NBA Scores: Postseason picture comes into view as two days remain in season

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First, a playoff standings rundown for every convention via 80 video games, give or take a recreation.

Japanese Convention

  1. Milwaukee Bucks (58-22); additionally clinched finest league report, Central Division, and prime seed
  2. Boston Celtics (55-25); additionally clinched Atlantic Division and second seed
  3. Philadelphia 76ers (52-28); clinched third seed
  4. Cleveland Cavaliers (51-30); clinched fourth seed
  5. New York Knicks (47-33); clinched fifth seed
  6. Brooklyn Nets (44-36); at the moment sixth seed, might nonetheless fall to play-in match
  7. Miami Warmth (43-37); clinched Southeast Division, might nonetheless rise to sixth
  8. Atlanta Hawks (41-39); clinched play-in berth
  9. Toronto Raptors (40-40); clinched play-in berth
  10. Chicago Bulls (38-42); clinched play-in berth, locked into tenth seed

Western Convention

  1. Denver Nuggets (52-28); clinched convention and Northwest Divison
  2. Memphis Grizzlies (50-30); clinched Southwest Division
  3. Sacramento Kings (48-32); clinched Pacific Division, no less than third seed
  4. Phoenix Suns (45-35); clinched playoff berth (can’t fall to play-in match)
  5. Los Angeles Clippers (42-38); at the moment fifth seed, might nonetheless fall to play-in match
  6. Golden State Warriors (42-38); at the moment sixth seed, might nonetheless fall to play-in match
  7. Los Angeles Lakers (41-39); might nonetheless rise to playoffs
  8. New Orleans Pelicans (41-39); might nonetheless rise to playoffs
  9. Minnesota Timberwolves (40-40); might nonetheless rise to playoffs
  10. Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder (39-42); might nonetheless fall out of play-in match
  11. Dallas Mavericks (38-42); might nonetheless make to play-in match

Now, for final evening’s scores.

Suns win seventh straight, prime Nuggets, 119-117

It’s tough to make a playoff-related judgment on a consequence like this one, provided that whereas Phoenix gained a detailed one, it primarily got here towards Denver’s B-Crew. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., Aaron Gordon, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope all sat, whereas the Suns performed at full energy. It might say extra about both group — that Denver has sufficient depth to trigger quite a lot of hassle to groups taking part in at full energy, or that Phoenix might wrestle regardless of their uber-talented offense.

However, on this one, Kevin Durant led the Suns with 29 factors, nailing six threes, and added seven rebounds whereas Chris Paul made a career-high seven triples en path to 25 factors. The Suns are actually 8-0 with Durant of their lineup, a promising run with the postseason closing in.

Bruce Brown led Denver with 31 factors on 11-of-18 taking pictures. Reggie Jackson had 20 factors and 6 assists, Christian Braun had 15 factors, Jeff Inexperienced scored 14, and DeAndre Jordan had 12 factors and 11 rebounds to guide a powerful legion of Denver’s reserves.

Thunder close to play-in berth after 114-98 drubbing of Jazz

One recreation to go for the upstart Thunder, who’re assured to clinch a play-in berth in the event that they beat Memphis of their regular-season finale on Sunday following Thursday’s dominant victory in Utah. Kris Dunn was virtually the only vivid spot for the Jazz, scoring 22 factors, as Utah was formally eradicated from playoff rivalry with the loss.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 22 factors to guide OKC’s offense, whereas Josh Giddey had 17 factors, eight assists, and eight rebounds. Aaron Wiggins scored 15 for the Thunder, who snapped a three-game dropping streak.

Spurs outlast Blazers in Moody Middle’s first recreation, 129-127

In what the Spurs are deeming “regional outreach,” they elected to play out the ultimate two video games of this common season at Austin’s Moody Middle. Nothing like kicking off a partnership with a bang. Keita Bates-Diop scored a game-high 25 factors for San Antonio, whereas Julian Champagnie and Keldon Johnson added 24 factors every. The win made certain that San Antonio, now 21-59, won’t end with the franchise’s worst-ever report; that 20-62 mark got here in 1997, one yr earlier than Tim Duncan arrive din San Antonio after being chosen first general. Coincidence, given the ever-coveted huge man that’s slated to go atop the 2023 Draft? Maybe.

Cavs drub Magic, 118-94

Even whereas resting their starters, the Cavs have been in a position to deal with a younger Orlando group that had in any other case confirmed formidable competitors for virtually each group they’d encountered this season. Danny Inexperienced scored 21 factors, Cedi Osman added 19, and Isaiah Mobley scored 18 factors off the bench to guide Cleveland.

Warmth rating large 129-101 win in Philly, keep alive for playoff berth

Although they’ve principally puttered across the seventh seed for the higher a part of the previous couple of weeks, Miami stays alive for a real playoff berth with simply two video games to go, thanks largely to Thursday’s blowout win over Philadelphia. Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro every scored 24 factors to guide the Warmth. For the Sixers, Joel Embiid scored 21 factors regardless of sitting for the fourth quarter, and James Harden chipped in 14 in restricted minutes. Having already clinched the third spot within the East, a win on Thursday would have set a date with the Brooklyn Nets within the first spherical. And but, these zombies from Miami carry on kicking round.

The top of the season is gonna be enjoyable.