suns in third place in the West, and the first-round matchup between the Los Angeles Clippers and Mavs has already been determined.
2024-04-14 22:35:40
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