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No Wembanyama, no problem — Spurs beat 76ers in NBA; Jokic shines in Nuggets’ win  Stephon Castle produced his fifth career triple-double ‌with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced San Antonio Spurs attack as his side defeated the 76ers 115-102 on Monday.The ⁠Spurs played the second half without star centre Victor Wembanyama, who sat out with a left rib ⁠contusion suffered in a second-quarter collision with the 76ers’ Paul George. He scored 17 before leaving.The Spurs (60-19) are still alive for the top seed in the West and in the league, but would have to win their remaining three games (all at home) and have top-ranked Oklahoma City lose three of its ​final four contests to attain that goal.Joel Embiid’s ‌34 points and 12 rebounds paced the 76ers (43-36).Magic 123, Pistons 107Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons.Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the ​bench for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs and Tristan da Silva each ‌scored 12 points, and Suggs added a career-high 12 assists. The Magic (43-36), Charlotte Hornets (43-36) and Philadelphia ​76ers (43-36) are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35).Jalen Duren and ⁠Daniss Jenkins led Detroit (57-22) with 18 points apiece. The Pistons clinched the top seed in the East for the first time since 2006-07 with a 116-93 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons, who trailed by as many as ‌26 in the third quarter before opening the fourth on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 before ultimately getting as close as 109-105.Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132 (OT)Aaron Gordon’s clutch outside shooting helped Denver Nuggets rally from being down by as many as 18 points to top visiting Portland Trail Blazers.The Nuggets (51-28) trailed for nearly all of regulation before taking a 125-123 lead with 27 seconds remaining when Gordon connected on a deep two-point jumper in the right ‌corner. Less than a minute earlier, Gordon sank a game-tying three-pointer on the opposite side of the floor, ​part of his 2three-point performance.ALSO READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA seasonThe Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the ⁠tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.Knicks 108, Hawks ‌105Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the ‌third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 ​left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies ⁠and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a ⁠game.Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and ‌nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when ​Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.Published on Apr 07, 2026  #Wembanyama #problem #Spurs #beat #76ers #NBA #Jokic #shines #Nuggets #win

No Wembanyama, no problem — Spurs beat 76ers in NBA; Jokic shines in Nuggets’ win

Stephon Castle produced his fifth career triple-double ‌with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced San Antonio Spurs attack as his side defeated the 76ers 115-102 on Monday.

The ⁠Spurs played the second half without star centre Victor Wembanyama, who sat out with a left rib ⁠contusion suffered in a second-quarter collision with the 76ers’ Paul George. He scored 17 before leaving.

The Spurs (60-19) are still alive for the top seed in the West and in the league, but would have to win their remaining three games (all at home) and have top-ranked Oklahoma City lose three of its ​final four contests to attain that goal.

Joel Embiid’s ‌34 points and 12 rebounds paced the 76ers (43-36).

Magic 123, Pistons 107

Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons.

Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the ​bench for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs and Tristan da Silva each ‌scored 12 points, and Suggs added a career-high 12 assists. The Magic (43-36), Charlotte Hornets (43-36) and Philadelphia ​76ers (43-36) are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35).

Jalen Duren and ⁠Daniss Jenkins led Detroit (57-22) with 18 points apiece. The Pistons clinched the top seed in the East for the first time since 2006-07 with a 116-93 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons, who trailed by as many as ‌26 in the third quarter before opening the fourth on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 before ultimately getting as close as 109-105.

Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132 (OT)

Aaron Gordon’s clutch outside shooting helped Denver Nuggets rally from being down by as many as 18 points to top visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nuggets (51-28) trailed for nearly all of regulation before taking a 125-123 lead with 27 seconds remaining when Gordon connected on a deep two-point jumper in the right ‌corner. Less than a minute earlier, Gordon sank a game-tying three-pointer on the opposite side of the floor, ​part of his 2three-point performance.

ALSO READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA season

The Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the ⁠tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

Knicks 108, Hawks ‌105

Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.

Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.

OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the ‌third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 ​left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.

Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126

Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies ⁠and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a ⁠game.

Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and ‌nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.

Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when ​Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

#Wembanyama #problem #Spurs #beat #76ers #NBA #Jokic #shines #Nuggets #win

Stephon Castle produced his fifth career triple-double ‌with 19 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds to lead a balanced San Antonio Spurs attack as his side defeated the 76ers 115-102 on Monday.

The ⁠Spurs played the second half without star centre Victor Wembanyama, who sat out with a left rib ⁠contusion suffered in a second-quarter collision with the 76ers’ Paul George. He scored 17 before leaving.

