The ninth win in a row is worth the 62nd of the season, never in its history Phoenix had managed to fly so high and it is no coincidence that everyone is the team to beat in view of the play-offs. To surrender to the Suns (62-14) is Golden State who, since he is without Steph Curry, makes a crazy effort to win: seventh defeat in the last eight outings and ranking that becomes more and more complicated. The San Francisco franchise has slipped to fourth place, even surpassed by Dallas and now he has to watch his back from the arrival of Denver with five races left to play. Very bad Klay Thompson (13 points with 5/21 from the field and 1/10 from three), useless the 38 points of Jordan Poole. The challenge with Phoenix ends 107-103 and is decided by a basket 13 “from the end of Chris Paul (15 points and 8 assists).
Memphis sure of second place, ok Dallas and Denver
Behind the Suns Memphis (54-23) is confirmed in fantastic form, passing 112-111 in San Antonio (31-45) and for the first time in the history of the NBA they win the Southwest Division, mathematically securing second place in the West. Without the injured Morant, Tyys Jones, his director replacement, took the stage with 25 points. The race is complicated for the Grizzlies only in the final when the Spurs recover up to -1 with a super Murray (33), but without finding the possibility of overtaking.
With this defeat, the Texans are again overtaken by the Lakers in 10th place, the last to access the play-in. In key play-off Dallas leap forward that passes, as anticipated, Golden State. The Mavs (48-29) led by the usual Luka Doncic (35 points and 13 assists) win 120-111 over Cleveland (42-34). Denver also wins (46-31) who now hopes to reach the fourth place of the Dubs: 125-118 over Indiana (25-52) with Nikola Jokic reaching the 20th triple double of the season (37 points, 13 rebounds and 9 assists).
Nba: Lakers alarm, now the play-ins at risk. Milwaukee knocks out Philadelphia
East, Miami and Toronto win
The fight for primacy in the East remains open, where Miami (49-28) responds to Milwaukee’s success by winning the clash with another contender: 106-98 over Boston (47-30) with 24 points from Butler, 23 from Lowry and 17 points and 12 rebounds from Adebayo. Second success in a row for the Heat, who seem to have left behind the bad moment that culminated with a negative streak of four games.
Important success for Toronto (44-32), which strengthens its sixth place, the last one that guarantees direct access to the play-offs, with a triple double by Pascal Siakam (12 + 10 + 13) and 29 points by Trent : 125-102 on Minnesota (43-34). Play-in milestone reached for Charlotte (40-37) who beats New York 125-114 (34-43) with 31 points of which 14 in the last quarter for Bridges, almost done also for Atlanta (39-37): 136- 118 over the Oklahoma City Thunder (22-54) with 41 points and 8 assists by a wild Trae Young. Out Danilo Gallinari for a problem in his right elbow.
The other races
In the other matches played on the Italian night, 24 points each for Mitchell, Jones and Lyles allow Sacramento (38-49) to get the better of Houston (20-57) for 121-118, Washington (33-43) overtakes Orlando ( 20-57) 127-110 with the unusual double double of Tomas Satoransky: zero points, but 13 assists and 10 rebounds.
As for the battle for the play-ins in the West, New Orleans (33-43) consolidates the ninth place overcoming 117-107 Portland (27-49) with 25 points of the former McCollum, welcomed by his old audience with a minute and a half of standing ovation.
The results
Portland Trail Blazers – New Orleans Pelicans 107-11, Cleveland Cavaliers – Dallas Mavericks 112-120, Indiana Pacers – Denver Nuggets 118-125, Washington Wizards – Orlando Magic 127-110, Boston Celtics – Miami Heat 98-106, New York Knicks – Charlotte Hornets 114-125, Toronto Raptors – Minnesota Timberwolves 125-102, Houston Rockets – Sacramento Kings 118-121, Oklahoma City Thunder – Atlanta Hawks 118-136, San Antonio Spurs – Memphis Grizzlies 111-112, Golden State Warriors – Phoenix Suns 103-107.
