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#NBA #roundup #LeBron #shines #Lakers #win #Wembanyama #helps #Spurs #beat #Mavericks">NBA roundup: LeBron shines in Lakers’ win; Wembanyama helps Spurs beat Mavericks LeBron James scored 28 points and dished 12 assists to become the fourth player in NBA history to top 12,000 in a career, leading the Los Angeles Lakers to a convincing victory (101-73) over visiting Phoenix Suns.
Luke Kennard added 19 points in the victory that assured the Lakers will finish no lower than fourth place in the Western Conference and have homecourt advantage in a first-round playoff series. The Lakers remain one game behind the third-place Denver Nuggets with one game to play, and own the tiebreaker edge.
Dillon Brooks scored 12 points, and reserve Royce O’Neale added 11 for the Suns, who were without star Devin Booker (ankle). The Suns scored just 25 second-half points in a contest that meant nothing after it previously locked up the No. 7 spot in the West and a home play-in game. Grayson Allen exited in the second quarter due to a left hamstring injury and didn’t return.
Spurs 139, Mavericks 120
Victor Wembanyama showed that he is playoff-ready after an injury by amassing 40 points and 13 rebounds as host San Antonio Spurs pummelled Dallas Mavericks.
Wembanyama, back after missing a game and a half with a left rib contusion, reached the 65-game requirement for league postseason awards. De’Aaron Fox added 18 points and 10 assists for the Spurs, who have won 14 of their past 15 games.
Cooper Flagg put up 33 points, and Max Christie had 16 for the Mavericks, who have lost three in a row.
Hawks 124, Cavaliers 102
CJ McCollum scored 25 of his game-high 29 points in the first half, and Dyson Daniels collected 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists as the Atlanta Hawks clinched a playoff spot with a 124-102 rout of the visiting Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night.
Jalen Johnson had 18 points and nine rebounds, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 18 for the Hawks (46-35), who will finish either fifth or sixth in the Eastern Conference. The Southeast Division champions have missed the playoffs in the last two seasons.
Daniels posted his second career triple-double, and McCollum drained six-of-eight three-point attempts. The Hawks built a 92-59 lead in the third quarter, when Alexander-Walker and Johnson each had 11 points to deliver the knockout blow.
James Harden scored 20 points and dished out five assists, and Tyrese Proctor had 15 points in the final quarter for the fourth-seeded Cavaliers (51-30). They will have home-court advantage in the first round against either the Hawks or the Toronto Raptors.
76ers 105, Pacers 94
Tyrese Maxey scored 32 points, and Andre Drummond posted a double-double off the bench, as Philadelphia 76ers assured itself of finishing no worse than eighth in the Eastern Conference after beating Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis.
With Joel Embiid out due to appendicitis, Drummond produced 10 points and 16 rebounds. The 76ers ended a three-game skid and stayed alive in the chase for the East’s sixth and final automatic playoff berth.
Jarace Walker’s 17 points led the Pacers, who have lost four of the past five. Micah Potter finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Pistons 118, Hornets 100
Jalen Duren scored 20 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field, as Detroit Pistons rode a strong stretch early in the fourth quarter to a win over host Charlotte Hornets.
Duncan Robinson racked up 19 points, Cade Cunningham had 14 points, Ronald Holland II posted 13 points and Ausar Thompson added 12 points for the Pistons, who have won five of their past six games.
Detroit had already locked up first place in the Eastern Conference. The outcome means the Hornets will be in the East’s play-in tournament.
The loss eliminated any chance that they could advance directly to the playoff bracket. LaMelo Ball’s 27 points, including six three-point baskets, led the Hornets, while Brandon Miller had 22 points. Coby White, after missing the team’s Tuesday game night because of groin soreness, scored 11 points off the bench.
Bucks 125, Nets 108
AJ Green scored a career-high 35 points to lead Milwaukee to a victory over visiting Brooklyn Nets in Milwaukee Bucks’ final home game of the season.
