Tuesday’s 14-game night time noticed two groups clinch, two groups climb, and one Antman drop his first 50-piece … whereas taking part in in entrance of fifty Cent.
THE LINEUP 🏀
What’s inside at present’s version?
Antman’s 51: Anthony Edwards’ career-high helped the Wolves maintain No. 1 spot within the West
Tickets punched: The Clippers gained the Pacific, the Mavs clinched, and the Pelicans rose to sixth
Within the east: Jalen Brunson’s 45 helps NY rise to third, Bucks snap 4-game slide, Sixers win sixth straight
Playoff Image: 5 of the six assured playoff spots within the West have been claimed
Wednesday preview: 4 must-see video games spotlight an eight-game slate
BUT FIRST … ⏰
Final night time’s scores & what to observe at present.
An ESPN doubleheader highlights an eight-game Wednesday night time, starting in Miami because the Warmth host the Mavericks (7:30 ET, ESPN/ESPN2) adopted by a battle for first within the West when the Nuggets host the Wolves (10 ET, ESPN).
1. ANT SCORES CAREER-HIGH 51 AS TOP OF WEST HOLDS STEADY
Edwards scores 51: Anthony Edwards erupted for a career-high 51 factors (with 7 ast, 6 reb and 6 3s) to assist the Wolves overcome a 21-point deficit and safe a 130-121 win over the Wizards. Minnesota maintains its grip on the No. 1 seed within the West. | Recap
- Assistance on the best way: The Wolves have battled Denver and OKC for No. 1 within the West with out Karl-Anthony Cities for the previous month as a consequence of knee surgical procedure. Minnesota introduced Tuesday that KAT has been cleared for full exercise and is progressing towards a return
- Postgame interview: Ant gave his response to the Cities information: “KAT is again child! … The entire crew is able to have him again.”
Jokic & Murray present: Nikola Jokic (28 pts, 13 reb, 7 ast) flirted with one other triple-double, whereas Jamal Murray was all concerning the 4s on Tuesday (28 pts, 4 ast, 4 stl, 4 blk, 4 3s) because the Nuggets by no means trailed in a 111-95 win over the Jazz. | Recap
OKC stars return, lead rally: After lacking six of OKC’s final seven video games with a quad damage, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander seemed like he by no means left, dropping a game-high 40 factors to guide the Thunder as they rallied from 20 factors right down to upend the Kings 112-105.
Jalen Williams added 11 factors and 6 boards as he returned after lacking 4 video games. | Recap
- Streak snapped: Domantas Sabonis’ double-double streak ended at 61 video games as he was held to eight factors, whereas De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 33 factors within the loss
2. CLIPPERS & MAVS CLINCH, WEST PLAY-IN RACE TIGHTENS
Clippers clinch Pacific Division: The Clippers led 35-4 after the sport’s first 10 minutes and weathered a comeback try by the Suns – who gained the second half 59-39 – to return away with a 105-92 wire-to-wire win.
- Russell Westbrook (16 pts, 15 reb, 15 ast) posted his first triple-double since Jan. 15, 2021 to achieve 199 for his profession. | Recap
Mavs clinch playoff berth: Luka Doncic seemed unstoppable (39 pts, 12 reb, 10 ast, 8 3s) because the Mavs raced previous the Hornets 130-104 for his or her fourth straight win. Daniel Gafford (26 pts, 7 reb) and Kyrie Irving (18 pts, 9 ast) mixed for 44 factors because the Mavs gained for the fifteenth time of their final 17 video games. | Recap
Pelicans transfer as much as sixth: Trey Murphy (31 pts, 5 3s), CJ McCollum (29 pts, 5 3s) and Zion Williamson (22 pts) mixed for 82 factors in New Orleans’ 110-100 win over Portland to climb out of the Play-In. Scoot Henderson set the Blazers rookie report for assists with 15 dimes. | Recap
Warriors rain 3s in Southern California: Golden State grew to become the primary crew in NBA historical past to make not less than 25 3s (they hit 26) whereas capturing not less than 60% (they shot 63.4%) because the Warriors secured a 134-120 win over the Lakers in a possible Play-In preview. | Recap
Wemby leads Spurs: Victor Wembanyama (18 pts, 7 reb, 6 ast, 7 blk) posted his eighth recreation of the season with 7+ blocks, whereas the remainder of the NBA has 12 such video games mixed.