The Spurs (60-19) are still alive for the top seed in the West and in the league, but would have to win their remaining three games (all at home) and have top-ranked Oklahoma City lose three of its ​final four contests to attain that goal.

Joel Embiid’s ‌34 points and 12 rebounds paced the 76ers (43-36).

Magic 123, Pistons 107

Paolo Banchero scored 31 points, and Desmond Bane added 25 as the Orlando Magic withstood a fourth-quarter rally and closed on a 14-2 run to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons.

Anthony Black contributed 14 points off the ​bench for the Magic, who won for the fourth time in the past five games. Wendell Carter Jr., Jalen Suggs and Tristan da Silva each ‌scored 12 points, and Suggs added a career-high 12 assists. The Magic (43-36), Charlotte Hornets (43-36) and Philadelphia ​76ers (43-36) are tied for seventh in the Eastern Conference, a half-game behind the Toronto Raptors (43-35).

Jalen Duren and ⁠Daniss Jenkins led Detroit (57-22) with 18 points apiece. The Pistons clinched the top seed in the East for the first time since 2006-07 with a 116-93 win at Philadelphia on Saturday.

Kevin Huerter and Javonte Green scored 17 points apiece for the Pistons, who trailed by as many as ‌26 in the third quarter before opening the fourth on a 10-0 run to cut the deficit to 12 before ultimately getting as close as 109-105.

Nuggets 137, Trail Blazers 132 (OT)

Aaron Gordon’s clutch outside shooting helped Denver Nuggets rally from being down by as many as 18 points to top visiting Portland Trail Blazers.

The Nuggets (51-28) trailed for nearly all of regulation before taking a 125-123 lead with 27 seconds remaining when Gordon connected on a deep two-point jumper in the right ‌corner. Less than a minute earlier, Gordon sank a game-tying three-pointer on the opposite side of the floor, ​part of his 2three-point performance.

ALSO READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA season

The Nuggets’ lead was fleeting, as Deni Avdija answered with a basket in the paint on the other end to force overtime. But in the extra frame, Gordon set the ⁠tone with another crucial jumper, knocking down his fourth made three-pointer of the night as the Nuggets opened OT on a 10-3 run. Nikola Jokic had his 33rd triple-double of the season with 35 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists.

Knicks 108, Hawks ‌105

Jalen Brunson hit the tiebreaking basket with 29.8 seconds remaining and prevented CJ McCollum from getting off a tying three-point attempt at the buzzer as visiting New York Knicks outlasted Atlanta Hawks in a possible playoff preview.

Brunson scored 17 of his 30 points in the fourth and had 14 of the Knicks’ final 16 points. After Nickeil Alexander-Walker missed a three-point try with 55.1 seconds left, Brunson attempted to get by McCollum, went to his right and saw a 19-footer bounce twice before going in.

OG Anunoby had 22 points while Karl-Anthony Towns collected 21 and 12 rebounds and helped the Knicks (51-28) overcome a 10-point deficit in the ‌third. Alexander-Walker led the Hawks (45-34) with 36 points and hit seven 3s, including a corner three that gave the Hawks a 100-95 lead with 3:15 ​left. Jalen Johnson added 21 and 11 boards as the Hawks lost for just the fourth time in 23 games since the All-Star break.

Cavaliers 142, Grizzlies 126

Cleveland Cavaliers overcame a 17-point first-half deficit to defeat host Memphis Grizzlies ⁠and secure the 14th 50-win season in franchise history — despite the Grizzlies tying the NBA record for most made three-pointers in a ⁠game.

Evan Mobley led the Cavs (50-29) with 24 points while Dennis Schroder added 22 points and 11 assists, and Sam Merrill scored 21. Keon Ellis contributed 19 points and eight assists, and Jarrett Allen had 13 points and ‌nine boards for the Cavaliers, who won for the ninth time in 11 games.

Plagued by injuries throughout the season, the Grizzlies (25-54) lost their fifth straight match and fell for the 18th time in 20 games. Nonetheless, the club tied the three-point mark when ​Adama Bal’s three-pointer with 1:41 remaining in the game gave the Grizzlies their 29th trey, tying Boston (2024) and Milwaukee (2020) for the record. The Grizzlies finished 29 of 59 (49.2 per cent) from long range.

