13.04.2024
Philadelphia 76ers 125 - 113 Orlando Magic
Joel Embiid returned from an injury scare to score 32 points, leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a 125-113 victory over the Orlando Magic. Tyrese Maxey added 28 points and Kelly Oubre Jr. contributed 21 as the Sixers won their seventh consecutive game. Orlando, Indiana, and Philadelphia are all tied with a record of 46-35 in the Eastern Conference playoff seedings. Despite a strong performance from Franz Wagner, Paolo Banchero, and Jalen Suggs, the Magic couldn't overcome the early deficit and suffered their third straight loss. Embiid's return had a significant impact on the game, and although he briefly left the court with a knee issue, he came back and hit a 3-pointer in the second half. The win secured a season series sweep for Philadelphia over Orlando, but their playoff seeding will depend on the outcome of their final game against Brooklyn and other results in the conference.
Washington Wizards 127 - 129 Chicago Bulls
Rookie Adama Sanogo had a standout performance with 22 points and 20 rebounds as the short-handed Chicago Bulls defeated the Washington Wizards 129-127. Sanogo, who typically plays in the G League, had the opportunity to shine with key Bulls players resting. Javonte Green also had 24 points for the Bulls, while Corey Kispert scored 23 points for the Wizards. Despite a late push from Washington, the Bulls held on for the win, marking their first back-to-back victories in nearly a month. The Wizards, who played a youthful lineup due to injuries, have now lost five straight games.
Boston Celtics 131 - 98 Charlotte Hornets
Payton Pritchard led the Boston Celtics to a 131-98 win over the Charlotte Hornets with a career-high 31 points and 11 assists, while top Celtics starters rested. The win helped the Celtics avoid a three-game losing streak for the first time in over a decade. Pritchard's performance showcased his growth and versatility this season, as he looks to play in all 82 regular-season games for the first time in his career. The Hornets, already eliminated from playoff contention, were missing key players and struggled against the Celtics' depth. Boston will face the Washington Wizards in their regular-season finale, likely giving more playing time to their bench players.
Cleveland Cavaliers 129 - 120 Indiana Pacers
Donovan Mitchell scored 33 points, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 129-120 victory over the Indiana Pacers to clinch a playoff spot. Jarrett Allen had 29 points and 13 rebounds, with Darius Garland adding a crucial 3-pointer down the stretch. Cleveland secured home-court advantage in the playoffs, despite Mitchell's limited playing time due to injury. Tyrese Haliburton had 19 points and 12 assists for the Pacers, who can still make the playoffs with a win Sunday. The Cavaliers look to continue their success in the postseason as they face the Charlotte Hornets next.
New York Knicks 111 - 107 Brooklyn Nets
The New York Knicks beat the Brooklyn Nets 111-107, securing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and remaining in contention for the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Jalen Brunson had 30 points and 11 assists, while OG Anunoby scored all 15 of his points in the third quarter to lead the Knicks to their fourth straight win and a season sweep of the Nets. Cam Thomas scored 41 points for the Nets, who were missing key players and starters in the game. The Knicks will face Chicago next, while the Nets will visit Philadelphia.
Miami Heat 125 - 103 Toronto Raptors
The Miami Heat never trailed in their 125-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors, led by Nikola Jovic's 22 points and Jaime Jaquez Jr.'s 20 points and nine assists. The win keeps the Heat's playoff hopes alive, with a potential chance to avoid the play-in tournament with a win in their rematch against the Raptors on Sunday. RJ Barrett had 35 points and 11 rebounds for the struggling Raptors, who have lost 18 of their last 20 games. The Heat made 17 3-pointers and now await their playoff fate, as they battle with Orlando, Indiana, and Philadelphia for positioning in the Eastern Conference. The loss guarantees Toronto will finish with their fifth-worst record in franchise history, ending a disappointing season for them.
Memphis Grizzlies 120 - 123 Los Angeles Lakers
LeBron James and Anthony Davis led the Los Angeles Lakers to a 123-120 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies, with James scoring 37 points and Davis adding 36. The Lakers snapped a two-game losing streak as they head into the Western Conference play-in round, already assured of a spot. Despite a strong performance from GG Jackson, who scored 31 points for the Grizzlies, Memphis has struggled with injuries throughout the season. The Lakers are now looking to secure a better position in the postseason as they face the New Orleans Pelicans next, while the Grizzlies will finish their season against the Denver Nuggets.
