76ers continue winning spree
Los Angeles, April 9: Ben Simmons scored 16 points as the Philadelphia 76ers routed the Dallas Mavericks to extend their winning streak to 14 games in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Sunday.
Australian star Simmons finished with nine assists and seven rebounds as the Sixers cruised to a 109- 97 victory to move one win clear of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the standings.
The Sixers and the Cavs are locked in a duel for the third seed spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, with Philadelphia now at 50- 30 for the season, ahead of Cleveland, who are fourth with 49- 31.
Philadelphia are now assured of at least a topfour finish in the East after Sunday’s victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
The win also guarantees Philadelphia home court advantage for the start of the playoffs.
Simmons was one of five Sixers players to make double figures, with JJ Redick leading the scoring for the home team with 18 points.
Simmons was satisfied to reach a total of 50 wins for the season, two years after the Sixers finished with a dismal 10- 72 record at the foot of the Eastern Conference.
In the other games on Sunday, Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points to help the Utah Jazz clinch a playoff berth with a 112- 97 win over the Los Angeles Lakers.
Mitchell also had nine rebounds and eight assists, and Joe Ingles had 22 points in the win. Jae Crowder came off the bench to score 18.