Published on Apr 07, 2026

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Deadspin | NHL roundup: Connor McDavid (3 goals), division-leading Oilers top Sharks  Apr 8, 2026; San Jose, California, USA;  San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) wait for the puck along with Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) in the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images   Connor McDavid scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the host San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.    Edmonton (40-29-10, 90 points) improved to 6-1-1 in its past eight games and moved two points ahead of the idle Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division.    Jack Roslovic and Vasily Podkolzin each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, and Evan Bouchard added a pair of helpers.    Edmonton goaltender Connor Ingram made eight saves on 10 shots but was replaced by Tristan Jarry to start the third period. Jarry stopped all four shots he faced.    Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood tallied for the Sharks (37-33-7, 81 points), who lost for just the second time in seven games. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 21 shots.  Sabres 5, Rangers 3  Zach Benson scored twice and Buffalo recovered for a win against host New York.   Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves.  Alexis Lafreniere scored twice, Adam Fox had a goal and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the Rangers, who had won two straight and five of their previous six games.  Capitals 4, Maple Leafs 0    Logan Thompson made 21 saves and visiting Washington kept its slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes alive with a win over Toronto.    It was Thompson’s third shutout of the season, two of them coming against Toronto. Dylan Strome and Martin Fehervary each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson logged a goal apiece. Washington is three points behind Ottawa for the second Eastern Conference wild card and three points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division.     Joseph Woll allowed three goals on 17 shots for Maple Leafs, who have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Connor #McDavid #goals #divisionleading #Oilers #top #SharksApr 8, 2026; San Jose, California, USA; San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) wait for the puck along with Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) in the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images

Connor McDavid scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the host San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.

Edmonton (40-29-10, 90 points) improved to 6-1-1 in its past eight games and moved two points ahead of the idle Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division.

Jack Roslovic and Vasily Podkolzin each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, and Evan Bouchard added a pair of helpers.

Edmonton goaltender Connor Ingram made eight saves on 10 shots but was replaced by Tristan Jarry to start the third period. Jarry stopped all four shots he faced.

Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood tallied for the Sharks (37-33-7, 81 points), who lost for just the second time in seven games. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 21 shots.

Sabres 5, Rangers 3


Zach Benson scored twice and Buffalo recovered for a win against host New York.

Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves.

Alexis Lafreniere scored twice, Adam Fox had a goal and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the Rangers, who had won two straight and five of their previous six games.

Capitals 4, Maple Leafs 0

Logan Thompson made 21 saves and visiting Washington kept its slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes alive with a win over Toronto.

It was Thompson’s third shutout of the season, two of them coming against Toronto. Dylan Strome and Martin Fehervary each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson logged a goal apiece. Washington is three points behind Ottawa for the second Eastern Conference wild card and three points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Joseph Woll allowed three goals on 17 shots for Maple Leafs, who have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Connor #McDavid #goals #divisionleading #Oilers #top #Sharks">Deadspin | NHL roundup: Connor McDavid (3 goals), division-leading Oilers top Sharks  Apr 8, 2026; San Jose, California, USA;  San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini (71) and Edmonton Oilers center Connor McDavid (97) wait for the puck along with Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) in the second period at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: David Gonzales-Imagn Images   Connor McDavid scored a hat trick and added a pair of assists, leading the Edmonton Oilers to a 5-2 victory over the host San Jose Sharks on Wednesday night.    Edmonton (40-29-10, 90 points) improved to 6-1-1 in its past eight games and moved two points ahead of the idle Vegas Golden Knights atop the Pacific Division.    Jack Roslovic and Vasily Podkolzin each had a goal and an assist for the Oilers, and Evan Bouchard added a pair of helpers.    Edmonton goaltender Connor Ingram made eight saves on 10 shots but was replaced by Tristan Jarry to start the third period. Jarry stopped all four shots he faced.    Macklin Celebrini and Kiefer Sherwood tallied for the Sharks (37-33-7, 81 points), who lost for just the second time in seven games. Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 21 shots.  Sabres 5, Rangers 3  Zach Benson scored twice and Buffalo recovered for a win against host New York.   Ryan McLeod and Jason Zucker each had a goal and an assist for the Sabres, who moved into sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division. Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 17 saves.  Alexis Lafreniere scored twice, Adam Fox had a goal and an assist, and Igor Shesterkin made 22 saves for the Rangers, who had won two straight and five of their previous six games.  Capitals 4, Maple Leafs 0    Logan Thompson made 21 saves and visiting Washington kept its slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes alive with a win over Toronto.    It was Thompson’s third shutout of the season, two of them coming against Toronto. Dylan Strome and Martin Fehervary each had a goal and an assist for the Capitals. Ryan Leonard and Cole Hutson logged a goal apiece. Washington is three points behind Ottawa for the second Eastern Conference wild card and three points behind Philadelphia for third place in the Metropolitan Division.     Joseph Woll allowed three goals on 17 shots for Maple Leafs, who have lost three straight (0-2-1) and will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NHL #roundup #Connor #McDavid #goals #divisionleading #Oilers #top #Sharks