The Bucks snapped a two-game skid as Green also became just the third Buck ever to make 10 or more three-pointers in a game (11-for-16). Cormac Ryan added 28 while Taurean Prince scored 18 with 10 rebounds. Jericho Sims posted a double- double off the bench with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Tyson Etienne led the Nets with 23 points. Malachi Smith nearly contributed a triple-double with 19 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. The Nets only played seven players and each contributed double figures. Reserve Nolan Traore scored 14 points in just over 16 minutes of action.
Nuggets 127, Thunder 107
Jonas Valanciunas amassed 23 points and 17 rebounds, both season highs, and Julian Strawther added 22 points as host Denver Nuggets beat Oklahoma City Thunder in a matchup of benches.
The Nuggets clinched at least the fourth seed in the Western Conference with their 11th straight win. They can still capture the No. 3 seed with a win on Sunday in San Antonio or with the Lakers’ loss. They rested its entire starting five and Spencer Jones and Peyton Watson, both of whom have been sidelined with hamstring strains.
The Thunder have secured the top overall seed. The only starter dressed for either team was Thunder guard Luguentz Dort, who was required to play at least 20 minutes in each of the final two games to qualify for postseason awards, according to coach Mark Daigneault.
Jazz 147, Grizzlies 101
Rookie Blake Hinson scored a career-high 30 points, and two reserves logged triple-doubles, helping Utah Jazz snap a 10-game losing streak with a demolition of Memphis Grizzlies in Salt Lake City.
Rookie Bez Mbeng logged 27 points, 11 assists, 11 rebounds and three steals for his first triple-double. John Konchar registered a triple-double for a second straight game, finishing with 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and five steals. Kennedy Chandler added 26 points and 10 assists to help the Jazz get into the win column for only the second time in 16 games.
Dariq Whitehead led the Grizzlies with a career-best 21 points.
Rookie Toby Okani had a career-high 20 points, and Adama Bal added 18 for the Grizzlies, who used just six players while losing their seventh straight game.
Kings 124, Warriors 118
Devin Carter set career highs with six three-pointers, 29 points and nine rebounds as Sacramento Kings beat visiting Golden State Warriors.
Carter shot 11-for-18 from the floor and 6-for-11 from three-point range for the Kings, which avenged a 110-105 loss to the Warriors on Tuesday in San Francisco. Maxime Raynaud scored 23 points, Nique Clifford and Daeqwon Plowden scored 20 apiece, and Malik Monk added 11.
Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with a career-high 30 points, and De’Anthony Melton added 17. They lost for the sixth time in their past seven games, and will compete in the play-in tournament as the No. 10 seed in the West.
Heat 140, Wizards 117
Simone Fontecchio and Pelle Larsson scored 24 points each as Miami Heat snapped a two-game losing streak, crushing host Washington Wizards.
Bam Adebayo added 20 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists for the Heat, who are locked into a spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament. Adebayo scored a franchise-record 83 points against the Wizards on March 10. The Heat completed a 4-0 season sweep of the Wizards.
The Heat, however, have just four wins over the past 14 games. Jaime Jaquez Jr. added 23 points for them, and Kasparas Jakucionis had 16.
Bub Carrington led the scoring with 30 points, Bilal Coulibaly added 25 points and five assists, while Will Riley scored 16 points for the Wizards, who have the NBA’s worst record as they fell for the 25th time in 26 games.
Knicks 112, Raptors 95
Jalen Brunson scored 14 of his game-high 29 points in the third quarter as New York Knicks clinched the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference with a victory over visiting Toronto Raptors.
Karl-Anthony Towns added 22 points and 10 rebounds while Mikal Bridges logged 13 points for the Knicks, who have seven straight home games and five games in a row overall. They have a 30-9 home mark this season.
