By Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Nikola Jokic made NBA history on Thursday to lead the Denver Nuggets to a 122-109 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies and clinch a playoffs spot for the fourth consecutive year.
The reigning MVP became the first player in NBA history to reach 2,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 assists in a single season; he posted 35 points, 16 rebounds, and 6 assists to lift the Nuggets over their first win of the season against the Grizzlies.
Aaron Gordon added 22 points to the Nuggets’ efforts, Bones Hyland posted 16 points while coming from the bench and Will Burton also had 16. Desmond Bane had 14 points for the Grizzlies which suffered their second consecutive defeat but have also clinched a playoffs berth.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday each scored 29 points to pace the Milwaukee Bucks to a 127-121 victory against the shortstaffed Boston Celtics at home, their second in a row.
Giannis further added 11 rebounds and 5 assists for the Bucks, Khris Middleton added 22 points, 9 assists and 8 rebounds, and Bobby Portis picked up 17 points and 7 rebounds.
Marcus Smart also scored 29 points for the Celtics which were missing Jayson Tatum and Al Horford due to respective injuries. Jaylen Brown posted a triple-double with 22 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds, while big man Daniel Theis also tapped 22 points.
Anthony Edwards stole the show to score a new career-high with 49 points and lead the Minnesota Timberwolves past the San Antonio Spurs 127-121 at home to win their third of their last four games. Karl Anthony-Towns followed with a double-double of 21 points and 13 rebounds, while Malik Beasley and Jaylen Nowell each posted 11 points. Keldon Johnson had 20 points to pace all scorers of the Spurs and Jakob Poeltl had 15 points and 17 rebounds.
Pascal Siakam was added to the triple-double list of the night as well, leading the Toronto Raptors past the Philadelphia 76ers 119-114 with 37 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. Gary Trent scored 30 and Precious Achiuwa had 20 points for the undermanned Raptors that won their second game in a row. Joel Embiid tapped 30 points to go along with 10 rebounds for the Sixers, while Tyrese Maxey and Danny Green posted 22 and 18 points apiece.
Klay Thompson came close to his season-high, scoring 33 points on 12-of-22 FG as the Golden State Warriors overcame the Los Angeles Lakers and Talen Horton-Tucker’s career-high with a 128-112 win at home. Without Steph Curry on board, Jordan Poole scored 19 points for the Warriors and Andrew Wiggins had 17. Horton-Tucker drooped 40 points to set a new career record, while Malik Monk added 24 for the already-eliminated Lakers which have now lost their eighth game in a row.
CJ McCollum stepped up with 23 points and 7 assists to lead the New Orleans Pelicans to a 127-94 blowout against his former team, Portland Trail Blazers, to move closer to clinching a home game for the play-in tournament. Big man Jonas Valanciunas added 14 points and 8 rebounds for the winners and Larry Nance had 12 points coming from the bench. On the opposing end, Drew Eubanks scored 20 points for Portland and CJ Elleby followed with 17.
LaMelo Ball flirted with triple-double figures (26 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds) to help the Charlotte Hornets snap back from a two-game skid and rout the Orlando Magic 128-101 at home. Terry Rozier posted 22 points and the Hornets pulled within one game of the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets who are tied for 8th seed in the Eastern Conference and hope to improve their placement with two games remaining in the regular season. Chuma Okeke led the Magic with 20 points and 7 rebounds, Moritz Wagner scored 17 points while Ignas Brazdeikis added 12 points and 5 rebounds.