Deadspin | NBA roundup: Thunder again clinch top seed with win over Clippers  Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Chet Holmgren scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points with 11 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the best record in the NBA with a 128-110 victory Wednesday over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.  Isaiah Joe scored 21 points off the bench and Jalen Williams added 18 as the Thunder grabbed the Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed for the third consecutive season with their seven straight victory. Oklahoma City, which won the franchise’s first NBA title last season, will have home-court advantage through the NBA Finals.  Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Kobe Sanders added 17 off the bench for the Clippers, who have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament following a 6-21 start to the season. Los Angeles played without Darius Garland (toe).  Brook Lopez and Jordan Miller each scored 16 points as the Clippers remained in eighth place in the Western Conference. The eighth and ninth seeds in the West will be decided Friday when the Clippers visit the Portland Trail Blazers.  Suns 112, Mavericks 107  Devin Booker had 37 points and nine assists, Dillon Brooks scored 28 points and made a late layup to seal the outcome, and host Phoenix held off Dallas to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  Royce O’Neale scored 14 points and fellow reserve Collin Gillespie had 13 for the Suns (44-36), who lost an 18-point lead and fell behind in the fourth quarter in their final regular-season home game. The Suns will open the play-in round Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers, who still must decide the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.   John Poulakidas had a career-high 23 points and made five 3-pointers, and Marvin Bagley III had 20 points for the Mavericks (25-55), who have lost 10 of 12. Cooper Flagg had 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, strengthening his Rookie of the Year case. Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets are in a two-man race.  Cavaliers 122, Hawks 116  Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and a career-high-tying 19 rebounds, powering Cleveland to a win over visiting Atlanta in a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview.  James Harden put up 21 points and Jarrett Allen netted 16 for Cleveland, which is assured of finishing no lower than fourth in the East. The Cavaliers, who have won four straight and six of their past seven, moved within one-half game of the third-place New York Knicks.  Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 24 off the bench for the fifth-place Hawks, who failed to clinch a playoff berth. All-Star forward Jalen Johnson had 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Atlanta is one-half game ahead of the Toronto Raptors, but both teams could fall out of the top six and into the play-in tournament.  Pistons 137, Bucks 111  Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead Detroit to a win over visiting Milwaukee.  Detroit, already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, won its fourth game in its last five contests. Duncan Robinson added 20 points while superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.   The Bucks fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.  Magic 132, Timberwolves 120  Paolo Banchero had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Orlando beat visiting Minnesota for its fourth consecutive victory.  Desmond Bane scored 18 points and Franz Wagner added 17 for Orlando, which moved into seventh place in the tight Eastern Conference standings, one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers with two games remaining. Goga Bitadze had 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Tristan da Silva added 12 points, and Jalen Suggs and Jevon Carter finished with 11 apiece.  Terrence Shannon Jr. set career highs with five 3-pointers and 33 points for short-handed Minnesota, which clinched the sixth position in the Western Conference on Tuesday. Jaden McDaniels returned after missing six games with a knee injury and scored 18 points in 19 minutes. Naz Reid had 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.  Nuggets 136, Grizzlies 119  Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and host Denver beat Memphis for its 10th win in a row.  Cameron Johnson posted 18 points as the Nuggets moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.  Cedric Coward finished with 27 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost six in a row and 19 of their past 21.  Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 101  De’Aaron Fox poured in 25 points and San Antonio’s reserves contributed 48 points as the host Spurs defeated Portland.  San Antonio played without Victor Wembanyama (rib) and Stephon Castle (knee) but still had enough to log their 13th win in 14 games. The Spurs became locked into the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference when the Oklahoma City Thunder won their game.  Deni Avdija paced Portland with 29 points, with Scoot Henderson scoring 20. The Trail Blazers remain ninth in the West, a game back of the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of the teams’ Friday meeting in Portland.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Thunder #clinch #top #seed #win #ClippersApr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Chet Holmgren scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points with 11 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the best record in the NBA with a 128-110 victory Wednesday over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.

