Chicago (USA), Apr 6 (EFE).- The victory of the Oklahoma City Thunder this Thursday at the Utah Jazz field left the Dallas Mavericks of the Slovenian Luka Doncic on the brink of the abyss. The Texans need to win their last two games and hope the Thunder lose to the Memphis Grizzlies to avoid failure to miss out on the NBA playoffs.
In a vibrant finale of the regular season and with a Sunday with all thirty franchises at stake, Thursday in the NBA was also illuminated by the resounding victory of the Miami Heat in the field of the Philadelphia 76ers and by the 25 points of Chris Paul, with seven triples, in the victory of the Phoenix Suns against the Denver Nuggets.
JAZZ 98 – THUNDER 114
The Thunder took a momentous step in their fight for the ‘play-in’ by prevailing on their visit to the Jazz, which allows them to decide their own destiny this Sunday at home against Grizzlies already secure in second place in the West.
Coming far from the favorites to play the postseason in the West, the Thunder have been able to take advantage of the Mavericks’ slump and did not fail against the Jazz, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander leading a group of seven players with double figures.
A victory against the Grizzlies will launch the Oklahoma City team into the play-in, although an eventual defeat for the Mavericks this Friday against the Bulls would give them the ticket.
With this loss, the Jazz were officially out of the postseason.
SUNS 119 – NUGGETS 115
At 37 years old, Chris Paul never stops lighting up the dance floor with his talent. Against some Nuggets without the Serbian Nikola Jokic and already sure of the leadership in the West, ‘CP3’ signed 25 triples with seven of eleven in triples, the best mark of his career in the regular season.
Kevin Durant contributed 29 points, seven rebounds and four assists. With him on the court, the Suns won all eight of their games.
For the Nuggets, who also did not have Jamal Murray, Bruce Brown shone with 31 points, without a prize.
76ERS 101 – HEAT 129
Jimmy Butler returned to Philadelphia with the Heat jersey and starred with 24 points in his team’s victory against some 76ers already focused on the ‘playoffs’, to stay in the fight with the Brooklyn Nets for the sixth position.
The Heat are one win behind the Nets, who also have the head-to-head advantage, with two games remaining in the regular season.
Miami will close out its year with a visit to the Washington Wizards and a home game against the Orlando Magic. The Nets will face Orlando and the Philadelphia 76ers and it is better for them to finish with the same balance as the Heat to be sixth.
Butler finished with 24 points and a 9 of 12 accuracy from the field, supported by Tyler Herro’s 24 and Bam Adebayo’s fourteen points and eight rebounds.
MAGIC 94 – CAVALIERS 118
Already secure in fourth position, the Cavaliers won with authority in the field of a Magic already out of everything, with a quintet without its stars Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley or Jarrett Allen.
The Spanish Ricky Rubio started and contributed five points, two rebounds and five assists, in a night in which the best of the Cavs was Danny Green with 21 points coming off the bench.
SPURS 129 – TRAIL BLAZERS 127
In the first of two games for the Spurs at the Moody Center in Austin, Gregg Popovich’s team triumphed against a Damian Lillard and Anfernee Simons-less Blazers led by the trio of Keita Bates-Diop (25 points), Keldon Johnson (24) and Julian Champagnie (24).
The Spurs will continue in Austin to face the Minnesota Timberwolves this Thursday, before closing their season at the Dallas Mavericks.
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– Classifications:
. Eastern Conference:
.1. Milwaukee Bucks 58-22
.2. Boston Celtics 55-25
.3. Philadelphia 76ers 52-28
.4. Cleveland Cavaliers 51-30
.5. New York Knicks 47-33
.6. Brooklyn Nets 44-36
.7. Miami Heat 43-37
.8. Atlanta Hawks 41-39
.9. Toronto Raptors 40-40
10. Chicago Bulls 38-42
11. Orlando Magic 34-46
12. Indiana Pacers 34-46
13. Washington Wizards 34-46
14. Charlotte Hornets 26-54
15. Detroit Pistons 16-64
. Western Conference:
.1. Denver Nuggets 52-28
.2. Memphis Grizzlies 50-30
.3. Sacramento Kings 48-32
.4. Phoenix Suns 45-35
.5. LA Clippers 42-38
.6. Golden State Warriors 42-38
.7. LA Lakers 41-39
.8. New Orleans Pelicans 41-39
.9. Minnesota Timberwolves 40-40
10. Oklahoma City Thunder 39-42
11. Dallas Mavericks 38-42
12. Utah Jazz 36-44
13. Portland Trail Blazers 33-47
14. San Antonio Spurs 21-59
15. Houston Rockets 20-60.