Sandro Mamukelashvili produced 17 points and eight rebounds to lead the Raptors, who fell into a tie with the Orlando Magic for the sixth and final automatic playoff spot in the East. The Raptors hold the tiebreaker edge. Brandon Ingram had 16 points and six assists for the Raptors. Ja’Kobe Walter went 4 of 7 from beyond the arc en route to 15 points.
Trail Blazers 116, Clippers 97
Deni Avdija scored 15 of his game-high 35 points in the fourth quarter and helped fuel a crucial run as Portland Trail Blazers powered past visiting Los Angeles Clippers.
The teams are now tied with 41-40 records and one game to go, but the Trail Blazers own the tiebreaker, which would leave them eighth in the Western Conference. Donovan Clingan added 18 points and 13 rebounds for the hosts.
Kawhi Leonard led the Clippers with 24 points and eight rebounds. Brook Lopez knocked down five three-pointers on the way to 21 points.
Magic 127, Bulls 103
Franz Wagner scored 25 points, and Jamal Cain added 20 as visiting Orlando Magic stretched its winning streak to five games with a victory against Chicago Bulls.
The Magic remained alive for the sixth seed in the Eastern Conference—which would allow them to avoid the play-in tournament—with one game remaining in the regular season. Goga Bitadze posted a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Magic. Paolo Banchero scored 14 points to go with nine rebounds and seven assists.
The Bulls suffered their eighth loss in 10 games despite 23 points from Tre Jones. They have now lost 50 games for the first time since 2018-19. Matas Buzelis had 14 points and eight rebounds for the Bulls before leaving in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle.
Celtics 144, Pelicans 118
Boston Celtics tied an NBA record by making 29 three-point field goals and secured the No. 2 seed for the Eastern Conference playoffs by beating visiting New Orleans Pelicans.
The Celtics took 59 three-point shots but didn’t put up a shot on their final possession. The record for made three-pointers in a game is also shared by the 2020 Milwaukee Bucks, the 2024 Celtics and the 2026 Grizzlies.
The Celtics received 24 points from Sam Hauser, who was 8 of 12 from three-point territory. Jaylen Brown scored 23, and Payton Pritchard finished with 21 points and 10 assists. Jeremiah Fears led the Pelicans with 36.
Timberwolves 136, Rockets 132
Donte DiVincenzo scored 11 of his 18 points to spark a fourth-quarter rally, and Terrence Shannon Jr. chipped in 23 points off the bench as short-handed Minnesota Timberwolves snapped host Houston Rockets’ eight-game winning streak.
Anthony Edwards scored 22 points in his return after missing 10 of the previous 12 games. The Timberwolves, playing without starters Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert and sixth man Naz Reid, shot 57.3 per cent from the floor, including 15 of 30 from behind the arc.
Amen Thompson scored a career-high 41 points to pace the Rockets and added nine rebounds and seven assists. Kevin Durant posted 33 points, seven rebounds and seven assists while Alperen Sengun totalled 22 points and eight assists.
Published on Apr 11, 2026
LeBron James scored 28 points and dished 12 assists to become the fourth player in…
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#NBA #roundup #Thunder #clinches #top #seed #win #Clippers">NBA roundup: Thunder again clinches top seed with win over Clippers
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 on 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 its seventh 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 on 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 on 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.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket.
| Photo Credit:
AP
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 half a game ahead of the Toronto Raptors, but both teams could drop 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 the 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.
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
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 its 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.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket. | Photo Credit: AP
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket. | Photo Credit: AP
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves. | Photo Credit: Getty 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 on 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 its seventh 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 on 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 on 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.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket. | Photo Credit: AP
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) celebrates after a basket. | Photo Credit: AP
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 half a game ahead of the Toronto Raptors, but both teams could drop 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 the 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.
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Paolo Banchero (5) of the Orlando Magic dribbles the ball against Jaden McDaniels (3) of the Minnesota Timberwolves. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
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 its 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.
