By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Los Angeles Clippers wrapped up second place in the Western Conference and threw the Denver Nuggets into the third seed with the 124-111 win in the Orlando bubble on Wednesday. Ivica Zubac put up a 15-point, 12-rebound double-double to go along with two assists. Paul George scored 27 points, Kawhi Leonard 26, and Lou Williams 23.
Seventh-seeded Dallas Mavericks and Luka Doncic are coming their way in the postseason set to start next week. The Nuggets will put themselves to a test against the Utah Jazz as the third seed despite Nikola Jokic posting a 17-point, 13-assist double-double and grabbing seven rebounds. Jerami Grant went for 25 points in losing effort.
Raptors send 76ers into the sixth seed
Furkan Korkmaz scored 21 points netting five threes alongside five rebounds, four assists, and two steals, but the Philadelphia 76ers lost, 125-121, to the Toronto Raptors and were locked into the sixth seed of the Eastern Conference. Teammate Tobias Harris produced a game-high 22 points with Joel Embiid suffering another early exit due to injury.
The Raptors held out Europeans OG Anunoby and Serge Ibaka, but Marc Gasol started for 11 points, five rebounds, two steals, one assist, and one block in 19 minutes. Kyle Lowry and Chris Boucher shared a team-high 19 points, and Stanley Johnson made the go-ahead bucket with 4.5 seconds left.
Heat to meet Pacers, Rockets versus Thunder
Mike Muscala sank the game-winning three-pointer with 5.2 seconds left granting the Oklahoma City Thunder the win, 116-115, opposite to the Miami Heat. Danilo Gallinari contributed with 14 points and two rebounds. Goran Dragic posted 16 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals for the losing side. Both Europeans were included in the starting unit on their respective side.
The Indiana Pacers turned away James Harden’s 45 points to take down the Houston Rockets, 108-104. Both teams became tied for fourth place in their conference, set up a first-round playoffs series versus the Heat and the Thunder, respectively. Justin Holiday and Myles Turner got in 18 points each, while Georgian Goga Bitadze added four points, three rebounds, two steals, and one block off the bench.
Standings:
Eastern Conference
1. x-Milwaukee Bucks 56-16
2. x-Toronto Raptors 52-19
3. x-Boston Celtics 48-23
4. x-Miami Heat 44-28
5. x-Indiana Pacers 44-28
6. x-Philadelphia 76rs 42-30
7. x-Brooklyn Nets 35-36
8. x-Orlando Magic 32-40
9. e-Washington Wizards 24-47
Western Conference
1. x-Los Angeles Lakers 52-18
2. x-Los Angeles Clippers 48-23
3. x-Denver Nuggets 46-26
4. x-Oklahoma City Thunder 44-27
5. x-Houston Rockets 44-27
6. x-Utah Jazz 43-28
7. x-Dallas Mavericks 43-31
8. Portland Trail Blazers 34-39
9. Memphis Grizzlies 33-39
10. Phoenix Suns 33-39
11. San Antonio Spurs 32-38
12. e-Sacramento Kings 30-41
13. e-New Orleans Pelicans 30-41
x-clinched playoffs berth
e-eliminated from playoffs
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