The Celtics secured the top record in the NBA for the season and earned home-court advantage for the playoffs with a dominant 135-100 victory over the Thunder on Wednesday.
Kristaps Porzingis scored 27 points and secured 12 rebounds, while Jayson Tatum added 24 points and Jaylen Brown contributed 23 points for the Celtics against the Thunder. This victory improved their record to 60-16, making them the top team in the Eastern Conference. In the Western Conference, Minnesota and Denver are tied for the lead with a record of 53-23. With six games left in the regular season, Boston is guaranteed home-court advantage throughout the playoffs as they aim for their 18th NBA championship. The Celtics, who last won the NBA Finals in 2008, returned home after a successful 4-2 road trip. They dominated the game by outscoring the Thunder City 42-17 in the fourth quarter.
Minnesota tied for first place in the Western Conference with defending champions Denver after defeating Toronto 133-85, extending the Raptors’ losing streak to 15 games. Anthony Edwards scored 28 points for the Timberwolves, while Naz Reid contributed 23 points and Rudy Gobert had 11 points and 15 rebounds. Minnesota’s record stands at 53-23, putting them on par with the Nuggets and one game ahead of the Thunder.
Milwaukee, dealing with injuries to key players Damian Lillard, Khris Middleton, and Patrick Beverley, faced a 111-101 loss to Memphis. Jaren Jackson Jr was the top scorer for the Grizzlies with 35 points, supported by GG Jackson who contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds. Brook Lopez led the Bucks with 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Giannis Antetokounmpo added 21 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. Lillard was sidelined due to a groin strain, Middleton had a left ankle injury, and Beverley suffered a right ankle sprain.
Anthony Davis scored 35 points and secured 18 rebounds, while LeBron James contributed 25 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a 125-120 win against Washington. The Lakers, with a record of 44-33, currently hold the ninth spot in the Western Conference, leading Golden State by two games in the second-to-last play-in position.
Jalen Johnson achieved his inaugural triple-double by scoring 28 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing out 11 assists to lead the Atlanta Hawks to a 121-113 victory over the Detroit Pistons. Despite typically averaging just 5.2 points per game, reserve player Malachi Flynn surprised with a remarkable 50-point performance for the struggling Pistons, coming close to the NBA record for points scored off the bench set at 51 by Jamal Crawford in 2019. De’Andre Hunter scored 26 points and Dejounte Murray contributed 24 points for the Hawks, securing a spot in the East play-in tournament and knocking Brooklyn out of playoff contention.
Phoenix’s Devin Booker scored 40 points and Kevin Durant contributed 32 points to help the Suns defeat Cleveland 122-101, securing a spot in the Western Conference playoffs with a record of 45-31.
The New Orleans Pelicans (45-31) were pushed into the play-in zone after a home loss of 117-108 to Orlando. Paolo Banchero scored 32 points and Franz Wagner added 24 for the Magic.
Deandre Ayton, a Bahamian center, scored 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to help Portland defeat Charlotte 89-86. Charlotte Hornets coach Steve Clifford announced his decision to resign at the end of the season as the team, with a record of 18-58, is no longer in playoff contention.