Published on Apr 09, 2026
Chet Holmgren scored 30 points and grabbed 14 rebounds while Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20 points…
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece, and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves finished the night clinching a playoff spot and avoiding the play-in after the Phoenix Suns fell to the Houston Rockets 119-105 later on Tuesday.
Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who took their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points.
Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness.
Thunder 123, Lakers 87
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes as Oklahoma City demolished the Lakers for the second time in five days, prevailing in Los Angeles.
The Thunder, by earning their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games, moved within one win or one San Antonio Spurs loss of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season. Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain added 18 and 15 points off the bench, respectively.
The Lakers fell a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West with their third consecutive loss. They are now tied with Houston after the Rockets beat the Suns. Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. No other Los Angeles player scored more than 11.
Rockets 119, Suns 105
Kevin Durant had 24 points and five 3-pointers in his return to Phoenix, and Houston overcame a 21-point deficit for its largest comeback of the season, producing a victory over the host Suns.
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Amen Thompson logged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points and five 3-pointers for the Rockets, who have won seven in a row and nine of 11. The Rockets are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place in the West and are one game behind the Denver Nuggets with three to play.
Devin Booker had 31 points and eight assists, and Mark Williams contributed 19 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who had a 24-0 run in the first quarter to build a 26-5 lead before fading.
Pelicans 156, Jazz 137
Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high and franchise-rookie-record 40 points as New Orleans set a club record for points in a blowout of visiting Utah.
Jordan Poole added 34 points, Jordan Hawkins put up a season-high 25, and rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak.
Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points, and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game.
Celtics 113, Hornets 102
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Boston past visiting Charlotte.
The Celtics received 23 points from Jayson Tatum and 12 each from Neemias Queta, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Boston has won four straight and 11 of its past 13 games.
LaMelo Ball tossed in a game-high 36 points for the Hornets, but he failed to score in the fourth quarter. Charlotte was held to 15 points in the final period as its four-game winning streak ended.
Bulls 129, Wizards 98
Rob Dillingham’s career-high 26 points off the bench highlighted a balanced scoring effort as Chicago rolled past host Washington.
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Chicago left little doubt on the way to snapping a seven-game losing streak, pouncing on Washington with a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter. Tre Jones put on 20 points, his third effort of 19-plus points in his past five games, and he wound up one assist shy of his first double-double since January. Patrick Williams added 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 19 points. First-year forward Julian Reese posted his fourth double-double in his 10 NBA games, going for 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Nets 96, Bucks 90
E.J. Liddell scored 21 points to lead Brooklyn to a victory over visiting Milwaukee.
It was the second win in a row for Brooklyn and third in its last five contests. Ben Saraf added 19 points while Malachi Smith and Drake Powell each scored 11.
AJ Green led the Bucks with 20 points on six 3-pointers (6-for-12). Taurean Prince scored 16 points with 11 rebounds while Cormac Ryan added 14. Jericho Sims tallied 12 points, eight boards, and six assists, and Ousmane Dieng had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Clippers 116, Mavericks 103
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and Darius Garland added 22 as Los Angeles improved its play-in tournament seeding possibilities with a victory over Dallas in Inglewood, Calif.
John Collins scored 12 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 11 points with 10 rebounds as the eighth-place Clippers moved a full game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers and Blazers will meet on Friday at Portland.
Cooper Flagg scored 25 points and Marvin Bagley III added 21 as the Mavericks fell to 2-9 since March 16. Flagg, 19, coming off consecutive games of 51 and 45 points.
READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA season
Raptors 121, Heat 95
Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 23, leading Toronto to a victory over visiting Miami.
Jakob Poeltl had 17 points while RJ Barrett chipped in 16 for the Raptors, who pulled within a game of the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference. Toronto had dropped three of its previous four games.
The Heat got 24 points from Andrew Wiggins and 14 points apiece from Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. Miami shot just 27.3 per cent (12 of 44) on 3-point attempts while dropping its ninth game in 12 tries.
