With 80 video games within the books for many groups throughout the NBA, the playoff image is beginning to take form. Right here’s every thing that the Wednesday video games set in stone:
- Bucks: #1 within the East and greatest file general amongst each conferences
- Celtics: #2 and Atlantic division title
- Sixers: #3
- Hawks: play-in look
- Nuggets: #1 within the West
Atlanta would nonetheless be alive for a high 6 spot and a play-in bye if not for 2 separate outcomes, together with the win from Brooklyn in our first recreation of the evening:
Brooklyn use 26-5 first quarter run to beat Pistons 123-108
Simply metaphorical inches away from clinching a play-in bye within the high 6, the Nets moved the ball effectively on this recreation, ending with their second-highest staff help complete of the yr with 36 to only 11 turnovers, a lot better than Detroit’s ratio of 27 to 14.
They wanted the balanced assault to be clicking, as a result of this was a uncommon inefficient evening for Mikal Bridges, capturing simply 10-26 (2-11 3P) for a team-high 26 factors. Spencer Dinwiddie, in the meantime, completed with a season-high 16 assists for the second time since re-joining the Nets.
Three Knicks rating 30+ in 138-129 barnburner with Pacers
It’s the fourth time prior to now eight video games that Knicks have scored at the very least 130, and it was fueled by Immanuel Quickley (39 factors, one away from tying profession excessive), Quentin Grimes (career-high 36) and Obi Toppin (32).
Hawks take reigns with 39-point third in 134-116 win over Wizards
Trae Younger got here again from a one-game flu absence with a stat-stuffing 25-point, 16-assist evening in a high-stakes second; Atlanta is making an attempt to remain within the 7-8 slot of the play-in as an alternative of the 9-10 slot, the place #9 Toronto lurks only one recreation behind. John Collins scored 12 of his 23 factors in a momentum-shifting third quarter, which the Hawks received 39-30.
Celtics lock up East’s 2-seed with Raptors falling 97-93 within the course of
Jaylen Brown racked up a 25-point, 11-rebound evening for his thirteenth double double on the yr, however Boston was led in scoring by Malcolm Brogdon’s 29 off the bench. Pascal Siakam was the one different 20-point man of the sport, ending with 28 factors and 11 rebounds for his twenty fourth double double of the season.
Bucks beat Bulls with out Giannis, 105-92
Not solely did Giannis Antetokounmpo miss the sport in its entirety, however Khris Middleton performed simply eight minutes after an 0-3 begin from the ground; each had been listed as coping with knee soreness, although now that Milwaukee has locked up #1 within the East, they is likely to be feeling tremendous sore the remainder of the way in which, if you happen to catch my drift.
Bobby Portis (27 factors), Brook Lopez (26), and Jrue Vacation (20) did many of the scoring for the Bucks, particularly since they solely bought 16 factors off the bench within the recreation, manner down from their season common of 34.1 bench factors per recreation. For the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic had 18 factors on 8-13 capturing within the first half (internet -2) earlier than simply three factors on 1-8 within the second half (-9).
JJJ’s 40 not sufficient in Grizzlies’ 131-138 additional time loss to Pelicans
Ja Morant was sidelined for this one, leaving Jaren Jackson Jr. (40 factors), Dillon Brooks (25), and Desmond Bane (24) to step up whereas Tre Jones dished out 12 assists in Morant’s place to begin guard spot; 11 of his 12 assists went out to these three main scorers.
Their mixed 89 factors, nevertheless, wasn’t sufficient even in additional than 48 minutes as a result of the main scorers for New Orleans — Herb Jones (35), CJ McCollum (31) and Trey Murphy III (30) — mixed for 96. Brandon Ingram was their huge playmaker on the evening with a career-high-tying 13 assists, 12 of which went to the three scoring leaders.
Mavs choose up second win over final seven, beating Kings 123-119
Cease me if you happen to’ve heard this one earlier than: Dallas is a spiraling mess as soon as once more, this time most carefully involving gamers’ dads, Tim Hardaway Sr. and Rick Brunson. They had been in a position to put that each one behind them for 48 minutes of basketball and good factor they did too, as a result of there was a primary half double-digit deficit to make up for.
Dallas received the third quarter 32-21, tying the sport going into the fourth, which was twisted up for many of the first six minutes. Dallas by no means trailed from then on regardless of Sacramento reducing it to a 3-point recreation with 2:30 remaining, thanks partly to the clutch play of Kyrie Irving, who scored 19 factors within the closing body in contrast with a goose egg for Luka’s fourth on 0-2 capturing.
Clippers reap the benefits of flat Lakers in 125-118 win
This was technically the fifth recreation of a five-game highway journey for the Lakers, which they end 4-1 after splitting a back-to-back, profitable the primary in additional time in Utah earlier than falling Wednesday to the Clippers. LeBron James did the very best he may with 33 factors, eight rebounds, and 7 assists, but additionally had a game-high six turnovers.
Russell Westbrook was the one different participant within the recreation with greater than two turnovers, ending with three in 21 minutes of a revenge recreation. He got here out firing with 12 factors and 4 assists within the first half however performed simply 5 minutes within the second half with the sport in hand, including simply two extra factors to his complete.