Isaiah Joe scored 21 points off the bench and Jalen Williams added 18 as the Thunder grabbed the Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed for the third consecutive season with their seven straight victory. Oklahoma City, which won the franchise’s first NBA title last season, will have home-court advantage through the NBA Finals.

Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Kobe Sanders added 17 off the bench for the Clippers, who have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament following a 6-21 start to the season. Los Angeles played without Darius Garland (toe).

Brook Lopez and Jordan Miller each scored 16 points as the Clippers remained in eighth place in the Western Conference. The eighth and ninth seeds in the West will be decided Friday when the Clippers visit the Portland Trail Blazers.

Suns 112, Mavericks 107

Devin Booker had 37 points and nine assists, Dillon Brooks scored 28 points and made a late layup to seal the outcome, and host Phoenix held off Dallas to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.

Royce O’Neale scored 14 points and fellow reserve Collin Gillespie had 13 for the Suns (44-36), who lost an 18-point lead and fell behind in the fourth quarter in their final regular-season home game. The Suns will open the play-in round Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers, who still must decide the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.

John Poulakidas had a career-high 23 points and made five 3-pointers, and Marvin Bagley III had 20 points for the Mavericks (25-55), who have lost 10 of 12. Cooper Flagg had 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, strengthening his Rookie of the Year case. Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets are in a two-man race.

Cavaliers 122, Hawks 116

Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and a career-high-tying 19 rebounds, powering Cleveland to a win over visiting Atlanta in a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview.

James Harden put up 21 points and Jarrett Allen netted 16 for Cleveland, which is assured of finishing no lower than fourth in the East. The Cavaliers, who have won four straight and six of their past seven, moved within one-half game of the third-place New York Knicks.

Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 24 off the bench for the fifth-place Hawks, who failed to clinch a playoff berth. All-Star forward Jalen Johnson had 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Atlanta is one-half game ahead of the Toronto Raptors, but both teams could fall out of the top six and into the play-in tournament.

Pistons 137, Bucks 111

Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead Detroit to a win over visiting Milwaukee.


Detroit, already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, won its fourth game in its last five contests. Duncan Robinson added 20 points while superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.

The Bucks fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

Magic 132, Timberwolves 120

Paolo Banchero had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Orlando beat visiting Minnesota for its fourth consecutive victory.

Desmond Bane scored 18 points and Franz Wagner added 17 for Orlando, which moved into seventh place in the tight Eastern Conference standings, one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers with two games remaining. Goga Bitadze had 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Tristan da Silva added 12 points, and Jalen Suggs and Jevon Carter finished with 11 apiece.

Terrence Shannon Jr. set career highs with five 3-pointers and 33 points for short-handed Minnesota, which clinched the sixth position in the Western Conference on Tuesday. Jaden McDaniels returned after missing six games with a knee injury and scored 18 points in 19 minutes. Naz Reid had 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.

Nuggets 136, Grizzlies 119

Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and host Denver beat Memphis for its 10th win in a row.

Cameron Johnson posted 18 points as the Nuggets moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.

Cedric Coward finished with 27 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost six in a row and 19 of their past 21.

Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 101

De’Aaron Fox poured in 25 points and San Antonio’s reserves contributed 48 points as the host Spurs defeated Portland.

San Antonio played without Victor Wembanyama (rib) and Stephon Castle (knee) but still had enough to log their 13th win in 14 games. The Spurs became locked into the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference when the Oklahoma City Thunder won their game.

Deni Avdija paced Portland with 29 points, with Scoot Henderson scoring 20. The Trail Blazers remain ninth in the West, a game back of the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of the teams’ Friday meeting in Portland.