Warriors 110, Kings 105
Stephen Curry capped his 17-point performance with a game-tying 3-pointer, then turned his own miss into an offensive rebound and assist on Brandin Podziemski’s go-ahead trey as Golden State outlasted Sacramento in San Francisco.
De’Anthony Melton had a game-high 21 points and Podziemski finished with 20 for the Warriors, who ended a four-game losing streak while resting Kristaps Porzingis on the first night of a four-games-in-six-days sequence.
Killian Hayes led a balanced attack with 18 points off the bench for the Kings, who dropped their second in a row.
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Sports news
#NBA #roundup #Wolves #Pacers #subsequently #clinch #playoff #berth">NBA roundup: Wolves down Pacers, subsequently clinch playoff berth
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece, and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves finished the night clinching a playoff spot and avoiding the play-in after the Phoenix Suns fell to the Houston Rockets 119-105 later on Tuesday.
Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who took their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points.
Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness.
Thunder 123, Lakers 87
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes as Oklahoma City demolished the Lakers for the second time in five days, prevailing in Los Angeles.
The Thunder, by earning their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games, moved within one win or one San Antonio Spurs loss of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season. Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain added 18 and 15 points off the bench, respectively.
The Lakers fell a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West with their third consecutive loss. They are now tied with Houston after the Rockets beat the Suns. Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. No other Los Angeles player scored more than 11.
Rockets 119, Suns 105
Kevin Durant had 24 points and five 3-pointers in his return to Phoenix, and Houston overcame a 21-point deficit for its largest comeback of the season, producing a victory over the host Suns.
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Amen Thompson logged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points and five 3-pointers for the Rockets, who have won seven in a row and nine of 11. The Rockets are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place in the West and are one game behind the Denver Nuggets with three to play.
Devin Booker had 31 points and eight assists, and Mark Williams contributed 19 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who had a 24-0 run in the first quarter to build a 26-5 lead before fading.
Pelicans 156, Jazz 137
Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high and franchise-rookie-record 40 points as New Orleans set a club record for points in a blowout of visiting Utah.
Jordan Poole added 34 points, Jordan Hawkins put up a season-high 25, and rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak.
Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points, and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game.
Celtics 113, Hornets 102
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Boston past visiting Charlotte.
The Celtics received 23 points from Jayson Tatum and 12 each from Neemias Queta, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Boston has won four straight and 11 of its past 13 games.
LaMelo Ball tossed in a game-high 36 points for the Hornets, but he failed to score in the fourth quarter. Charlotte was held to 15 points in the final period as its four-game winning streak ended.
Bulls 129, Wizards 98
Rob Dillingham’s career-high 26 points off the bench highlighted a balanced scoring effort as Chicago rolled past host Washington.
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Chicago left little doubt on the way to snapping a seven-game losing streak, pouncing on Washington with a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter. Tre Jones put on 20 points, his third effort of 19-plus points in his past five games, and he wound up one assist shy of his first double-double since January. Patrick Williams added 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 19 points. First-year forward Julian Reese posted his fourth double-double in his 10 NBA games, going for 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Nets 96, Bucks 90
E.J. Liddell scored 21 points to lead Brooklyn to a victory over visiting Milwaukee.
It was the second win in a row for Brooklyn and third in its last five contests. Ben Saraf added 19 points while Malachi Smith and Drake Powell each scored 11.
AJ Green led the Bucks with 20 points on six 3-pointers (6-for-12). Taurean Prince scored 16 points with 11 rebounds while Cormac Ryan added 14. Jericho Sims tallied 12 points, eight boards, and six assists, and Ousmane Dieng had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Clippers 116, Mavericks 103
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and Darius Garland added 22 as Los Angeles improved its play-in tournament seeding possibilities with a victory over Dallas in Inglewood, Calif.
