The Cavaliers punched their ticket to the postseason and the other contenders are fine tuning their way to April. Russell Westbrook was back to his old ways and Steph Curry found a new way to combat his struggles.
Let’s get to the games:
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New York Knicks | 81 | (14-55) |
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Philadelphia 76ers | 97 | (17-52) |
| Final | |||
Something had two give. The two worst teams in the Eastern Conference met in Philadelphia and the home team prevailed. Nerlens Noel led the 76ers with 23 points and added 14 rebounds and five assists. Ish Smith added 15 points and Philadelphia scored 29 points off Knicks’ turnovers. The 76ers also held a 49-37 advantage on the glass. Alexy Shved led New York with 25 points.
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Portland Trail Blazers | 104 | (44-23) |
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Orlando Magic | 111 | (22-49) |
| Final | |||
The Magic overcame a 17-point third quarter by scoring 36 points in the fourth. Elfrid Payton, Nikola Vucevic and Victor Oladipo all scored 22 points apiece to lead Orlando. Payton also had 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The Magic tallied 22 assists as a team and held a 50-44 rebounding advantage. LaMarcus Alridge led all scorers with 31 points.
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Indiana Pacers | 92 | (30-38) |
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Cleveland Cavaliers | 95 | (45-26) |
| Final | |||
The Cavaliers won their 15h straight home game, but more importantly they clinched a playoff spot for the first time since 2010. All five Cleveland starters reached double figures and LeBron James led with 29 points. Kevin Love had 13 points and 11 rebounds, while Kyrie Irving added 13 points. Each team only turned the ball over nine times each. Roy Hibbert led the Pacers with 20 points.
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Denver Nuggets | 91 | (26-44) |
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Miami Heat | 108 | (32-36) |
| Final | |||
The Heat helped solidify a playoff spot with a dominant victory. Miami shot better than 50-percent from the field and Dwayne Wade led with 22 points. Luol Deng added 15 and Hassan Whiteside scored 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Miami scored 26 points off Denver turnovers. Kenneth Faried scored 20 points for Denver and Randy Foye hit four 3-pointers to finish with 16 points.
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Milwaukee Bucks | 127 | (34-35) |
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Brooklyn Nets | 129 | (28-39) |
| Final – 3OT | |||
The Nets outlasted the Bucks in triple overtime by scoring 60 points in the paint and grabbing 81 rebounds, compared to just 51 boards by Milwaukee. Brook Lopez had 18 rebounds and scored a game-high 32 points. Thaddeus Young scored 24 points and Joe Johnson sunk four 3-pointers to finish with 20 points. Every Bucks starter scored in double figures, led by Khris Middleton’s 29 points.
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Toronto Raptors | 92 | (41-28) |
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Chicago Bulls | 108 | (42-28) |
| Final | |||
Chicago currently sits in third place in the Eastern Conference thanks to Nikola Mirotic coming off the bench to score 29 points. Mike Dunleavy added 21 points as the Bulls shot better than 50-percent. Chicago also had a 47-36 rebounding advantage. Toronto turned the ball over just seven times and DeMar Rozen led with 27 points.
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Atlanta Hawks | 115 | (53-16) |
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Oklahoma City Thunder | 123 | (39-30) |
| Final | |||
Russell Westbrook recorded his ninth triple-double of the season with 36 points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds. Westbrook was also a perfect 17 of 17 from the free throw line. Dion Waters added 26 points and Steven Adams scored 12 points with 16 of the team’s 44 rebounds. Anthony Morrowcam off the bench to sink six 3-pointers and finished with 21 points. Every Atlanta starter reached double figures led by 19 points from Paul Milsap.
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Memphis Grizzlies | 112 | (48-21) |
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Dallas Mavericks | 101 | (44-26) |
| Final | |||
Dallas scored under 20 points in both the first and second quarters before exploded for 39 points in the third. Dirk Nowitzki and Devin Harris each scored 16 points for the Mavericks, while Chandler Parsons, Monta Ellis and Charlie Villanueva all scored 12 points apiece. Zach Randolph led Memphis with 21 points.
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Boston Celtics | 89 | (30-38) |
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San Antonio Spurs | 101 | (43-25) |
| Final | |||
The Celtics can’t shoot under 40-percent from the field if they still attempt to make the playoffs. Even with a loss to the Spurs, Boston remains in eight place in the Eastern Conference. The Spurs won due to all five starters scoring in double figures, led by 22 from Kawhi Leonard. San Antonio dished out 31 assists as a team, every starter also had at least one and Tony Parker spread around seven. Evan Turner led Boston with 17 points.
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Charlotte Hornets | 91 | (29-38) |
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Sacramento Kings | 101 | (23-45) |
| Final | |||
Rudy Gay scored 30 points to lead the Kings past the Hornets. All 10 players that appeared in the game for the Kings had at least a point. Derrick Williams added 13 points and Omri Casspi scored 10. Kemba Walker was the only Charlotte starter to hit a 3-pointer and he finished with 18 points. Gerald Henderson led the Hornets with 20 points.
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New Orleans Pelicans | 96 | (37-32) |
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Golden State Warriors | 112 | (55-13) |
| Final | |||
The Warriors remained the top dogs as every player on the team appeared in the game, led by 22 points from Harrison Barnes. Steph Curry only shot 2 of 10 from behind-the-arc, but finished with 16 points. In the meantime, Curry dished out 11 of the Warriors’ 29 assists. Reserve Norris Cole scored 16 points for the Pelicans.
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Washington Wizards | 99 | (40-29) |
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Los Angeles Clippers | 113 | (45-25) |
| Final | |||
The Clippers jumped out to a 35-21 lead after the first quarter and put things in cruise control for the remainder. Chris Paul scored 30 points as the Clippers shot better than 50-percent from the field. J.J. Redick added 26 points and Blake Griffin added 22. DeAndre Jordan grabbed 23 of the team’s 46 rebounds. The Wizards scored 21 points off Clippers turnovers, but it wasn’t enough. John Wall led Washington with 19 points.