NBA April 7 results:
Charlotte Hornets – Orlando Magic 128-101
Toronto Raptors – Philadelphia 76ers 119-114
Milwaukee Bucks – Boston Celtics 127-121
Minnesota Timberwolves – San Antonio Spurs 127-121
New Orleans Pelicans – Portland Trail Blazers 127-94
Denver Nuggets – Memphis Grizzlies 122-109
Golden State Warriors – Los Angeles Lakers 128-112
NBA standings (via nba.com):
Eastern Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Miami Heat – e |
52 | 28 | .650 | — | 34-16 | 12-2 | 28-12 | 24-16 | 1-3 | 6-4 | W 5 |
|
2 Milwaukee Bucks – c |
50 | 30 | .625 | 2 | 32-18 | 11-3 | 27-14 | 23-16 | 1-2 | 6-4 | W 2 |
|
3 Boston Celtics – x |
50 | 31 | .617 | 2.5 | 33-19 | 9-7 | 28-13 | 22-18 | 4-3 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
4 Philadelphia 76ers – x |
49 | 31 | .613 | 3 | 30-20 | 6-10 | 22-17 | 27-14 | 3-1 | 6-4 | L 1 |
|
5 Toronto Raptors – x |
47 | 33 | .588 | 5 | 30-21 | 10-5 | 23-17 | 24-16 | 3-2 | 8-2 | W 2 |
|
6 Chicago Bulls – x |
45 | 35 | .563 | 7 | 29-22 | 10-6 | 27-13 | 18-22 | 1-1 | 4-6 | L 3 |
|
7 Cleveland Cavaliers – pi |
43 | 37 | .538 | 9 | 26-24 | 9-6 | 24-16 | 19-21 | 2-0 | 3-7 | L 2 |
|
8 Brooklyn Nets – pi |
42 | 38 | .525 | 10 | 29-21 | 10-6 | 18-21 | 24-17 | 2-1 | 6-4 | W 2 |
|
9 Atlanta Hawks – pi |
42 | 38 | .525 | 10 | 26-25 | 9-6 | 27-14 | 15-24 | 0-1 | 7-3 | W 1 |
|
10 Charlotte Hornets – pi |
41 | 39 | .513 | 11 | 25-25 | 7-8 | 21-19 | 20-20 | 0-7 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
11 Washington Wizards – o |
35 | 45 | .438 | 17 | 24-26 | 7-8 | 21-19 | 14-26 | 3-1 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
12 New York Knicks – o |
35 | 45 | .438 | 17 | 20-30 | 4-11 | 16-24 | 19-21 | 1-2 | 5-5 | L 1 |
|
13 Indiana Pacers – o |
25 | 55 | .313 | 27 | 11-39 | 2-14 | 16-25 | 9-30 | 4-4 | 2-8 | L 8 |
|
14 Detroit Pistons – o |
23 | 57 | .288 | 29 | 18-32 | 6-9 | 13-27 | 10-30 | 3-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
15 Orlando Magic – o |
21 | 60 | .259 | 31.5 | 11-40 | 2-13 | 11-29 | 10-31 | 0-4 | 3-7 | L 1 |
Western Conference
| TEAM | W | L | WIN% | GB | CONF | DIV | HOME | ROAD | OT | LAST 10 | STREAK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 Phoenix Suns – w |
63 | 17 | .788 | — | 38-12 | 10-5 | 32-8 | 31-9 | 2-0 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
2 Memphis Grizzlies – sw |
55 | 25 | .688 | 8 | 35-16 | 10-5 | 29-10 | 26-15 | 2-2 | 7-3 | L 2 |
|
3 Golden State Warriors – x |
51 | 29 | .638 | 12 | 31-19 | 12-4 | 31-10 | 20-19 | 0-2 | 4-6 | W 3 |
|
4 Dallas Mavericks – x |
50 | 30 | .625 | 13 | 34-16 | 13-2 | 27-12 | 23-18 | 1-2 | 7-3 | W 2 |
|
5 Utah Jazz – x |
48 | 32 | .600 | 15 | 32-18 | 14-1 | 29-11 | 19-21 | 2-0 | 4-6 | W 2 |
|
6 Denver Nuggets – x |
48 | 33 | .593 | 15.5 | 29-22 | 6-10 | 23-17 | 25-16 | 3-1 | 6-4 | W 1 |
|
7 Minnesota Timberwolves – pi |
46 | 35 | .568 | 17.5 | 32-20 | 12-4 | 26-14 | 20-21 | 2-1 | 5-5 | W 1 |
|
8 LA Clippers – pi |
40 | 40 | .500 | 23 | 24-26 | 8-7 | 23-16 | 17-24 | 0-4 | 4-6 | W 3 |
|
9 New Orleans Pelicans – pi |
36 | 44 | .450 | 27 | 25-25 | 6-9 | 19-21 | 17-23 | 1-2 | 7-3 | W 2 |
|
10 San Antonio Spurs – pi |
34 | 46 | .425 | 29 | 24-26 | 6-9 | 16-24 | 18-22 | 1-3 | 7-3 | L 1 |
|
11 Los Angeles Lakers – o |
31 | 49 | .388 | 32 | 16-34 | 3-13 | 20-20 | 11-29 | 7-2 | 1-9 | L 8 |
|
12 Sacramento Kings – o |
29 | 51 | .363 | 34 | 19-31 | 5-9 | 16-25 | 13-26 | 2-1 | 4-6 | L 2 |
|
13 Portland Trail Blazers – o |
27 | 53 | .338 | 36 | 11-39 | 1-14 | 17-23 | 10-30 | 0-2 | 1-9 | L 9 |
|
14 Oklahoma City Thunder – o |
24 | 56 | .300 | 39 | 17-33 | 6-10 | 12-29 | 12-27 | 4-1 | 4-6 | L 1 |
|
15 Houston Rockets – o |
20 | 60 | .250 | 43 | 11-41 | 3-13 | 11-29 | 9-31 | 2-1 | 3-7 | L 5 |
Photo credit: Getty Images