The Minnesota Timberwolves stormed Memphis in a head-to-head duel with the Grizzlies and further tightened an already red-hot Western Conference in the final stretch of the regular season.
There are only two days left before the play-in and playoffs: Friday and Sunday, each with 15 games in which all 30 NBA franchises will face each other.
Beyond the first place (Thunder, 66-14) and second place (Rockets, 52-28), the logjam in the West is fascinating.
The Lakers are third (49-31) ahead of the Nuggets (48-32, fourth) and the Clippers (also 48-32, fifth). In the battle to avoid the play-in, there are no less than three teams tied: the Warriors (47-33, sixth), Grizzlies (47-33, seventh) and Wolves (47-33, eighth).
These are the remaining games for the six teams involved in the Western Conference showdown, which include several head-to-head clashes that promise plenty of excitement:
– Lakers: Rockets (home) and Blazers (away).
– Nuggets: Grizzlies (home) and Rockets (away).
– Clippers: Kings (away) and Warriors (away).
– Warriors: Blazers (away) and Clippers (home)
– Grizzlies: Nuggets (away) and Mavericks (home).
– Timberwolves: Nets (home) and Jazz (home).
GRIZZLIES 125 – TIMBERWOLVES 141: Santi Aldama scored 5 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists
After blowing a 24-point lead against Milwaukee in their last game, the Wolves did their homework, boosted by a monumental third quarter that they won 25-52. Those 52 points were a new franchise record for Minnesota in a single period.
Anthony Edwards (44 points with 7 of 11 three-pointers) and Julius Randle (31 points and 10 rebounds) led this offensive display by the Wolves.
Ja Morant (36 points and 6 assists) and Desmond Bane (28 points, 6 rebounds and 9 assists) led the way for the Grizzlies, who had won their last three games. Spaniard Santi Aldama had 5 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists.
PISTONS 115 – KNICKS 106
If the season ended today, the Knicks (50-30, third in the East) and the Pistons (44-36, sixth) would meet in the first round and Detroit got this possible preview of the ‘playoff’ with 36 points and 8 assists from Cade Cunningham.
The Pistons have made a magnificent recovery after being the laughing stock of the NBA last season, breaking the record for consecutive games lost in a single campaign with 28.
Detroit will also have two very interesting challenges to end the campaign with a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-34, fifth), who are obliged to beat the Motown team in at least one game to avoid losing that fifth position.
For their part, Dominican Karl-Anthony Towns (25 points and 10 rebounds) was the leader for the Knicks, who were without Josh Hart and OG Anunoby and who, in the next two games, need a win or a Pacers loss to secure third place in the East.
PACERS 114 – CAVALIERS 112
First in the East (63-17) and with no chance of overtaking the Thunder (66-14, first in the West) for the best record in the league, the Cavaliers rested all their stars except for Jarrett Allen, who had a token 16-minute appearance. Even so, they came very close to winning in Indiana.
Ty Jerome (24 points and 6 assists) and De’Andre Hunter (23 points and 11 rebounds) led Cleveland. Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson was ejected for protesting to the referees.
The game was much more important for the Pacers, who have now won six in a row, who mathematically secured fourth place in the East (49-31) and who still have remote chances of being third (now the Knicks with 50-30). Tyrese Haliburton came close to a triple-double for Indiana with 23 points, eight rebounds and 10 assists.
BUCKS 136 – PELICANS 111
The Bucks (46-34) have also won six in a row and will now have to win at least one of their two remaining direct duels against the Pistons (44-36) to avoid losing fifth place in the East. Giannis Antetokounmpo shone with 28 points and 11 rebounds in just 26 minutes.
On the Pelicans (21-59, 14th in the West), Dominican Lester Quinones surpassed his NBA scoring mark with 21 points. He also added five rebounds and six assists.
Zaccharie Risacher scores 38 points against Jordi Fernandez’s Kings
Zaccharie Risacher, the number one pick in the last draft, broke his NBA scoring record with 38 points and a superb 15 of 20 shooting from the field including 6 of 11 from three-point range. The Malaga-born French international was backed up in Atlanta by Trae Young (24 points and 12 assists).
The Hawks, who had only won two of their last eight games, are eighth in the East (38-42) and have a play-in berth secured but can no longer catch the Orlando Magic (40-40, seventh). Behind them are the Chicago Bulls (37-43, ninth) and the Miami Heat (36-44, 10th).
Under the direction of Spanish coach Jordi Fernandez and with nothing at stake, the Nets (26-54, 12th in the East) were without their main players (Cam Thomas, D’Angelo Russell, Cameron Johnson, etc.). Jalen Wilson was Brooklyn’s leading scorer with 20 points (6 of 10 from three-point range).
Read the full article here