Minnesota Timberwolves 109 - 106 Atlanta Hawks
Rudy Gobert's dominant performance with 25 points, 19 rebounds, and five blocks propelled the Minnesota Timberwolves to a 109-106 victory over the Atlanta Hawks, tying them for first place in the Western Conference with Denver and Oklahoma City. All-Star Karl-Anthony Towns returned after missing 18 games and contributed 11 points, while Anthony Edwards added 14. Trae Young led the Hawks with 19 points in his second game back from injury. Gobert's perfect 10-for-10 shooting, including eight dunks in the fourth quarter, helped the Wolves secure the win after blowing a 17-point lead. The victory sets up a crucial Game 82 against Phoenix for the Timberwolves to potentially clinch the top seed.
Oklahoma City Thunder 125 - 107 Milwaukee Bucks
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder to a 125-107 victory over the injury-depleted Bucks with 23 points, boosting their hopes of securing the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference playoffs. The Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves are now tied for the conference lead with one game remaining. Milwaukee played without Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, falling to 4-4 in games without Antetokounmpo this season. Despite the loss, the Bucks can still clinch the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs with a win against Orlando on Sunday or if the Knicks lose. Oklahoma City's Chet Holmgren and Aaron Wiggins also contributed to the win, with the Thunder shooting 52.8% from the field.
San Antonio Spurs 121 - 120 Denver Nuggets
Devonte' Graham and the Spurs shocked the Western Conference-leading Nuggets by rallying from 23 points down to win 121-120, knocking Denver into a three-way tie for first place in the West with Oklahoma City and Minnesota. Nikola Jokic had 22 points and 12 rebounds for the Nuggets, while Victor Wembanyama led the short-handed Spurs with 34 points and 12 rebounds. San Antonio cut into Denver's big leads with strong runs in the third and fourth quarters, outscoring the Nuggets 34-20 in the final frame. Despite missing key players, the Spurs managed to secure a crucial victory, with Graham hitting the game-winner with 0.9 seconds to go, leaving the Nuggets disappointed and in a tough position heading into the final day of the regular season.
Dallas Mavericks 89 - 107 Detroit Pistons
Marcus Sasser led the Pistons to a 107-89 victory over the Mavericks, who were missing Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving. Sasser, a rookie, scored 24 points in his hometown return, with 13 straight Detroit points during a key stretch in the third quarter. The Pistons, with the largest win of their season, snapped a six-game losing streak and outscored the Mavericks in points off turnovers. Despite missing key players, Detroit was able to secure the win, while Dallas, finishing fifth in the Western Conference, struggled without their star guards and shot below their average from the three-point line.
Golden State Warriors 109 - 114 New Orleans Pelicans
The New Orleans Pelicans strengthened their hold on the No. 6 seed with a 135-123 road win over the Sacramento Kings, putting them one game ahead of the Phoenix Suns. Despite a wrist injury, Zion Williamson scored 31 points and led his team to their third consecutive victory. The Golden State Warriors, who have won three straight games, cannot catch the Pelicans in the standings but are focused on securing a spot in the play-in tournament. The two teams will face off in a crucial game where the outcome could impact their final playoff positions.
Portland Trail Blazers 107 - 116 Houston Rockets
The Houston Rockets visited the Portland Trail Blazers in a game where they were playing to finish at .500 for the first time since 2019-20. Despite a 11-game winning streak in March, the Rockets were unable to secure a playoff position and currently sit six games behind the 10th place in the conference. Fred VanVleet scored 42 points, hitting 15 of 24 3-point attempts in the previous two games, while Blazers' Deandre Ayton posted his sixth straight double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort. Portland is trying to avoid their fourth 60-loss season, with their coach Chauncey Billups praising the team's effort despite a recent losing streak.
LA Clippers 109 - 110 Utah Jazz
The Los Angeles Clippers sought to secure the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference as they faced the Utah Jazz, with both teams locked into a first-round matchup. The Clippers saw their four-game winning streak end with a loss to the Phoenix Suns, despite Bones Hyland's career-high 37 points. The Jazz snapped a 13-game losing streak with a win over the Houston Rockets, despite missing key players like Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson. The Jazz and Clippers have split their season series, with the Clippers winning the most recent matchup. Fans at the Delta Center continue to show support for the struggling Jazz, who are focused on playing hard and competing as a group.
Sacramento Kings 107 - 108 Phoenix Suns
The Sacramento Kings are in a downward spiral, losing four of their last five games and now fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Kings need to win to secure a No. 7 or No. 8 spot, while the Phoenix Suns are battling for positioning as well. Devin Booker led the Suns to victory with 37 points, while De'Aaron Fox put up 33 points for the Kings in a losing effort. The outcome of this game will determine Sacramento's playoff fate as they look to regain their footing against the Suns.