Wemby (252 blk) is the primary rookie since Shaq (286 in 1992-93) to dam 250+ photographs in a season. | Recap
3. BRUNSON’S 45 LIFTS KNICKS TO 3RD
Knicks rise to third: Jalen Brunson scored 15 of his game-high 45 factors within the first quarter because the Knicks constructed a lead they by no means relinquished. OG Anunoby added 24 factors in his third recreation again from damage, whereas DeMar DeRozan led the Bulls with 34 factors. | Recap
- Amongst N.Y. legends: Brunson joined Bernard King (13 in 1984-85) and Patrick Ewing (11 in 1989-90) as the one Knicks with 10+ video games with 40+ factors in a season
Bucks finish 4-game slide: The Bucks snapped a four-game shedding streak, however misplaced Giannis Antetokounmpo to a calf pressure late within the third quarter of a 104-91 win over Boston. Patrick Beverley posted his second profession 20/10 recreation, whereas Giannis had 15 pts, 8 reb and seven ast earlier than exiting the sport. | Recap
- Document low FTs: Giannis had the sport’s solely two free throw makes an attempt because the groups shattered the earlier mark for fewest mixed FT makes an attempt (11: Indiana at Orlando, Nov. 10, 2019)
Rockets maintain off Magic: Fred VanVleet scored a season-high 37 factors and knocked down six 3s, whereas Jabari Smith added 23 factors and 7 boards to guide the Rockets to a 118-106 win over the Magic to snap a five-game shedding streak. Paolo Banchero had 21 for Orlando, which dropped to fourth with the loss. | Recap
Pacers rating 140: Indiana used a dominant second half (75-59) to tug away from the Raptors for a 140-123 win. Tyrese Haliburton (30 pts, 5 ast) and Obi Toppin (23 pts, 1 poster) mixed for 53 because the Pacers reached 140 factors for a league-high tenth time this season. | Recap
Sixers win sixth straight: Joel Embiid (37 pts, 11 reb, 8 ast, 3 stl, 2 blk) stuffed the stat sheet in 36 minutes – essentially the most he’s performed since coming back from his knee damage – to guide Philly to a 120-102 win over Detroit. | Recap
Warmth survive in 2OT: Miami bounced again from a two-point loss to Indiana on Sunday with a double-overtime win over Atlanta to maintain their hopes of a top-six end alive. Tyler Herro (33), Jimmy Butler (25) and Nikola Jovic (23) mixed for 81 factors because the Warmth outlasted the Hawks 117-111. | Recap
4. PLAYOFF PICTURE: 5 OF 6 WEST PLAYOFF SPOTS CLAIMED
The Clippers and Mavs clinched playoff berths within the West, whereas the Knicks and Magic swapped spots within the East. The most recent from Tuesday:
Western Convention
- ↔️ The Wolves stay 1st through tiebreaker over (2) Denver, and keep a recreation up on (3) OKC
- ↔️ The Nuggets stay 2nd as (1) Minnesota owns the tiebreaker, additionally keep a recreation up on (3) OKC
- ↔️ The Thunder stay third, a recreation again of each (1) Minnesota and (2) Denver
- ☑️ ↔️ The Clippers stay 4th, clinching the Pacific Division and a playoff berth
- ☑️ ↔️ The Mavs stay fifth, clinching a playoff berth, whereas staying two video games again of (4) LA Clippers and two video games up on (6) New Orleans
- ⬆️ The Pelicans bounce from seventh to sixth, one recreation up on (7) Phoenix, two video games up on (8) Sacramento and two video games again of (5) Dallas
- ⬇️ The Suns drop from sixth to seventh, one recreation again of (6) New Orleans, one recreation up on (8) Sacramento and 1.5 video games up on (9) L.A. Lakers
- ↔️ The Kings stay Eighth, one recreation again of (7) Phoenix, two video games again of (6) New Orleans, a half-game up on (9) L.A. Lakers and one recreation up on (10) Golden State