John Collins scored 12 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 11 points with 10 rebounds as the eighth-place Clippers moved a full game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers and Blazers will meet on Friday at Portland.
Cooper Flagg scored 25 points and Marvin Bagley III added 21 as the Mavericks fell to 2-9 since March 16. Flagg, 19, coming off consecutive games of 51 and 45 points.
READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA season
Raptors 121, Heat 95
Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 23, leading Toronto to a victory over visiting Miami.
Jakob Poeltl had 17 points while RJ Barrett chipped in 16 for the Raptors, who pulled within a game of the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference. Toronto had dropped three of its previous four games.
The Heat got 24 points from Andrew Wiggins and 14 points apiece from Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. Miami shot just 27.3 per cent (12 of 44) on 3-point attempts while dropping its ninth game in 12 tries.
Warriors 110, Kings 105
Stephen Curry capped his 17-point performance with a game-tying 3-pointer, then turned his own miss into an offensive rebound and assist on Brandin Podziemski’s go-ahead trey as Golden State outlasted Sacramento in San Francisco.
De’Anthony Melton had a game-high 21 points and Podziemski finished with 20 for the Warriors, who ended a four-game losing streak while resting Kristaps Porzingis on the first night of a four-games-in-six-days sequence.
Killian Hayes led a balanced attack with 18 points off the bench for the Kings, who dropped their second in a row.
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with a 124-104 win over the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday in Indianapolis.
Julius Randle and Bones Hyland added 19 apiece, and Naz Reid contributed 17 for Minnesota (47-32), which sits in sixth place in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves finished the night clinching a playoff spot and avoiding the play-in after the Phoenix Suns fell to the Houston Rockets 119-105 later on Tuesday.
Rookie Ethan Thompson posted 17 points for the Pacers (18-61), who took their third straight defeat. Obi Toppin and Jalen Slawson both had 14 points.
Indiana’s season-long injury crisis continued when forward Kobe Brown, who was in the starting five, was unable to play after halftime with lower back soreness.
Thunder 123, Lakers 87
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 25 points in 28 minutes as Oklahoma City demolished the Lakers for the second time in five days, prevailing in Los Angeles.
The Thunder, by earning their sixth consecutive win and their 18th in 19 games, moved within one win or one San Antonio Spurs loss of clinching the top spot in the Western Conference for the third consecutive season. Chet Holmgren had 15 points and 10 rebounds, while Isaiah Joe and Jared McCain added 18 and 15 points off the bench, respectively.
The Lakers fell a game behind the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 spot in the West with their third consecutive loss. They are now tied with Houston after the Rockets beat the Suns. Rui Hachimura led Los Angeles with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting. No other Los Angeles player scored more than 11.
Rockets 119, Suns 105
Kevin Durant had 24 points and five 3-pointers in his return to Phoenix, and Houston overcame a 21-point deficit for its largest comeback of the season, producing a victory over the host Suns.
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Kevin Durant (7) of the Houston Rockets handles the ball against Jordan Goodwin (23) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Amen Thompson logged 22 points, 11 rebounds, and eight assists, and Jabari Smith Jr. had 20 points and five 3-pointers for the Rockets, who have won seven in a row and nine of 11. The Rockets are tied with the Los Angeles Lakers for fourth place in the West and are one game behind the Denver Nuggets with three to play.
Devin Booker had 31 points and eight assists, and Mark Williams contributed 19 points and eight rebounds for the Suns, who had a 24-0 run in the first quarter to build a 26-5 lead before fading.
Pelicans 156, Jazz 137
Jeremiah Fears scored a career-high and franchise-rookie-record 40 points as New Orleans set a club record for points in a blowout of visiting Utah.
Jordan Poole added 34 points, Jordan Hawkins put up a season-high 25, and rookie Micah Peavy scored a career-high 20 as the Pelicans ended an eight-game losing streak.
