Phoenix, undisputed leader of the championship, made sure to be seeded N.1 in the West in the play-offs, thanks to its seventh victory in a row, obtained Thursday in Denver (140-130) where Devin Booker sparkling summer with 49 points scored.
The sun still shines as much for the Suns: they will have the advantage of the floor at every turn, even in the final, if they return there a year after their failure against Milwaukee.
They again made a show of force in combative Nuggets but who folded in the last quarter (30-19).
Their address was particularly formidable (60.5%), like Booker (10 assists, 3 interceptions) author of a 16/25 on shots and unnecessarily sent to free throws (15/17). In doing so he became the 4th youngest player in NBA history to pass the 11,000 point mark after LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant.
“It was a very high intensity match. We wanted this 60th victory of the season and we ended up getting it. It feels good,” he said afterwards.
For the occasion, Chris Paul was back after 15 games away due to a broken thumb and had no difficulty getting back into the swing of things (17 pts, 13 assists).
On the Denver side (6th), Nikola Jokic did what he could (28 pts, 6 assists, 6 rebounds), however, sinned by clumsiness (8 lost balls).
Meanwhile, the Grizzlies (2nd) made short work of the Pacers (133-103), ensuring their direct qualification for the play-offs.
Memphis, which will have to do without its young star Ja Morant, injured in the right knee, for at least two weeks, was able to count on Desmond Bane (30 pts) and four other players between 16 and 20 points.
– Untenable Siakam –
In the East, Milwaukee regained 2nd place in Philadelphia, disposing without trembling of Washington (114-102), its 8th success in ten games.
Without Giannis Antetokounmpo (right knee) or Khris Middleton (left wrist), the defending champions showed a great collective effort. In the wake of Jrue Holiday (24 pts, 8 assists), six players have between 10 and 21 pawns.
The Bucks were up to 28 units ahead in the 3rd quarter, leaving the Wizards (12th) to reduce the gap in the last, thanks in particular to Kristaps Porzingis (16 pts, 9 rebounds).
In 6th place, the last directly qualifying for the play-offs, remains Cleveland, with the same record (41-32) as its executioner of the evening, Toronto winner (117-104) of their fourth confrontation of the season. But it is because the Cavs have won the first three, they are ahead of the Raptors.
The latter were guided by Pascal Siakam, untenable behind the arc (6/7) and finally author of 35 points (6 assists). Chris Boucher also contributed off the bench (17 pts, 8 rebounds).
The photograph of the classification could still change, nine games from the end of the regular season, because Chicago, 5th, sees its mattress shrink (42-31).
Beaten (126-109) in New Orleans, the Bulls are in a negative dynamic since this defeat is the 7th in ten matches.
Despite Zach LaVine’s big performance (39 pts), in the absence of DeMar DeRozan (groin), they exploded in the last quarter, won (40-24) by the Pelicans carried by Devonte Graham (30 pts) and CJ McCollum (25 pts).
The Louisiana franchise puts the pressure back on the Lakers of LeBron James, stealing 10th place in the West, the last synonymous with qualifying play-offs for the play-offs.
For LA we must also look behind, because San Antonio can still mathematically dislodge them.