OKLAHOMA City Thunder surprisingly emerged as the top of the Western Conference standings ahead of defending champion Denver Nuggets when the NBA regular season ended, Monday (15/4) WIB.
The Thunder beat the Dallas Mavericks, who rested their top players, including Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving, 135-86 to be the best of three teams entering the NBA finale with identical win-loss records.
This is the first time in NBA history that three teams have had similar win-loss records entering the final game of the regular season.
Thanks to their head-to-head advantage over the Nuggets, the Thunder emerged at the top of the Western Conference standings even though the Nuggets also won 126-111 over the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Minnesota Timberwolves, who also have the chance to become top of the Western Conference standings, lost to the Phoenix Suns 125-106.
Thanks to the win, the Suns secured sixth place and the final automatic playoff spot in the Western Conference and will face the third-ranked Timberwolves in the first round.
Also read: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads Bucks to Storm
At home to the New Orleans Pelicans, LeBron James scored 28 points, 11 rebounds and 17 assists to record his 112th career triple-double to bring the Los Angeles Lakers to a 124-108 win and 8th place in the Western Conference standings.
The loss to the Lakers left the Pelicans in 7th place in the Western Conference standings and they will host the Lakers in a play-in match, Wednesday (17/4) WIB, with the winner of that match going to qualify for the playoffs as the 7th ranked team.
The Golden State Warriors defeated the Utah Jazz 123-116 to secure the final play-in spot of the Western Conference.
Stephen Curry and friends will face the Sacramento Kings, who beat the Detroit Pistons 123-95.
The winner of the match between the Warriors and Kings will face the team that lost the match between the Lakers and Pelicans to fight for the final ticket to the playoffs. (AFP/Z-1)
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