–Field Level Media

#Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Thunder #clinch #top #seed #win #Clippers">Deadspin | NBA roundup: Thunder again clinch top seed with win over Clippers  Apr 8, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) is defended by Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) in the second half at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images   Chet Holmgren scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points with 11 assists as the Oklahoma City Thunder clinched the best record in the NBA with a 128-110 victory Wednesday over the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, Calif.  Isaiah Joe scored 21 points off the bench and Jalen Williams added 18 as the Thunder grabbed the Western Conference’s No. 1 playoff seed for the third consecutive season with their seven straight victory. Oklahoma City, which won the franchise’s first NBA title last season, will have home-court advantage through the NBA Finals.  Kawhi Leonard scored 20 points and Kobe Sanders added 17 off the bench for the Clippers, who have already clinched a spot in the play-in tournament following a 6-21 start to the season. Los Angeles played without Darius Garland (toe).  Brook Lopez and Jordan Miller each scored 16 points as the Clippers remained in eighth place in the Western Conference. The eighth and ninth seeds in the West will be decided Friday when the Clippers visit the Portland Trail Blazers.  Suns 112, Mavericks 107  Devin Booker had 37 points and nine assists, Dillon Brooks scored 28 points and made a late layup to seal the outcome, and host Phoenix held off Dallas to clinch the seventh seed in the Western Conference playoffs.  Royce O’Neale scored 14 points and fellow reserve Collin Gillespie had 13 for the Suns (44-36), who lost an 18-point lead and fell behind in the fourth quarter in their final regular-season home game. The Suns will open the play-in round Tuesday at home against the Los Angeles Clippers or Portland Trail Blazers, who still must decide the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds.   John Poulakidas had a career-high 23 points and made five 3-pointers, and Marvin Bagley III had 20 points for the Mavericks (25-55), who have lost 10 of 12. Cooper Flagg had 11 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, strengthening his Rookie of the Year case. Flagg and his former Duke teammate Kon Knueppel of the Charlotte Hornets are in a two-man race.  Cavaliers 122, Hawks 116  Donovan Mitchell scored 31 points and Evan Mobley had 22 points and a career-high-tying 19 rebounds, powering Cleveland to a win over visiting Atlanta in a potential Eastern Conference playoff preview.  James Harden put up 21 points and Jarrett Allen netted 16 for Cleveland, which is assured of finishing no lower than fourth in the East. The Cavaliers, who have won four straight and six of their past seven, moved within one-half game of the third-place New York Knicks.  Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 25 points and Jonathan Kuminga added 24 off the bench for the fifth-place Hawks, who failed to clinch a playoff berth. All-Star forward Jalen Johnson had 12 points, 11 rebounds and six assists before fouling out. Atlanta is one-half game ahead of the Toronto Raptors, but both teams could fall out of the top six and into the play-in tournament.  Pistons 137, Bucks 111  Jalen Duren scored 21 points with nine rebounds to lead Detroit to a win over visiting Milwaukee.  Detroit, already the owner of the top seed in the Eastern Conference, won its fourth game in its last five contests. Duncan Robinson added 20 points while superstar Cade Cunningham made his return from an 11-game absence for a collapsed lung. He contributed 13 points with 10 assists.   The Bucks fell for the second game in a row and eighth time in their last 10 games. Michigan native Ryan Rollins led Milwaukee with 23 points while Jericho Sims put up a triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.  Magic 132, Timberwolves 120  Paolo Banchero had 20 points, eight rebounds and six assists as Orlando beat visiting Minnesota for its fourth consecutive victory.  Desmond Bane scored 18 points and Franz Wagner added 17 for Orlando, which moved into seventh place in the tight Eastern Conference standings, one-half game ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers with two games remaining. Goga Bitadze had 14 points and a season-high 15 rebounds, Tristan da Silva added 12 points, and Jalen Suggs and Jevon Carter finished with 11 apiece.  Terrence Shannon Jr. set career highs with five 3-pointers and 33 points for short-handed Minnesota, which clinched the sixth position in the Western Conference on Tuesday. Jaden McDaniels returned after missing six games with a knee injury and scored 18 points in 19 minutes. Naz Reid had 15 points and Donte DiVincenzo added 12.  Nuggets 136, Grizzlies 119  Jamal Murray scored 26 points, Nikola Jokic finished with 14 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists for his 34th triple-double of the season, and host Denver beat Memphis for its 10th win in a row.  Cameron Johnson posted 18 points as the Nuggets moved 1 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference.  Cedric Coward finished with 27 points for the Grizzlies, who have lost six in a row and 19 of their past 21.  Spurs 112, Trail Blazers 101  De’Aaron Fox poured in 25 points and San Antonio’s reserves contributed 48 points as the host Spurs defeated Portland.  San Antonio played without Victor Wembanyama (rib) and Stephon Castle (knee) but still had enough to log their 13th win in 14 games. The Spurs became locked into the No. 2 spot in the Western Conference when the Oklahoma City Thunder won their game.  Deni Avdija paced Portland with 29 points, with Scoot Henderson scoring 20. The Trail Blazers remain ninth in the West, a game back of the Los Angeles Clippers ahead of the teams’ Friday meeting in Portland.  –Field Level Media   #Deadspin #NBA #roundup #Thunder #clinch #top #seed #win #Clippers

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