NBA REGULAR SEASON CONCLUDES…
ORLANDO 125 – Miami 111… The Magic concluded the regular season by beating a Heat team that already clinched the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs and was resting its regulars. Mo Bamba and R.J. Hampton each scored 21 points apiece for Orlando, which made 23 3-pointers.
Boston 139 – MEMPHIS 110… The Celtics bombed the Grizzlies to lock down the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 31 points. Boston awaits the winner of the play-in game between Brooklyn and Cleveland. Memphis finished as the second seed in the West and awaits the winner of the Minnesota-L.A. Clippers play-in game.
BROOKLYN 134 – Indiana 126… The Nets locked up seventh place in the Eastern Conference by downing the Pacers. Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 35 points. Kevin Durant piled up 20 points, 10 rebounds and a career-high 16 assists. Brooklyn will host eighth-seeded Cleveland tomorrow in the play-in tournament, with the winner moving into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The loser will have a second chance by hosting the winner of the game between the Nos. 9 and 10 seeds on Friday. The Nets and Cavs both finished 44-38, but Brooklyn won the season series to take the tiebreaker.
CLEVELAND 133 – Milwaukee 115… Kevin Love made eight 3-pointers on his way to 32 points in only 15 minutes and the Cavaliers cruised past a Milwaukee team resting its starters. Rookie Evan Mobley added 18 points and 10 boards. The Bucks finished third in the Western Conference and will face sixth-seeded Chicago in the first round beginning Sunday.
Chicago 124 – MINNESOTA 120… The Bulls built a 28-point second-quarter lead and hung on to beat the Timberwolves in a game between two teams resting their regulars in advance of the playoffs. Patrick Williams scored a career-high 35 points. Ayo Dosunmu tossed in 26 points. Minnesota finished with the seventh seed and will host the eighth-seeded L.A. Clippers for a play-in game tomorrow night, with the winner moving into the playoffs as the No. 7 seed. The loser will have a second chance by hosting the winner of the game between New Orleans and San Antonio on Friday.
L.A. CLIPPERS 138 – Oklahoma City 88… The Clippers routed the Thunder to close their regular season with a five-game winning streak and the Western Conference’s eighth seed. Amir Coffey notched career highs with 32 points and 13 rebounds.
Atlanta 130 – HOUSTON 114… The Hawks shot their way past the Rockets and finished the regular season ninth in the Eastern Conference. They will host 10th-seeded Charlotte on Wednesday night in the play-in tournament. Trae Young scored 28 points and dished off 11 assists. Houston finished with the NBA’s worst record for a second straight season.
CHARLOTTE 124 – Washington 108… The Hornets topped the Wizards to lock up the 10th seed in the Eastern Conference for the second straight year. Terry Rozier pumped in 25 points. LaMelo Ball had 24 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists.
PHILADELPHIA 118 – Detroit 106… The 76ers fought off the Pistons and are headed to the playoffs as the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed. They’re set to take on fifth-seeded Toronto in the first round. Shake Milton came off the bench and scored a game-high 30 points. Tyrese Maxey and Paul Reed added 21 points apiece.
NEW YORK 105 – Toronto 94… Obi Toppin poured in a career-high 42 points as the Knicks ran past a Raptors team that already clinched the Eastern Conference’s fifth seed. Immanuel Quickley finished with 34 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds.
Sacramento 116 – PHOENIX 109… The Kings took down the Suns, who were resting several starters after earning the Western Conference’s top seed. Justin Holiday, Damian Jones and Donte DiVincenzo scored 19 points apiece to lead a balanced scoring attack.
Golden State 128 – NEW ORLEANS 107… The Warriors breezed past the Pelicans and clinched the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. They host sixth-seeded Denver in the first round of the playoffs beginning Saturday. Klay Thompson made seven 3-pointers and finished with a game-high 41 points. Jordan Poole added 22 points. New Orleans clinched the Western Conference’s ninth seed and hosts 10th-seeded San Antonio in a play-in game on Wednesday.
L.A. Lakers 146 – DENVER 141 (OT)… The injury-plagued Lakers outlasted a Nuggets team that already clinched the sixth seed in the Western Conference and was resting several starters. Malik Monk scored a career-high 41 points. Austin Reaves added career highs with 31 points, 16 rebounds and 10 assists.
DALLAS 130 – San Antonio 120… The Mavericks got the better of the Spurs in a matchup of teams headed to the postseason. Fourth-seeded Dallas will host fifth-seeded Utah in the first round of the playoffs beginning Saturday. Their victory came at a cost, however, as Luka Doncic suffered a strained left calf in the third quarter and his playing status is uncertain.
Utah 111 – PORTLAND 80… The Jazz clinched the Western Conference’s fifth seed with a blowout of the Trail Blazers. Juancho Hernangomez put up a season-high 22 points. Rudy Gobert powered his way to 18 points and 13 rebounds.