76ers win 14th straight; Jazz nab berth
PHILADELPHIA — J.J. Redick scored 18 points, and the surging Philadelphia 76ers matched a franchise record with their 14th consecutive victory, 109-97 over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday.
Ben Simmons added 16 points, seven rebounds and nine assists. Two years after going 10-72, Philadelphia (50-30) clinched home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and secured its first 50-win season since Allen Iverson's 2000-01 team, which lost in the Finals.
The only other time Philadelphia won 14 straight in a single season, Dr. J and Moses Malone delivered the Sixers their most recent NBA title in 1983.
JAZZ 112, LAKERS 97
Donovan Mitchell scored 28 points to help Utah clinch a playoff berth with a win at Los Angeles.
Utah is the fourth team in the crowded Western Conference to lock up a postseason spot, with five teams in the running for the other four positions.
HAWKS 112, CELTICS 106
Taurean Prince scored 33 points, getting help from Isaiah Taylor and Dewayne Dedmon down the stretch to help visiting Atlanta overcome a 13-point fourth-quarter deficit and beat playoffbound Boston.
RAPTORS 112, MAGIC 101
C.J. Miles scored 22 points and OG Anunoby had a career-high 21 as Toronto beat visiting Orlando.
PACERS 123, HORNETS 117
Domantas Sabonis scored a career-high 30 points, Victor Oladipo had 27 points on 12-of-15 shooting, and Indiana beat host Charlotte to keep alive its slim hopes of winning the Central Division title.
WARRIORS 117, SUNS 100
Klay Thompson scored 22 of his 34 points in the first quarter, and Golden State beat host Phoenix for the 15th consecutive time. The loss assured the Suns the worst record in the NBA this season.
GRIZZLIES 130, PISTONS 117
MarShon Brooks scored 25 points and Dillon Brooks added 22 as Memphis snapped a four-game losing streak with a victory over visiting Detroit.
HORNETS HIRE KUPCHAK
Charlotte has hired Mitch Kupchak as president of basketball operations and general manager. As a player and executive, Kupchak has been a part of 10 NBA championship teams. He won three as a player and seven as a Lakers executive. He replaces Rich Cho, who was fired this season.