Kennedy Chandler scored a career-high 31 points, and rookie Bez Mbeng added a career-best 26 for the Jazz, who lost their 10th consecutive game.
Celtics 113, Hornets 102
Jaylen Brown scored 35 points and grabbed nine rebounds to propel Boston past visiting Charlotte.
The Celtics received 23 points from Jayson Tatum and 12 each from Neemias Queta, Derrick White, and Payton Pritchard. Boston has won four straight and 11 of its past 13 games.
LaMelo Ball tossed in a game-high 36 points for the Hornets, but he failed to score in the fourth quarter. Charlotte was held to 15 points in the final period as its four-game winning streak ended.
Bulls 129, Wizards 98
Rob Dillingham’s career-high 26 points off the bench highlighted a balanced scoring effort as Chicago rolled past host Washington.
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Rob Dillingham (7) of the Chicago Bulls attempts a layup against Devin Booker (1) of the Phoenix Suns. | Photo Credit: Getty Images
Chicago left little doubt on the way to snapping a seven-game losing streak, pouncing on Washington with a 9-0 run midway through the first quarter. Tre Jones put on 20 points, his third effort of 19-plus points in his past five games, and he wound up one assist shy of his first double-double since January. Patrick Williams added 20 points, seven rebounds, and six assists.
Bilal Coulibaly led the Wizards with 19 points. First-year forward Julian Reese posted his fourth double-double in his 10 NBA games, going for 17 points and 11 rebounds.
Nets 96, Bucks 90
E.J. Liddell scored 21 points to lead Brooklyn to a victory over visiting Milwaukee.
It was the second win in a row for Brooklyn and third in its last five contests. Ben Saraf added 19 points while Malachi Smith and Drake Powell each scored 11.
AJ Green led the Bucks with 20 points on six 3-pointers (6-for-12). Taurean Prince scored 16 points with 11 rebounds while Cormac Ryan added 14. Jericho Sims tallied 12 points, eight boards, and six assists, and Ousmane Dieng had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Clippers 116, Mavericks 103
Kawhi Leonard scored 34 points and Darius Garland added 22 as Los Angeles improved its play-in tournament seeding possibilities with a victory over Dallas in Inglewood, Calif.
John Collins scored 12 points, and Derrick Jones Jr. added 11 points with 10 rebounds as the eighth-place Clippers moved a full game ahead of the ninth-place Portland Trail Blazers. The Clippers and Blazers will meet on Friday at Portland.
Cooper Flagg scored 25 points and Marvin Bagley III added 21 as the Mavericks fell to 2-9 since March 16. Flagg, 19, coming off consecutive games of 51 and 45 points.
READ: Victor Wembanyama injury update — San Antonio Spurs star doubtful for rest of NBA season
Raptors 121, Heat 95
Scottie Barnes scored 25 points and Brandon Ingram added 23, leading Toronto to a victory over visiting Miami.
Jakob Poeltl had 17 points while RJ Barrett chipped in 16 for the Raptors, who pulled within a game of the fifth-place Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference. Toronto had dropped three of its previous four games.
The Heat got 24 points from Andrew Wiggins and 14 points apiece from Tyler Herro and Norman Powell. Miami shot just 27.3 per cent (12 of 44) on 3-point attempts while dropping its ninth game in 12 tries.
Warriors 110, Kings 105
Stephen Curry capped his 17-point performance with a game-tying 3-pointer, then turned his own miss into an offensive rebound and assist on Brandin Podziemski’s go-ahead trey as Golden State outlasted Sacramento in San Francisco.
De’Anthony Melton had a game-high 21 points and Podziemski finished with 20 for the Warriors, who ended a four-game losing streak while resting Kristaps Porzingis on the first night of a four-games-in-six-days sequence.
Killian Hayes led a balanced attack with 18 points off the bench for the Kings, who dropped their second in a row.
Published on Apr 08, 2026
Ayo Dosunmu scored 24 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing streak with…