The victory of the Phoenix Sunswho avenged their crude defeat the previous day on Los Angeles Clippers, leads the Los Angeles franchise to a first round duel against the Dallas Mavericks, still to decide who has the home field advantage. Another direct consequence of the Arizona team’s victory is the official condemnation of the play-in of Warriors y Lakers, which had few mathematical options until now. Both Californian teams will fight to avoid a face to face in the ninth and tenth position that would mean the certain elimination of LeBron James o Stephen Curry.
The day was dominated by the exhibition of Nikola Jokic, the king of the duel for the highest point in the West among the Nuggets and the Timberwolves. The next to confirm a ticket to the playoffs were the New York Knicksthanks to the defeat of the Miami Heat against the Mavs. New Yorkers maintain options to snatch from the Milwaukee Bucks second place in the East, but to do so they will need to fail in their two remaining games after winning without Giannis Antetokounmpo at the Orlando Magic.
Denver Nuggets 116-107 Minnesota Timberwolves
The Nuggets depend on themselves to finish the season as first in the West after beating the Wolves in a game to which both entered tied at the top of the conference.
Nikola Jokic He gave a master class with 41 points (impressive 16 of 20 from the field), 11 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. The current NBA champions, who are in their second consecutive season as first in the West, also had 20 points and 6 assists from Jamal Murray and 18 points and 8 rebounds Michael Porter Jr. The defense was a matter of Peyton Watson with 6 plugs.
For their part, the Wolves, who hope to recover the injured player this week Karl-Anthony Townsthey sold their defeat very dearly and had as references Anthony Edwards (25 points), Mike Conley (19 points) and Rudy Gobert (13 points and 15 rebounds).
The Nuggets have a record of 56-24 while the Wolves are now second with a record of 55-25 although, if they finish tied with Denver, they have the tiebreaker criteria in their favor. They also cannot be neglected since the Oklahoma City Thunder are also third with 55-25.
Chronicle MD alex molina
Milwaukee Bucks 117-99 Orlando Magic
In the absence of Giannis, who will no longer play due to injury until the playoffs begin or are underway, Bobby Portis (30 points, 9 rebounds and 5 steals) and Damian Lillard (29 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists) took a step forward in a key victory against a powerful Eastern team like the Magic. Cole Anthony (23 points) was Orlando’s leading scorer.
Milwaukee (49-31) is second in the East ahead of the New York Knicks (47-32, third) and the Cleveland Cavaliers (47-33, fourth). The Magic have fallen to fifth place (46-34) and are not sixth because they won the tiebreaker against the Indiana Pacers (46-34).
Chronicle MD Guille Álvarez
Miami Heat 92-111 Dallas Mavericks
Luka Doncic He was on the verge of a triple-double (29 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists) and Kyrie Irving He added 25 points and the Mavericks, overwhelming in this finale of the regular season, achieved their 16th victory in the last 18 games.
The Mavericks (50-30) are fifth in the West and already know that they will face the Clippers in the first round, a rival that has eliminated them twice in the last four seasons but is also one of the favorite victims of Doncic. However, the Texans are still opting to take the home court factor since they have within reach the fourth place held by the Clippers (51-29).
Tyler Herro (21 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists) was the top scorer for the Heat with little steam and who are eighth in the East (44-36). The Philadelphia 76ers are seventh (45-35).
Chronicle MD alex molina
Los Angeles Clippers 108-124 Phoenix Suns
Despite the rosary of casualties on the Clippers (Russell Westbrook, Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Norman Powell and Ivica Zubac), the Suns suffered a lot in Los Angeles to avenge their tough loss on Tuesday in Phoenix.
Devin Booker (37 points), Kevin Durant (24 points and 9 rebounds), Bradley Beal (26 points) and Jusuf Nurkic (3 points, 19 rebounds and 10 assists) had to put all their effort into defeating the Clippers in a fantastic Bones Hyland (37 points and 9 assists).
The Suns (47-33) are seventh in the West and continue to aspire to avoid the play-in by chasing the New Orleans Pelicans (47-32, sixth).
Cleveland Cavaliers 110-98 Memphis Grizzlies
With 29 points and 8 assists, Donovan Mitchell He took the helm of the Cavaliers who still aspire to third place in the East held by the Knicks.
With nothing at stake and eager to close this season of endless injuries as soon as possible, the Grizzlies had 32 points and 7 rebounds from Jake LaRavia.
Oklahoma City Thunder 127-89 San Antonio Spurs
The Thunder, with mathematical but very complicated options to be first in the West (they have two games left against the Bucks and the Mavericks), took out the hammer against the Spurs sin Victor Wembanyama and they had a +36 before the break.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 points) and Josh Giddey (20 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists) stood out in Oklahoma without reaching 30 minutes on the court.
Atlanta Hawks 114-115 Charlotte Hornets
Miles Bridges (18 points) scored a basket with 3.8 seconds left for the Hornets to beat the Hawks (36-44) in Atlanta with all the chances to be tenth in the East after four straight losses.
Trae Young He returned from his injury and had 14 points and 11 assists. Their rival in the play-in will be the Bulls (37-42, ninth).
Brooklyn Nets 106-112 Toronto Raptors
In a day with games with a lot at stake, there was also one absolutely inconsequential and between two teams with a very sad campaign that the Nets won in Brooklyn with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists from Dennis Schroder.
Immanuel Quickley He was Toronto’s leading light with 32 points, 7 rebounds and 9 assists.
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2024-04-11 06:51:00
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