- ↔️ The Lakers stay ninth, a half-game again of (8) Sacramento and a half-game up on (10) Golden State
- ↔️ The Warriors stay tenth, a half-game again of (9) L.A. Lakers (GSW owns tiebreaker if wanted) and a full recreation again of (8) Sacramento (SAC owns tiebreaker if wanted)
Jap Convention
- ↔️ The Bucks stay 2nd, one recreation forward of (3) NY and two video games forward of (4) Orlando and (5) Cleveland
- ⬇️ The Magic drop from third to 4th, trailing (3) NY by a recreation. Orlando edges out (5) Cleveland through tiebreaker. Each groups are a half-game up on (6) Indiana
- ⬆️ The Knicks bounce from 4th to third, one recreation again of (2) Milwaukee and one recreation up on (4) Orlando and (5) Cleveland
- ↔️ The Pacers stay sixth, a half-game again of (4) Orlando and (5) Cleveland, one recreation up on (7) Philly and 1.5 up on (8) Miami
- ↔️ The Sixers stay seventh, a recreation again of (6) Indiana and a half-game up on (8) Miami
- ↔️ The Warmth stay Eighth, a half-game again of (7) Philadelphia and 1.5 video games behind (6) Indiana
- ↔️ The Bulls stay ninth, a recreation forward of (10) Atlanta
- ↔️ The Hawks stay tenth, a recreation again of (9) Chicago
5. WEDNESDAY: 4 MUST-SEE GAMES
On an eight-game Wednesday, these 4 must-see matchups all have postseason implications.
Wolves at Nuggets (10 ET, ESPN)
- 1st place on the road: The groups enter tonight even at 55-24, with the winner taking a full-game lead within the race for the No. 1 seed
- Tiebreaker: The Wolves will maintain the tiebreaker in the event that they win (3-1 head-to-head) or lose (higher division report)
- Why That Issues? The Nuggets should end forward in standings to win convention
Thunder vs. Spurs (8 ET, NBA App)
- SGA is again: Shai returned on Tuesday and dropped 40 in 38 minutes on the Kings. He had no minutes restriction, however will OKC be cautious along with his quad on the second night time of a back-to-back?
- Closing week of Wemby: With the Spurs out of playoff competition, the rookie phenom places a bow on his particular debut NBA season
- Not the ultimate week of Chet: Holmgren’s rookie season will proceed within the playoffs. Dive into Chet’s journey up to now of his younger profession within the newest episode of Move The Rock
Magic at Bucks (8 ET, NBA App)
- Acquainted foes: The primary of two conferences over the ultimate 5 days of the season with the Bucks (48-31) and Magic (46-33) separated by simply two video games
- Giannis’ standing: Keep watch over the damage report for any updates on Giannis’ calf pressure
- Jalen Suggs on the postseason 🗣️: “I’m so excited. [It’s] simply one thing that numerous us have by no means skilled earlier than.”
Mavs at Warmth (7:30 ET, ESPN/ESPN2)
- Playoff vs. Play-In: The Mavs have clinched their playoff berth (fifth in West), whereas the Warmth proceed to attempt to climb out of the Play-In (Eighth in East, 1.5 video games again of sixth)
- Star duos: The Luka/Kyrie pairing went from 9.3 web score pre All-Star to 11.9 submit All-Star (Eighth-best score amongst duos with 500+ minutes). The Warmth counter with Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo
- Key acquisitions: Each groups made in-season trades which can be paying off. Terry Rozier (16.4 ppg in 31 video games) has supplied an extra scoring punch to the Warmth backcourt. Daniel Gafford and P.J. Washington have solidified the Mavs’ frontline